Phantoms Top Pirates 7-2 On Hall of Fame Night

Published on February 20, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHILADELPHIA - Patrick Maroon posted a hat trick as part of a four-goal second period for the Philadelphia Phantoms, which blew open an eventual 7-2 win over the Portland Pirates at the Wachovia Spectrum. The win, coupled with a Binghamton loss at Norfolk, pulled the Phantoms back within four points of the Senators in the East Division playoff race. It also provided a cheerful ending to the season's first Phantoms Hall of Fame Night, which saw former COO Frank Miceli inducted into the select club before the game.

The Phantoms held a 1-0 lead after the first period thanks to an early goal by Rob Sirianni. He redirected a slapshot from Michael Ratchuk between the pads of Portland goaltender Jhonas Enroth just 2:15 into the contest for his third goal of the year.

Maroon then took over early in the second period with two goals that came just 40 seconds apart. His first came 49 seconds in when he gathered his own rebound in front of the net and beat Enroth through traffic. The second came at 1:29 when Maroon eluded several Binghamton defenders behind the net before sneaking one in past the right post.

Boyd Kane then made it a 4-0 game with a shorthanded tally off a feed from Lasse Kukkonen at the 8:45 mark, blasting a slapshot that hit Enroth in the glove and arced behind him and into the net. Enroth then left the ice briefly and Len DiCostanzo took over, only to be welcomed to the ice by Maroon's third just 1:07 later, at 9:52. A centering pass from Laliberte hit Maroon and went past the relief netminder. The completed hat trick made it a 5-0 game at the second intermission.

Enroth later returned in the second, but yielded to DiCostanzo for the rest of the night to start the third. Kane picked up his second just 21 seconds in to make it 6-0, but Portland settled in after that and got on the board at the 3:23 mark on a goal from Colton Fretter. Jared Ross made it 7-1 with a shot from the left circle at 11:48, and Nathan Gerbe then finished out the scoring when he fired home a feed from Mathieu Darche at 12:13.

J.S. Aubin picked up the win for Philadelphia with 25 saves on 27 shots, while Enroth was assessed the loss with 16 saves on 20 shots. DiCostanzo stopped 7 of 10 in 22:47 of play.

Philadelphia heads to Hershey tomorrow night to take on the Bears before returning home for two next weekend, on Friday the 27th against Bridgeport and Saturday the 28th against Providence.

Comcast-Spectacor and the Phantoms are now offering an amazing $10 adult ticket price for all remaining home games for the Phantoms final season at the Wachovia Spectrum, while all tickets for kids 14 and under are now $5. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at Phantomshockey.com, or via ComcastTIX at 1-800-298-4200.

For more information on Phantoms tickets and packages, please call 215-465-4522 during normal business hours. More information is also available at the Phantoms website, Phantomshockey.com



American Hockey League Stories from February 20, 2009


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