Phantoms top Albany, 6-4
Published on September 29, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
(VOORHEES, NJ - Sept. 29) Stefan Ruzicka had a goal and two assists and Jamie Storr stopped 27 of 31 shots as the Philadelphia Phantoms topped the Albany River Rats 6-4 in preseason action at the Sovereign Bank Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees, New Jersey on Thursday afternoon.
The River Rats got the only goal of the first period, taking a 1-0 lead into intermission on a power play goal by Ivan Khomutov. After the break, Philadelphia took a quick 2-1 lead on two early second period goals. Ben Eager scored on the power play on a low drive from 15 feet out on the right side just 20 seconds into the period, and then Eric Chouinard knocked home a rebound at the 46-second mark. Albany tied the game at 2-2 on a Petr Vrana power play goal at 4:40, but Tony Voce got that goal back on a shorthanded breakaway at 8:37 off a nice pokecheck by Stefan Ruzicka, giving the Phantoms a 3-2 lead.
Albany tied it once more, making it 3-3 when Mike Sgroi lunged at a rebound to Storr's stick side and was able to poke it home. But the Phantoms took the lead for good when Eric Chouinard one-timed a rocket from the slot off a pass from Ruzicka during a 5-on-3 power play at the 15:21 mark, making it 4-3. Philadelphia added another power play goal with just two seconds left in the period when Ruzicka snapped home a wrist shot from the slot, giving the Phantoms a 5-3 lead at the second intermission.
The Phantoms got an additional insurance goal from Mathieu Brunelle, who took a drop pass from Josh Gratton and snapped one home from the left circle at 10:02 of the third period. Albany closed out the scoring on a power play goal from Aleksander Suglobov at 14:35 of the frame, who fired a shot that hit the post and then Storr's back before crossing the line.
The Phantoms peppered Albany netminders Frank Doyle and Josh Disher with 47 shots on the evening. The game was another penalty-laden affair, with the Phantoms whistled for 17 infractions for a total of 54 minutes and Albany called for 16 penalties for a total of 44 minutes.
"We're still feeling this thing out," Phantoms head coach John Stevens said of the penalty situation. "The thing I love about hockey is it's a man's game played like men, and you go out there and battle and play the game hard, and that's the way it should be. As long as they let us engage in the battles at the net, in the corners and the straight-up stuff -- the stuff around the waist, they're gonna call. We're all figuring this out right now, and hopefully it'll get better as things go along."
The Phantoms will close out their preseason schedule on Saturday, October 1 when they take on the Norfolk Admirals at the Polonia Bank Flyers Skate Zone at Northeast at 1:35 PM. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or by calling 215-618-0050.
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