Phantoms Weekly Notes

Published on January 21, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


UPCOMING OPPONENTS Wednesday, January 23 and Saturday, January 26: Phantoms at Bridgeport Sound Tigers - The Phantoms make two visits to Connecticut this week to face the Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) in the third and fourth meetings of the month between the teams. The Phantoms hosted the Sound Tigers last Friday night, but lost a 2-1 shootout. Wade Dubielewicz made 29 regulation saves and four stops in the shootout in his first start of the season for the Sound Tigers. Scott Munroe also had a great game in net, stopping 28 of 29 regulation shots before heading into the shootout.

Friday, January 25: Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears, 7:05 - This will be the sixth game between the Phantoms and Hershey (Washington Capitals) this season. The Phantoms currently lead the season series with a 3-2 record. In the last meeting the Bears were victorious with a 2-1 win. Ryan Potulny's brother Grant scored Hershey's first goal just eight seconds into the game, which was a new record for the fastest goal ever scored on the Phantoms by any opponent. Steve Downie scored the only goal for the Phantoms in that game.

PHANTOMS RESET

The Phantoms are 28-14-1-1 for 58 points. Rankings as follows:

East Division - 1st place, eight points ahead of a three-way tie for second place

Eastern Conference - 3rd place, 11 points behind Providence and one point behind Portland

AHL - 6th place

Comparisons to past years through 44 games:

2007-08: 28-14-1-1 for 58 points

2004-05: 26-12-2-4 for 58 points

1997-98: 29-9-1-5 for 64 points

1996-97: 28-9-2-5 for 63 points

Note: The 1997-98 and 2004-05 teams won Calder Cups; the 1996-97 team holds franchise records for most wins (49) and standings points (111) in team history.

2007-08 and 2004-05 records are W-L-OTL-SOL; 1997-98 and 1996-97 records are W-L-T-OTL.

Last year's team was 15-24-2-3 through 44 games. It did not reach 58 points until March 11 and did not reach 28 wins until March 23.

TOSS THOSE BEARS

This Friday night is the Phantoms annual Teddy Bear Toss, which is always one of the most popular games of the year! Bring a new teddy bear or other stuffed animal to the game, and when the Phantoms score their first goal, throw the bear on the ice! The bears will be collected and donated to area charities and hospitals. The game vs. Hershey gets underway at 7:05.

COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK

There were a total of 26,854 fans at the Philadelphia sports complex Sunday night to watch hockey. The Phantoms welcomed 7,112, including their four-millionth all-time fan, and the Flyers played to a sellout crowd of 19,742.

JANUARY RECAP

The Phantoms play 14 games over a span of 23 days in January. So far the team has played 11 games in 17 days. The team is 6-4-0-1 over the 11 games played so far, for 13 out of a possible 22 points. The grueling month comes to an end after this week's three games.

PHANTOMS NOMINATE POTULNY

The Phantoms nominated center Ryan Potulny for AHL Player of the Week consideration. Potulny had points in three of Philadelphia's four games this week, propelling him into a tie for second place on the team's scoring list. On Wednesday, he had an assist in a 5-3 loss to Syracuse. He had another assist on Friday night in a 2-1 shootout loss to Bridgeport, and followed that up with a three-point night (2 goals, 1 assist) in the team's 5-3 loss at Binghamton.

NOTES

Saturday's 5-3 loss at Binghamton was Philadelphia's first loss to the Senators since March 31, 2007. They'd won 11 straight over the Senators since then... In a scheduling quirk, the Phantoms played AHL affiliates of three upcoming Flyers opponents over the weekend. The club took on Bridgeport Friday night before the Flyers visited the Islanders on Saturday, and then Saturday's Phantoms game against Binghamton preceded Sunday's Flyers game against Ottawa. The Phantoms played Lowell yesterday, and the Flyers host New Jersey tomorrow...

Binghamton's three shorthanded goals in Saturday night's game set a franchise record for both clubs. Several teams had scored two shorthanded goals in a game over the years.

TOYOTA CUP STANDINGS

Brian Boucher continues to lead the annual race for the Toyota Cup. Players are awarded points each time they are chosen as a star of the game, with five points given for a first star, three points for a second star and one point for a third star. The player with the most points at the end of the season will win a monetary donation to the charity of his choice courtesy of Toyota. The Toyota Cup standings can be viewed at http://www.phantomshockey.com/numbers/toyotacup.asp

PHANTOMS HOCKEY ON THE INTERNET

The Phantoms have teamed up with the Philadelphia Area Dodge Dealers to provide free audio broadcasts of all Phantoms games, home and away, this season. The Phantoms official website, Phantomshockey.com, in conjunction with league and team partner B2 Networks, will provide the home for the audio. In addition to the games, Dodge will also bring the ever-popular Coaches Corner to fans on Phantomshockey.com. New editions of the weekly sit-down with Phantoms head coach Craig Berube will be posted to the site every Tuesday.

WATCH THE GAMES THROUGH B2

Every Phantoms game this season is being broadcast with streaming video through the league's partnership with B2 Networks. A ticket for the game is $6, which allows fans to watch the game via a broadband Internet connection from their own homes! Visit www.phantomshockey.com for more details.

TICKET INFORMATION

All kids tickets for all Phantoms games are just $10. To purchase, go to phantomshockey.com or call 1-800-298-4200.

UPCOMING OPPONENTS Wed., January 23

at Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Arena at Harbor Yard

7:30 PM

Friday, January 25

vs. Hershey Bears

Wachovia Spectrum

7:05 PM

Saturday, January 26

at Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Arena at Harbor Yard

7:00 PM LAST WEEK'S RESULTS Wednesday, January 16

at Syracuse Crunch

5-3 L

Friday, January 18

vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers

2-1 SOL

Saturday, January 19

Binghamton Senators

5-3 L

Sunday, January 20

Lowell Devils

Wachovia Spectrum

4-3 W (OT)

Live audio and video broadcasts are available for every game at Phantomshockey.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2008


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