Phantoms Weekly

Published on November 25, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Playing three-of-four games on the road and two that went into overtime, the Phantoms posted a 1-2-0-1 record last week. Philadelphia began the week with its first-ever visit to Utah. On Monday, former Phantom Jim Montgomery had two goals and an assist, including scoring the game-winner with 66 seconds remaining, as the Grizzlies won 3-2. Eric Betournay and Ben Stafford each scored for the Phantoms, while Antero Niittymaki made 34 saves. The teams met up again on Wednesday and it was Grizzlies goaltender Mike Smith who stole the show with 37 saves in his AHL debut. Philadelphia took a 1-0 lead into the third period thanks to Wade Skolney's second-period tally, but Jon Sim assisted on the tying goal with 2:46 to go in regulation and scored the game-winner 3:01 into overtime in a 2-1 Utah triumph. Neil Little stopped 31 shots for Philadelphia. The Phantoms returned home on Friday to down the Milwaukee Admirals, 6-5, in overtime. Peter White (3G, 1A) and Mark Greig (1G, 3A) each recorded four points and Niittymaki made 19 saves in the high-scoring affair. White continued his hot streak with a goal 1:29 into Saturday's game in Bridgeport, but Niittymaki surrendered goals to Matt Higgins and Jeff Hamilton in a 2-1 Sound Tigers victory.

WHITE RECORDS HAT TRICK

Peter White's four-point performance on Friday vs. Milwaukee included the Phantoms' first hat trick of the season. The veteran center who was reacquired from the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 13, scored in the first period (his first as a Phantom since Feb. 18, 2000 vs. Hershey), netted the tying goal with 3:56 left in regulation, and tallied the game-winner 2:38 into overtime. It was the 16th regular-season hat trick in Phantoms history and White's first for Philadelphia since Dec. 18, 1996 vs. Carolina. White's hat trick was also the first by a Phantom at home during the regular season since Mark Greig accomplished the feat on April 5, 2000 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

GREIG POINT STREAK AT NINE GAMES

Right wing Mark Greig's nine-game point streak is currently the longest in the AHL. Greig began the streak on Oct. 30 at Syracuse and has totaled seven goals and eight assists during the nine games. Included in the run was a six-game goal-scoring streak from Nov. 2-22. The longest point streak in the AHL this season is 11 games, set by Hamilton's Jason Ward from Nov. 2-23. Greig's streak is the longest by a Phantom since Derek Plante's (15 games) during the 2000-01 season.

PHANTOMS ON FRANCHISE-WORST ROAD LOSING STREAK

Philadelphia's current six-game road losing streak is the longest in club history, eclipsing a four-game skid the team endured from Oct. 8-19, 1999. The Phantoms are 1-5-1-2 away from home this season, with their lone win taking place on Oct. 30 at Syracuse.

PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS

11/22 - ADD Matthew Yeats, signed a PTO
11/22 - ADD Jack Baker, recalled from Trenton (ECHL)
11/22 - ADD Mark Greig, reassigned from Flyers (NHL)
11/22 - DELETE Guillaume Lefebvre, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
11/23 - ADD Craig Brunel, recalled from Trenton (ECHL)
11/25 - DELETE Craig Brunel, reassigned to Trenton (ECHL)

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

The Phantoms and Rochester Americans opened the 2002-03 season against each other on Oct. 12, as Mark Greig scored with 30 seconds left in overtime to lift Philadelphia to a 1-0 victory. Neil Little made 29 saves to notch his ninth career shutout. Philadelphia went 4-0-2 against Rochester during the regular season last year, going 2-0-1 in each city. The teams met up again in the best-of-three Western Conference Qualifying Round, with Philadelphia sweeping the series in two games. Philadelphia is 14-15-4 in the all-time regular-season series, and 8-7-2 when hosting the Americans. The Phantoms and Amerks have four games scheduled against each other in 2002-03, with the next match-up set for Jan. 15 in Rochester.

Philadelphia and Hershey will begin their 12-game season series this Friday. The Phantoms went 4-3-3-2 against the Bears last season, including a 2-2-2 mark at home, but Hershey captured the last four match-ups. Mark Greig led Philly with eight points (3G, 5A) in 10 games vs. Hershey, while Neil Little went 0-2-2-2 with a 1.87 GAA. The Phantoms hold a 33-25-8-4 lead in the all-time series, including a 19-11-4-1 mark at home. The teams will play each other five more times before the New Year, beginning on Dec. 6 in Philadelphia.

The Phantoms and Manchester Monarchs meet for the time ever on Saturday, as they did not face off in 2001-02 when Manchester was an AHL expansion franchise. Led by head coach Bruce Boudreau, the Monarchs posted an impressive 38-28-11-3 record in their inaugural season before losing in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Manchester will make its first visit to Philadelphia on Sunday, March 2.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Philadelphia's own Gwen from ABC's hit TV show The Bachelor will help the Phantoms celebrate Singles Night on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Gwen will attend the Match.com mixer in Bullies prior to the game and drop the opening puck before the Phantoms battle the Rochester Americans. Register at www.ticketmaster.com/promo/1598 to receive information on Singles Night, which includes a pre-game mixer in Bullies and a ticket to the game in the Match.com section, all for just $18.

Batman will be appearing at Friday's game vs. Hershey. He will be signing autographs and hanging out at the Batman movie display on the concourse. Friday's game will also feature the fourth annual Dinner on the Mayflower promotion. Listen to 96.5 The Point this week for a chance to call in and win an opportunity to enjoy a complete Thanksgiving dinner on a Mayflower truck provided by Sinclair Mayflower Moving & Storage. The meal will be catered by Bullies Sports Bar & Restaurant.

PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS

* Mark Greig is 12th in points (21), tied for third in goals (11), tied for third in game-winning goals and tied for third in power-play goals (6)

* Peter White is tied for fifth in points (22) and tied for third in power-play goals (6)

* Ian MacNeil is tied for second in shorthanded goals (2)

* John Slaney is tied for fourth among defensemen in points (16) and second in assists (14)

* The Phantoms are 10th in penalty killing (85.0 percent)

* The Phantoms are third in penalty minutes per game (28.3)

* The Phantoms are second in shots allowed per game (26.95)

PHANTOMS NOTES

* Eric Betournay recorded his first AHL goal and point on Monday at Utah

* Wade Skolney scored his first career goal on Wednesday at Utah

* Antero Niittymaki had team season highs for saves in a game (34) and period (20) on Monday at Utah

* Kirby Law sat out three games last week after being suspended for his actions at the end of Monday's game at Utah

* Ben Stafford played in his 100th game as a pro on Friday vs. Milwaukee

* Andre Savage's first-period goal on Friday was Philadelphia's first-ever against Milwaukee. Last year, the Admirals twice shut out the Phantoms during their first season in the AHL

* Philadelphia established season highs for most penalty minutes in a game (65) and combined (119) on Monday at Utah

* The 11 combined goals on Friday is a season high for 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 November 25, 2002


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