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Phantoms Weekly

December 9, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms went 2-1 last week to move into third place in the East Division. The week began in Hershey on Wednesday as Philadelphia improved to 4-0 against the Bears this season with a 4-1 victory. Randy Jones, Jeff Woywitka and Boyd Kane all finished with two points, while Antero Niittymaki stopped 31-of-32 shots. On Friday, the Phantoms' eight-game unbeaten streak came to an end in a 2-0 home loss to Norfolk. Ajay Baines scored a pair of power-play goals for the Admirals and Steve Passmore registered the shutout by stopping all 29 shots he faced. Niittymaki made 27 saves in the loss. The teams met again on Saturday in Norfolk and Philadelphia came away with a 3-2 win. With Philadelphia trailing by a goal entering the third period, Kirby Law evened the score at the 7:03 mark and Ben Stafford netted the game-winner on a breakaway with 29 seconds remaining. Neil Little picked up the win by making 20 saves.

MOVING UP THE STANDINGS

The Phantoms have vaulted into third place in the East Division standings thanks to an 8-1-1 record over their last 10 games. Philadelphia's recent eight-game unbeaten streak (7-0-1) was its longest since a 4-0-4 streak from Jan. 20-Feb. 6, 2002. The Phantoms have won four in a row on the road. They haven't won five straight away from the Spectrum since Feb. 24-March 9, 2001.

FIRST CAREER GOALS

A pair of rookie defensemen scored their first career goals last week. Randy Jones lit the lamp for the first time on Dec. 3 in Philadelphia's 4-1 win in Hershey. Three days later, James Laux opened the scoring for Philadelphia with his first goal as a pro as the Phantoms went on to post a 3-2 victory in Norfolk. Laux was just called up from the Trenton Titans that morning and had to fly into Norfolk from Dayton, Ohio.

STAFFORD LIKES IT IN NORFOLK

Center Ben Stafford provided the heroics in Norfolk on Dec. 6 when his breakaway goal with 29 seconds remaining was the difference in a 3-2 win over the Admirals. Last season on Jan. 18, Stafford scored with five seconds left to lift Philadelphia to a 2-1 victory in Norfolk.

NIITTYMAKI EARNS FIRST NHL CALL-UP

Goaltender Antero Niittymaki received his first NHL call-up to the Flyers on Dec. 7. The 23-year-old is 6-5-3 in 16 games this season with two shutouts and a 2.17 goals-against average. He had just gone eight straight appearances from Nov. 12 to Dec. 3 without a loss (4-0-2 with two no-decisions).

NUMBER ONE IN PENALTY MINUTES

The Phantoms lead the league in penalty minutes (28.31 per game), as well as minor penalties (203), major penalties (42) and game misconducts (7). Philly also ranks tied for third with five 10-minute misconducts. The Phantoms compiled a season-high 111 PIM on Nov. 14 vs. Cincinnati, a game that featured a multi-player brawl after the final buzzer.

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

The Phantoms are 1-2-1 vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers heading into Friday's showdown. Philadelphia won the first encounter, 3-1, on Oct. 11 as Neil Little stopped 26-of-27 shots on goal and Peter White and Patrick Sharp each recorded two points. The teams then skated to a 1-1 tie on Oct. 17 thanks to second-period power-play goals by Martin Kariya and White. Bridgeport posted a 6-2 road win on Nov. 9 behind a pair of goals from both Rob Collins and Jeff Hamilton, and then scored the final three goals in a 3-2 home win on Nov. 15. Philadelphia is 5-5-1-1 all-time vs. the Sound Tigers, including a 2-2-0-1 mark when playing at home. The teams face off a total of eight times this season, with the next game scheduled for Friday, Jan. 23 in Philadelphia.

The Phantoms and Norfolk Admirals meet again this Saturday at the Scope. The teams opened the season series on Oct. 12, as Neil Little stopped all 29 shots he faced in a 3-0 Phantoms victory. Norfolk got revenge on Oct. 25 as Shawn Thornton's unassisted goal in the third period was the difference in a 2-1 Admirals win. The teams then skated to a 4-4 tie on Nov. 26 before Ajay Baines scored two power-play goals and Steve Passmore registered 29 saves in a 2-0 Norfolk win on Dec. 5. But the Phantoms answered the following night in Norfolk as Ben Stafford's breakaway goal with 29 seconds remaining was the difference in a 3-2 Philadelphia win. Philadelphia is 14-15-2-2 all-time vs. the Admirals, including a 7-6-1-2 mark on the road. The teams' next encounter is set for Saturday, Dec. 27 in Norfolk.

The Phantoms bring a 4-0 record against the rival Hershey Bears into Sunday's match-up. Philadelphia posted a 6-2 victory in the season series opener on Nov. 2 as Kirby Law recorded four points (2G, 2A) and Antero Niittymaki made 28 saves. On Nov. 7, Niittymaki totaled 27 saves and five different Phantoms had two points in a 5-1 home win over the Bears. Philadelphia made it three in a row the following night when Law scored with 12.3 seconds left in overtime to help defeat Hershey, 3-2. Philadelphia continued its success with a 4-1 road win on Dec. 3 thanks to a goal and an assist by rookie Randy Jones. The Phantoms hold a 41-32-8-5 all-time record vs. the Bears, including a 23-14-4-1 mark at home. The 12-game series will continue on Friday, Dec. 26 in Philadelphia.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

The first 4,000 kids 14 and under in attendance on Friday, Dec. 12 will receive a Ron Hextall bobblehead doll, courtesy of Allstate. It is the first of three dolls offered in the Phantoms' Philadelphia Hockey Heritage Series this season. Bobby Clarke's bobblehead doll will be given away on Friday, Jan. 23 and Neil Little's will be available on Sunday, March 21. The first 1,000 kids in attendance on Sunday, Dec. 14 will receive a Freaky Friday movie poster, courtesy of Allied. Lucky fans will also receive Freaky Friday DVDs and autographed posters throughout the game. Before the Phantoms game that day, the Flyers Alumni team will take on Team Skate to Cure Diabetes at 2:30 p.m. Tickets to both games are $20, with proceeds going to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS

12/6 - ADD James Laux, recalled from Trenton (ECHL)
12/6 - DELETE Dennis Seidenberg, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
12/7 - DELETE Antero Niittymaki, recalled by Flyers (NHL)

PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS (thru 12/6)

* Kirby Law is tied for third in points (25), tied for sixth in goals (11), tied for fourth in power-play goals (4), tied for 10th in assists (14) and is 11th in shots (77)

* Patrick Sharp is tied for ninth in points (22), tied for 10th in assists (14) and tied for 14th in shots (73)

* Peter White is tied for ninth in points (22) and tied for fourth in assists (16)

* Peter Vandermeer is first in penalty minutes (176) and major penalties (14)

* Boyd Kane is first in minor penalties (27)

* Dennis Seidenberg is fourth in shots (92), tied for eighth in plus-minus (+10) and tied for sixth in game-winning goals (3). He is also first among defensemen in shots and game-winning goals (3), tied for first in goals (6), tied for seventh in points (13) and tied for fourth in plus-minus

* The Phantoms are fifth in goals allowed (2.27) and shots allowed per game (26.69), and tied for first in power-play goals (22) scored.

PHANTOMS NOTES

* Kirby Law's seven-game point streak (5G, 4A) from Nov. 21-Dec. 3 is a team season high.

* Peter White became just the 20th player to record 700 career points in the AHL on Dec. 3 at Hershey.

* Four of Hershey's eight losses this season have come vs. Philadelphia. The Phantoms have outscored the Bears, 18-6, in their four wins.

* Antero Niittymaki had a scoreless streak of 111:02 snapped on Dec. 3.

* Neil Little has won his last four decisions.

* The Phantoms are 0-for-26 on the power play over the last four games, but are 3-1 during the span.

TICKET INFORMATION Tickets to all Phantoms home games are $19, $18 and $14 for adults, and $8 for all children 14 and under, and are available now at the Wachovia Center box office and all Ticketmaster locations throughout the Delaware Valley. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling (215) 336-2000, (856) 338-9000 or (302) 984-2000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Contact the Phantoms office at 215-465-4522 or log on to www.phantomshockey.com for information on group discounts, birthday packages and the Family Value Pack.

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