Phantoms Top Sharks

Published on February 1, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHILADELPHIA - Kyle Greentree recorded his first career two-goal game to boost the Philadelphia Phantoms past the Worcester Sharks 3-2 on Friday night at the Wachovia Spectrum. It was Greentree's third consecutive two-point game, and his second first-star honor in those three contests.

Worcester jumped on the board first at 4:21 of the first period. Nate Raduns sniped a puck from the left circle into the upper right corner, just out of the reach of Brian Boucher's glove hand, giving the Sharks a 1-0 lead.

Greentree answered with his first of the night later in the frame. He chased a bouncing puck into the zone with Jonathan Matsumoto, fending off a pair of Worcester defenders all the while. Matsumoto managed a shot that bounced past the net, but hit the end boards in such a manner that it sprung back out in front. Greentree was able to jam it past the leg of goaltender Dimitri Patzold to tie the game with 7:07 remaining.

The Phantoms took the lead for good with two quick goals early in the third period, the first of which came from Lars Jonsson just 2:01 into the stanza. Denis Tolpeko carried the puck down the left wing side and left it at the faceoff dot, where Jonsson picked it up and continued along before wiring one over Patzold's short-side shoulder .

Greentree posted his second just over two minutes later, at the 4:04 mark. He jumped on a loose puck in the neutral zone, took it to the inside top of the left circle and loaded some extra gunpowder for a cannon blast that went through Patzold to give the Phantoms the 3-1 advantage.

The Sharks were able to pull within a goal with just over 24 seconds remaining during a six-on-three power play generated by a couple Phantoms penalties and an empty net at the other end. Graham Mink grabbed the super-power-play marker, but the Phantoms were able to kill the final ticks after the ensuing face-off.

Boucher earned the win with 26 saves on 28 Worcester shots, while Patzold took the loss with 19 saves on 22 shots. The Phantoms killed off seven Sharks power plays prior to the final-minute goal, including concurrent five-on-three advantages in the second period. Long division indicates that Greentree now has six points (3G, 3A) in his last three games. The surge has vaulted him to second on the roster in overall scoring with 32 points on 14 goals and 18 assists in 43 games.

With the win, the Phantoms move to 30-15-1-2 on the year for 63 points through 48 games. They are just the fourth team in the AHL to reach the 30-win mark this season and become the third-fastest team in franchise history to do so. The 1996-97 and 1997-98 teams both reached 31 wins in game #48. Philadelphia maintains a seven-point lead in the East Division over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Albany, who both won on Friday, and is now nine points ahead of idle Hershey.

The Phantoms now embark on a five-game string of road contests, their longest of the season. It starts with a visit to Binghamton tomorrow night at 7:05, and continues with a four-game trip next week that also begins in Broome County on Wednesday. The team won't return to the Wachovia Spectrum until Tuesday, Feb. 12 when the Syracuse Crunch come to Philadelphia. Tickets for that game and all remaining Phantoms home games are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2008


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