Phantoms Weekly

Published on January 13, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms recorded two road wins and two one-goal losses over a five-day span last week. On Wednesday, Mike Lephart's goal with 9:56 to play in regulation forced overtime, but Daniel Tkaczuk scored with 12.1 seconds left in the extra session to lift the visiting Bridgeport Sound Tigers to a 2-1 victory. Antero Niittymaki made 33 saves for the Phantoms. Dan Peters, Joe Sacco and Mark Greig each recorded a goal and an assist during the first period on Friday as the Phantoms hung on for a 3-2 road victory over the Lowell Lock Monsters. Peter White added a pair of assists and Neil Little finished with 21 saves. On Saturday in Albany, Guillaume Lefebvre scored the game-winning goal with 8:10 remaining to give Philadelphia a 3-2 win over the River Rats. Greig added a goal and an assist for the second straight night and Niittymaki made 26 saves for the Phantoms. Back home on Sunday, Philadelphia managed just 15 shots in losing 1-0 to the Norfolk Admirals. Steve Passmore registered the shutout, while Igor Radulov netted the lone goal 12:06 into the second period. Little stopped 17 shots in defeat.

PLAYERS REACH MILESTONES

Several Phantoms reached milestones last week. Center Peter White played in his 800th game as a pro on Jan. 10 at Lowell and goaltender Neil Little appeared in his 400th professional game the same night. White recorded two assists in the 3-2 win over the Lock Monsters, while Little made 21 saves to notch the win. Two nights earlier, left wing Guillaume Lefebvre played in his 100th game as a Phantom. Veteran right wing Joe Sacco is four games away from 800 as a pro.

TWO GOALS IN EIGHT SECONDS

Dan Peters and Joe Sacco set a club record for fastest two goals in a game when they scored eight seconds apart early in Philadelphia's win at Lowell on Jan. 10. They broke the previous mark of nine seconds set by Jeff Mitchell and Bruce Coles on Feb. 13, 1997 at Baltimore.

CAN'T GET PAST TWO WINS IN A ROW

The Phantoms came up empty on their fifth attempt at putting together a win streak of more than two games with Sunday's 1-0 setback vs. Norfolk. Philadelphia opened the season with a 2-0 mark and has won consecutive games four other times since Dec. 14. The team is searching for its first three-game win streak since Dec. 1-7 of last season.

SLANEY NAMED TO 2003 CANADIAN AHL ALL-STAR TEAM

Defenseman John Slaney was among the 21 skaters and three goaltenders named to the Canadian team roster for the 2003 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic, to be held Feb. 2-3 at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine. Slaney, who is making his fourth straight AHL All-Star Classic appearance, was also voted a starter via on-line fan balloting at www.theahl.com. The 30-year-old served as captain of the Canadian AHL All-Star team last year and earned game MVP honors in 2001. Slaney will be presented his AHL All-Star jersey prior to this Friday's game vs. Cleveland.

BACK TO THE .500 MARK

Philadelphia went 8-3-0-1 from Dec. 14-Jan. 11 to rise above the .500 mark for the first time since it was 2-1 on Oct. 19. Antero Niittymaki and Neil Little each won four games during the run, while Jack Baker, Peter White and Mark Greig each had two game-winning goals. The Phantoms dropped back to .500, however, with Sunday's 1-0 loss to Norfolk.

PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS

1/7 - ADD Mark Greig, reassigned by Flyers (NHL)
1/12 - ADD Jim Vandermeer, reassigned by Flyers (NHL)

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

Philadelphia brings a 2-0 record against the Rochester Americans into Wednesday's third of four meetings between the teams this year. The Phantoms opened the season against the Americans 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. Greig then recorded a goal and an assist, and Antero Niittymaki stopped 22 shots on Nov. 27 in a 4-2 triumph over Rochester. 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 15-15-4 in the all-time regular-season series and 6-8-2 when playing in Rochester, but is 2-0-1 in the last three visits there. The final match-up of the year will take place on Feb. 14 in Rochester.

The Phantoms will host the Cleveland Barons for the second time on Friday. In the first match-up on Oct. 27, Ryan Kraft recorded a hat trick and teammate Niko Dimitrakos added a goal and two assists in a 6-3 Barons win. Kirby Law scored twice for Philadelphia, while Antero Niittymaki made 26 saves. Philadelphia went 0-1-1 last year vs. the Barons during their first season in the AHL. The Phantoms and Barons will play four times this year, with the next meeting set for Feb. 11 in Cleveland.

Philadelphia is 1-3-0-1 against the Norfolk Admirals this season, with all four losses being decided by one goal. Andre Savage and Ian MacNeil each scored on Oct. 25, but it was Peter White who netted the game-winner for the Admirals in a 3-2 decision. On Nov. 1, Casey Hankinson totaled a goal and an assist to lead Norfolk to a 2-1 triumph. Mike Peluso starred in Norfolk's 3-2 home win on Nov. 7, assisting on his team's first two goals and netting the game-winner 1:56 into overtime. Philadelphia finally posted a 3-1 home victory over the Admirals on Nov. 8, as Mike Siklenka, Mark Greig and MacNeil all scored, but Steve Passmore stopped all 15 shots he faced in a 1-0 Admirals triumph on Jan. 12. Philadelphia is 10-10-1-2 all-time vs. Norfolk, going 4-4-1-1 on the road. Philadelphia plays the Admirals a total of 10 times this season, with the next meeting scheduled for Jan. 24 in Norfolk.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Dexter and Dee Dee from the Cartoon Network hit television show "Dexter's Laboratory" will be appearing at the Phantoms game this Friday, Jan. 17. The duo will be signing autographs and taking pictures with all their fans who bring cameras prior to the game. Dexter's Laboratory prizes will also be given out throughout the night. As part of Win One, Get One Free Night, if the Phantoms defeat the Cleveland Barons, everyone in attendance will receive a free ticket to Philadelphia's game on Jan. 22.

PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS (thru 1/12)

* Peter White and Mark Greig are tied for 11th in points (38)

* Neil Little is fifth in goals-against average (2.20)

* John Slaney is tied for sixth among defensemen in points (26) and second in assists (23)

* Peter Vandermeer is second in major penalties (18) and third in penalty minutes (162)

* The Phantoms are third in penalty minutes per game (27.3)

* The Phantoms are second in shots allowed per game (27.05)

PHANTOMS NOTES

* Philadelphia's win in Lowell on Jan. 10 was its first there since Feb. 6, 1999.

* The Phantoms also ended a five-game losing streak when playing in Albany, winning there on Jan. 11 for the first time since Dec. 30, 1999.

* Neil Little had a personal scoreless streak of 137:09 snapped late in the first period of Friday's win in Lowell.

* The Phantoms had also killed off 32 of its opponents' last 34 power-play chances prior to that same goal by Lowell's Mike Zigomanis.

* On Friday at Lowell, Dan Peters recorded his first multi-point game since Dec. 1, 2001 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

* Guillaume Lefebvre's game-winning goal on Saturday at Albany was his first point since Nov. 15 vs. Bridgeport.

* Philadelphia had a season-low 15 shots on goal and tied a season low for shots in a period with three during the second stanza on Jan. 12 vs. Norfolk. The previous low for a game was 22 shots vs. Rochester on Oct. 12.

TICKET INFORMATION

Ticket 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 January 13, 2003


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