Phantoms Weekly

Published on March 24, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Playing five games in seven days, the Phantoms went 3-1-1 last week. Philadelphia got the week rolling on Monday with a 3-0 victory at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Neil Little stopped all 21 shots he faced and Brad Tiley scored twice in the Phantoms' fourth shutout of the season. Jean-Sebastien Aubin made 21 saves in defeat. On Wednesday, Philadelphia made it two wins in a row with a 4-1 triumph over Cincinnati. Little registered 23 saves and Mark Greig (2G, 1A) and Jamie Wright (1G, 2A) each contributed three points for the Phantoms. Jonathan Hedstrom scored and Ilja Bryzgalov turned aside 21 shots in the loss. The Phantoms and Mighty Ducks met again on Friday and skated to a 2-2 tie. Little made 20 saves, while Wade Skolney and Kirby Law scored third-period goals to help rally the Phantoms. Rob Valicevic and Mike Brown each scored and Bryzgalov recorded 30 saves for Cincinnati. Philadelphia headed to Worcester on Saturday and dropped a 4-3 decision. John Pohl netted a pair of goals and Reinhard Divis stopped 31 shots for the IceCats. Greig had a hand in all three Phantoms goals (1G, 2A), while Antero Niittymaki finished with 27 saves. Finally on Sunday, Ladislav Kohn and Tiley each scored twice and Dennis Seidenberg's goal 3:11 into overtime was the difference as the Phantoms edged the Hartford Wolf Pack, 5-4. Greig and Patrick Sharp contributed two assists apiece and Little earned the win by making 18 saves. Roman Lyashenko had three points (2G, 1A) and Scott Meyer totaled 29 saves for the Wolf Pack.

PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS

3/20 - DELETE Neil Little, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
3/20 - DELETE Kirby Law, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
3/21 - ADD Neil Little, reassigned from Flyers (NHL)
3/21 - ADD Kirby Law, reassigned from Flyers (NHL)
3/22 - DELETE Neil Little, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
3/22 - ADD Joe Rivera, signed to an ATO
3/23 - DELETE Joe Rivera, released from ATO
3/23 - ADD Neil Little, reassigned from Flyers (NHL)
3/24 - DELETE Neil Little, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
3/24 - DELETE Patrick Sharp, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
3/24 - DELETE Jim Vandermeer, recalled by Flyers (NHL)

PLAYOFF PICTURE

After going 3-1-1 last week, the Phantoms moved one point ahead of the Rochester Americans for the 10th and final spot in the Western Conference playoff race. Through games of March 23, Philadelphia has 72 points in 72 games, while Rochester is at 71 points in 74 games. The Milwaukee Admirals and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are tied for the eighth and ninth playoff spots, with each team at 74 points through 73 games. Seventh-place Utah is also in range with 75 points in 72 games.

LITTLE UNBEATEN IN LAST SIX GAMES

Goaltender Neil Little is 5-0-1 with a 1.63 GAA in his last six starts, including two shutouts in that span. Last Monday's blanking of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was his 12th career shutout and ninth as a Phantom. Little has all four of Philadelphia's shutouts this season and his current six-game unbeaten streak is his longest since going 3-0-3 from Nov. 10-Dec. 16, 2001.

GREIG ON SIX-GAME ASSIST STREAK

Right wing Mark Greig is currently working on a six-game assist streak, which is the longest by a Phantom since Derek Plante went nine straight games with a helper from Nov. 19-Dec. 9, 2000. Greig also owns the longest goal-scoring (6) and point streaks (10) on the team this season.

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

Philadelphia is 3-4-0-1 against the Norfolk Admirals as the teams conclude their season series with games on Wednesday and Sunday. 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. After four one-goal losses, the Phantoms turned the tables on Jan. 18 as Ben Stafford's goal with five seconds remaining was the difference in a 2-1 victory, but Craig Andersson helped put Norfolk back in the win column six days later by making 17 saves in a 3-0 decision. After not meeting in February, the Phantoms posted an impressive 2-0 road win on March 9 thanks to 22 saves by Neil Little. Philadelphia is 12-11-1-2 all-time vs. Norfolk, going 6-4-1-2 on the road.

The Phantoms and Cincinnati Mighty Ducks close out their season series on Friday when they meet for the third time in nine days. Philadelphia captured the first match-up on Feb. 15 as Neil Little made 34 saves and Peter White and Brad Tiley scored 19 seconds apart in the second period to give the Phantoms the lead for good in a 4-1 victory. Philadelphia posted another 4-1 win on March 19 thanks to three points apiece by Mark Greig (2G, 1A) and Jamie Wright (1G, 2A), and 23 saves by Little. Two days later, Wade Skolney and Kirby Law scored third-period goals to force a 2-2 tie with the Mighty Ducks. Philadelphia is on a five-game unbeaten streak (4-0-1) vs. Cincinnati after sweeping both match-ups with the Ducks in 2001-02. The Phantoms hold a commanding 30-8-3 lead in the all-time series, including a 13-6-1 mark when playing in Cincinnati.

The Phantoms are 1-1-1 against the Cleveland Barons heading into their final meeting of the year on Saturday. 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. The Phantoms evened the series on Jan. 17 as Niittymaki made 28 saves and Andre Savage had three assists in a 4-3 victory. Philadelphia overcame a two-goal deficit on Feb. 11 as Mark Greig and Jamie Wright each scored in a 2-2 tie in Cleveland. Philadelphia went 0-1-1 last year vs. the Barons during their first season in the AHL.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Phlex will be celebrating his seventh birthday this Sunday, March 30 and many of his mascot friends will be joining him for a giant broomball game during the second intermission. Everyone in attendance will receive a rally towel courtesy of Cingular Wireless.

PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS (thru 3/23)

* Mark Greig is tied for eighth in points (69), tied for sixth in power-play goals (13), tied for third in game-winning goals (8) and tied for third in minor penalties (57)

* Neil Little is eighth in goals-against average (2.36)

* John Slaney is tied for 14th among defensemen in points (37) and first in game-tying goals (2)

* Peter Vandermeer first in penalty minutes (303) and second in major penalties (33)

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

* The Phantoms are tied for first in game misconducts (14)

* The Phantoms are second in shots allowed per game (26.90)

PHANTOMS NOTES

* Kirby Law recorded his 200th AHL point on Friday vs. Cincinnati and played in his 300th AHL game on March 17 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

* The Phantoms won at home when trailing after two periods on Sunday (5-4 over Hartford in OT) for the first time since Nov. 16, 2001 vs. Rochester

* Brad Tiley has scored twice in two of the last five games after not recording a multi-goal game in his first 178 games as a Phantom

* Philadelphia is 20-0-2 when scoring four goals or more in a game

* The Phantoms finished their stretch of seven games in 10 days with a 4-2-1 record

* Philadelphia defeated Hartford at home on Sunday for the first time since Oct. 27, 1999

* David Harlock registered his 100th point as a pro on Saturday at Worcester

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.



American Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2003


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