Phantoms Week in Review

Published on December 9, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms suffered their second straight loss to Hershey on Friday before posting an impressive road win at Bridgeport on Saturday. On Friday, Jim Vandermeer scored 4:03 into the game to give Philadelphia an early lead, but would not beat Hershey goaltender Phil Sauve again in a 3-1 defeat. Charlie Stephens and Eric Bertrand each had a goal and an assist for the Bears, while Phantoms netminder Antero Niittymaki finished with 14 saves.

Goaltender Matthew Yeats and Kirby Law starred in Saturday's 4-1 triumph over the Sound Tigers. Yeats made 26 saves and came 4:33 away from a shutout in his AHL debut, while Law recorded a hat trick. Ian MacNeil and Ben Stafford each contributed two assists to help the Phantoms snap a seven-game road losing skid.

YEATS COMES UP BIG IN AHL DEBUT

After backing up Antero Niittymaki for six games since signing a tryout contract on Nov. 22, rookie goaltender Matthew Yeats finally got his shot on Saturday at Bridgeport. If the former University of Maine star was nervous in his AHL debut, it did not show as he made 26 saves to notch the win in a 4-1 decision over the Sound Tigers. Yeats stopped all 19 shots he faced over the first two periods and came 4:33 away from recording a shutout. The 23-year-old had been with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (ECHL) before Philadelphia signed him as a back-up while Neil Little overcame a knee injury.

LAW RECORDS HAT TRICK

Right wing Kirby Law scored Philadelphia's second hat trick of the year in Saturday's 4-1 win at Bridgeport. The Phantoms only had one last season. Law's hat trick was the first by a Phantom on the road since John Slaney accomplished the feat at Hartford on Jan. 18, 2002. It was also Law's first hat trick since Nov. 19, 1999, when he was with the Louisville Panthers.

PHANTOMS END FRANCHISE-WORST ROAD LOSING STREAK

Philadelphia ended its franchise-record seven-game road losing streak on Saturday with a 4-1 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The skid eclipsed a four-game losing streak the team endured from Oct. 8-19, 1999. Philadelphia's win over Bridgeport was its first away from home since Oct. 30 at Syracuse.

PHILLY 0-FOR-2 IN PENALTY SHOTS

Rookie defenseman Wade Skolney took Philadelphia's second penalty shot of the year on Friday vs. Hershey, but was denied by Bears goaltender Phil Sauve. Andre Savage had tried the team's first penalty shot back on Oct. 25 and was also stopped by Norfolk's Michael Leighton. Philadelphia is now 2-for-9 all-time in regular-season penalty shots, with the last successful attempt taking place on Feb. 3, 1999 by Jason Zent. The Phantoms have had two penalty shots this year after attempting just one over the previous three seasons.

PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS

12/9 - DELETE Andre Savage, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
12/9 - ADD Guillaume Lefebvre, reassigned by Flyers (NHL)
12/9 - ADD Bruno St. Jacques, reassigned by Flyers (NHL)

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

The Phantoms are 2-1 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton heading into Friday's game at the First Union Spectrum. The teams first met on Oct. 18, when Mark Greig scored twice and Andre Savage had four assists in a 5-4 Phantoms win. The next night in Wilkes-Barre, Sebastien Caron registered 28 saves as the Penguins prevailed, 4-1. Savage totaled another four assists and Greig added three points on Nov. 6 to lead the Phantoms to a 7-2 win. Philadelphia is 22-10-3 all-time vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, going 10-6-2 at home. The Phantoms are currently on a nine-game unbeaten streak (7-0-2) at home vs. the Penguins. Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre play each other 10 times this season, with the next match-ups set for Dec. 21 & 26 in Wilkes-Barre.

The Phantoms are seeking their first win of the season over the Bears as they make their first visit to Hershey's new GIANT Center this Saturday. On Nov. 29 in the teams' first encounter of the season, Brian Willsie scored twice and rookie Peter Budaj stopped all 31 shots he faced in a 2-0 Bears victory. A week later, Charlie Stephens and Eric Bertrand each had a goal and an assist as Hershey prevailed 3-1. Philadelphia has lost six straight games to Hershey dating back to last season. The Phantoms hold a 33-27-8-4 lead in the all-time series, including a 14-14-4-3 mark on the road. The teams play each other 12 times this season, with the next battle scheduled for Dec. 20 in Philadelphia.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Take part in the Phantoms' Holiday Extravaganza on Friday, Dec. 13, as the first 2,000 kids in attendance will receive a winter fleece beanie hat, courtesy of Dodge. Santa Claus is making his annual Phantoms game appearances on Dec. 13 & 20. Characters from the Wild Thornberry's will also be appearing at the Phantoms game on Friday, Dec. 20.

PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS

* John Slaney is tied for eighth among defensemen in points (18) and tied for fourth in assists (15) and shots (72)

* The Phantoms are fifth in penalty minutes per game (25.6)

* The Phantoms are first in shots allowed per game (26.13)

PHANTOMS NOTES

* Matthew Yeats became just the 13th different goaltender to play for the Phantoms over the past six-plus years. He is the eighth goaltender to win in his Phantoms debut.

* Mark Greig notched his 200th assist as a Phantom on Saturday at Bridgeport.

* The Phantoms are 6-0-1 when scoring four goals or more.

* After going six games without a point, Ben Stafford has three assists in his last two games.

* The Phantoms tied a season low for shots in a period with three during the opening stanza of Friday's game vs. Hershey.

* Hershey's 17 shots on Friday were a season low for a Phantoms opponent.

* The Bears' eight penalty minutes on Friday were a season low for a Phantoms opponent and the 16 combined PIM were a season low during a Phantoms game.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets prices for Phantoms home games are $18, $17 and $13 for adults, and $8 for children 14 and under. The team also offers group rates, Game Plans, attractive premium area seating, birthday party and youth hockey packages, and the popular Family Value Pack. Please call the Phantoms sales office at 215-465-4522 for information, or log on to www.phantomshockey.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 9, 2002


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