Phantoms Weekly Notes

Published on February 19, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


UPCOMING OPPONENTS

Friday, February 22 - Phantoms vs. Hershey, 7:05 and Saturday, February 23 - Phantoms at Hershey, 7:00: The Phantoms will continue their rivalry with the Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals) this weekend with a home-and-home series that begins Friday night at the Wachovia Spectrum and continues at the GIANT Center on Saturday night. The two clubs last met on January 25, when the Phantoms pulled out a 4-3 shootout win. Denis Tolpeko and Kyle Greentree led the way for Philadelphia, with Greentree recording a goal and an assist and Tolpeko posting two goals during regulation time. Both players scored during the shootout. The weekend swing will be a crucial one in the East Division race, as Hershey will be no closer than 11 points to the Phantoms in the division standings when the home-and-home begins. Once the weekend is over, the Bears could be as close as seven points or as far as 15 points behind the Phantoms.

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

PHANTOMS RESET

The Phantoms are 36-17-2-2 for 76 points through 57 games. Rankings are as follows:

East Division - 1st, 13 points ahead of Hershey and W-B/S

Eastern Conference - 2nd, five points behind Providence

AHL - 3rd, behind Providence and one point behind Chicago

Comparisons to past years through 57 games:

2007-08: 36-17-2-2, 76 points

2006-07: 21-29-2-5, 49 points

2004-05: 33-18-2-4, 68 points

1997-98: 36-14-1-6, 79 points

1996-97: 36-12-2-7, 81 points

Note: The 2004-05 and 1997-98 teams won Calder Cups; the 1996-97 team had the best regular-season record in team history.

2004-05 and later are W-L-OTL-SOL. 1996-97 and 1997-98 are W-L-OTL-T

The Phantoms equaled last season's total of 30 wins on February 1 and last season's total of 70 points on February 12.

This year's Phantoms continue to keep pace with the 1996-97 and 1997-98 teams as the winningest teams in franchise history.

With 23 games remaining, there are 46 standings points available to the Phantoms. They need to grab 36 of those 46 points through a combination of wins and overtime/shootout losses to break the franchise record of 111 standings points in a season held by the 1996-97 team. Doing so would require a minimum record of 18-5 in the final 23 games.

The team needs 14 wins in those 23 games to become the first team in franchise history to win 50 games in a season.

FLYERS WIVES FIGHT FOR LIVES CARNIVAL THIS WEEKEND

The entire Phantoms roster will be on hand this Sunday at the Flyers Wives Fight For Lives Carnival at the Wachovia Center. Come meet all your favorite players from the Flyers and Phantoms and help support a great cause. Early admission starts at 12 noon, with general admission starting at 2:00. The carnival runs through 5:00. More information is available at www.flyerscarnival.com.

STILL AHEAD IN FEBRUARY

Highlights left in February include this week's home-and-home with Hershey, the first half of which will be played on Friday. That night, the Phantoms will give out their youth T-shirt jerseys to the first 3,000 kids 14 and under, courtesy of Comcast. On February 29, the Phantoms will give away a Bobby Clarke figurine to the first 5,000 fans courtesy of Toyota.

Tickets are still available for all remaining Phantoms home games in February. Call 1-800-298-4200 or visit www.phantomshockey.com for more details.

ON THE WIRE

Stefan Ruzicka and Denis Tolpeko remain on call-up to the Flyers, although Tolpeko was injured last week and will miss seven to 10 days. Kyle Greentree is back with the Phantoms after spending last week with the Flyers. Claude Giroux, who played for the Phantoms briefly last year, will play for the Flyers tonight in Ottawa.

OUT AND ABOUT

The Phantoms have kicked off their reading program, which consists of visits to schools throughout the greater Philadelphia region. Today Nate Guenin read to a second grade class at Glen Acres Elementary School in West Chester, PA, while Frederik Cabana entertained South Valley Elementary second graders in Moorestown, NJ. Tomorrow (Wed), Ryan Potulny will read to a first grade class at Countryside Elementary in Mt. Laurel, NJ at 1:00 PM. Thursday finds the Phantoms at Scenic Hill Elementary School in Springfield, PA for a 2:00 PM page-turner. The Phantoms will be at 12 separate class readings next week. A forthcoming release will detail the schools and times.

The Phantoms are also participating in on-ice clinics this week with members of the Flyers/ Phantoms Fan Development coaching staff. Tonight at 6:00 PM David Laliberte and Oskars Bartulis will be on ice from 6-7 PM at the Springfield Ice Rink with youngsters in the Springfield THL learn to play program. On Thursday night, Darroll Powe and Jonathan Matsumoto will skate with youth teams at the Center Ice Twin Rinks in Oaks, PA from 6-7 PM.

PRESIDENT'S DAY JERSEYS A HIT

The Phantoms held their second specialty jersey auction of the season on Monday night with their President's Day jerseys worn in the 2-0 win over Albany. The team raised over $21,000, a portion of which goes to the Phantoms Wives Charities, a division of the Comcast-Spectacor Foundation.

BOUCHER NOMINATED

The Phantoms nominated goaltender Brian Boucher for Rbk/AHL Player of the Week consideration this week. Boucher went 2-0-1 in three starts last week with a 2.00 goals-against and a .939 save percentage. His week included a season-high 43 saves in a 4-3 shootout win over Syracuse on Tuesday, a game in which he also stopped four of five shooters in the shootout. On Friday, he recorded his fourth shutout of the season with 23 saves in a 1-0 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Saturday was the only dent in Boucher's armor, a 3-2 overtime loss at Albany in which he made 26 saves. In that game, Boucher denied a penalty shot bid from Albany's Jakub Petruzalek.

NOTES

The Phantoms have won five straight at home going back to January 20 and have points in six straight going back to January 18. The Phantoms have also secured points in six consecutive games since a Feb. 8 loss to Springfield. They have won five of those six games... The Phantoms have scored first in four consecutive games. Prior to that, they had allowed the game's first goal in eight of the previous nine games... The Phantoms have held the opponent scoreless in the first period in four consecutive games and in five of the last six.

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.

LAST WEEK'S ACTION (3-0-1)

Tuesday, February 12

Vs. Syracuse Crunch

Wachovia Spectrum

4-3 W (SO)

Friday, February 15

At Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza

1-0 W

Saturday, February 16

At Albany River Rats

Times Union Center

3-2 OTL

Monday, February 18

Vs. Albany River Rats

Wachovia Spectrum

2-0 W

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American Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2008


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