Phantoms Weekly

January 12, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms went 3-0 last week to move within six points of East Division-leading Bridgeport. On Wednesday, rookie Nick Deschenes scored the game-winning goal at 9:15 of the third period to help Philadelphia post a 3-2 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs. Peter White and Freddy Meyer each contributed two points and Antero Niittymaki made 20 saves as the Phantoms completed a two-game season sweep of the Bulldogs. On Friday in Springfield, Kirby Law scored the tying goal with four seconds left in the third period and set up John Slaney's game-winner with 1:17 to go in overtime in a 3-2 triumph over the Falcons. Law also tallied Philadelphia's first goal, while Niittymaki stopped 27-of-29 shots. The Phantoms completed their perfect week on Saturday with a 2-1 win in Binghamton. Deschenes and Ian MacNeil each scored and Neil Little turned aside 26 shots.

JAN. 18 GAME TIME CHANGED TO 1:05 P.M.

The Phantoms have announced that the start time for this Sunday's game (Jan. 18) vs. the Norfolk Admirals has been changed from 5:05 to 1:05 p.m. Due to the Philadelphia Eagles' home playoff game set for 6:45 p.m. that day, the time change will better facilitate the flow of traffic coming in and out of the Phantoms game and alleviate parking problems for the patrons.

LAW & SEIDENBERG RECEIVE AHL ALL-STAR NODS

Right wing Kirby Law and defenseman Dennis Seidenberg were selected last week to play in the 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic on Feb. 8-9 at Van Andel Arena, in Grand Rapids, Mich. Law was named to the Canadian squad, while Seidenberg will be starting for the PlanetUSA team. It will be the first AHL All-Star Game appearances for both players.

PHANTOMS REACH MIDWAY POINT

The Phantoms are at the midway point of the 2003-04 season sporting a 22-13-4-1 record. Their .613 win percentage is third best in the Eastern Conference and fourth best in the AHL. Philadelphia's 22 wins through the first 40 games are its most since also accumulating 22 in 1998-99.

THE EX FILES

* Former Phantoms goaltender Brian Boucher of the Phoenix Coyotes had his modern-day NHL-record shutout streak end at 332:01 during Sunday's 1-1 tie vs. Atlanta. Included in the streak was a league-record five consecutive shutouts. The old NHL records of 309:21 and four consecutive shutouts were set by Montreal's Bill Durnan in 1949.

* Also being selected to the 2004 Pepsi AHL All-Star Classic last week were former Phantoms Pavel Brendl of Lowell and Matt Herr of Providence.

SHARP PICKS UP FIRST NHL POINT

Center Patrick Sharp, who is on recall to the Flyers, recorded his first career AHL point on Jan. 8 when he assisted on Radovan Somik's goal 2:41 into a 4-3 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers. Sharp appeared in three games with the Flyers last year as a rookie and has played six games with them thus far in 2003-04.

PENALTY LEADERS

The Phantoms lead the league in penalty minutes (30.90 per game), major penalties (68), minor penalties (308), 10-minute misconducts (10) and game misconducts (18). The game misconduct total is already more than any AHL team had all of last season.

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

The Phantoms bring a 6-0 record against the rival Hershey Bears into Friday'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, and then posted a 3-2 win on Dec. 14 thanks to 31 saves by Niittymaki. On Dec. 26, Philadelphia scored the final six goals, including five in the third, in a 6-2 decision. The Phantoms hold a 43-32-8-5 all-time record vs. the Bears, including a 25-14-4-1 mark at home. The 12-game series will continue on Saturday, Jan. 24 in Hershey.

Philadelphia is 3-1 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the teams continue their 10-game season series this Saturday. The Penguins won the first match-up, 3-1, on Oct. 24 as Michel Ouellet netted two of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's three third-period goals. Philadelphia responded on Nov. 22 by rallying from a three-goal deficit to post a 5-4 road win. Former Penguin Mark Murphy scored twice in the comeback. The Phantoms posted a 3-2 home win on Nov. 28 thanks to second-period power-play goals by Kirk Furey and Patrick Sharp. The Phantoms hold a 29-13-3-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 16-6-1 mark on the road. The next showdown between the teams is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3 in Philadelphia.

The Phantoms are 3-3-1 vs. the Norfolk Admirals heading into Sunday's encounter at the Spectrum. 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. 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. Philly then scored three times in the third period on Dec. 13 to rally for a 3-1 victory. Baines scored twice more on Dec. 27 to help Norfolk post a 3-2 win. Philadelphia is 15-16-2-2 all-time vs. the Admirals, including a 7-9-1 mark at home. The teams' next match-up is set for Wednesday, March 3 in Norfolk.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

On Friday, Jan. 16, the Phantoms will be giving away free passes to an advance screening of the new Walt Disney Pictures movie "Miracle." The first 200 children in attendance will also receive "Miracle" water bottles. In addition, the Brunswick Zone will hold its Rock N Bowl promotion and the Wendy's mascot will perform a figure skating routine during an intermission. On Sunday, Jan. 18, the first 4,000 fans will receive a light-up yo-yo courtesy of Dodge. The Phantoms will then attempt to break the Guinness World Record for Largest Simultaneous Yo-Yo. Chick-Fil-A will also hold the ever-popular Cows On Ice promotion.

PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS
1/7 - ADD Dennis Seidenberg, reassigned from Flyers (NHL)
1/7 - ADD B.J. Abel, recalled from Trenton (ECHL
1/8 - DELETE Dennis Seidenberg, recalled by Flyers (NHL)

PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS (thru 1/11)
* Kirby Law is tied for sixth in points (40), tied for fourth in assists (24), tied for 10th in goals (16), tied for 11th in shots (119) and tied for 13th in power-play goals (5)
* Peter White is 14th in points (32) and tied for fourth in assists (24)
* Patrick Sharp is tied for eighth in game-winning goals (4) and tied for sixth in power-play goals (6)
* Mike Peluso is seventh in shots (131)
* Mark Murphy is tied for 13th in power-play goals (5)
* Peter Vandermeer is first in penalty minutes (248) and major penalties (18)
* Boyd Kane is first in minor penalties (39)
* Neil Little is ninth in goals-against average (2.03) and tied for sixth in wins (12)
* Dennis Seidenberg is ninth in shots (123) and tied for eighth in game-winning goals (4). He is also first among defensemen in game-winning goals, second in shots, tied for second in goals (7), tied for ninth in plus-minus (+11) and tied for 12th in points (19)
* Randy Jones is tied for ninth among rookies and tied for 19th among defensemen in assists (13).
* The Phantoms are third in shots allowed per game (26.45) and sixth in goals allowed per game (2.28)

PHANTOMS NOTES
* Philadelphia had a streak of 34 straight road power plays killed come to an end when Binghamton's Chris Kelly scored 6:31 into the second period on Jan. 10. It was the first power-play goal allowed away from the Spectrum since Dec. 3, when Hershey's Sheldon Keefe accomplished the feat.
* Peter White has assisted on nine of Mike Peluso's 11 goals this year.
* Philadelphia is 10-2-1 when Kirby Law scores this season, including 7-0 when he scores on the road.
* Ben Stafford played in his 200th game as a pro on Jan. 7 vs. Hamilton.
* Wade Skolney played in his 100th game as a pro on Jan. 9 at Springfield.
* Philadelphia's current four-game win streak ties for the longest of the season. The team previously won four in a row from Nov. 16-23.

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.

UPCOMING GAMES

Date Opponent Site Time (ET)

Jan. 16 Hershey Bears Wachovia Spectrum 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 17 W-B/Scranton Penguins Wachovia Arena 7:05 p.m.

Jan. 18 Norfolk Admirals Wachovia Spectrum 1:05 p.m.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Date Opponent Site W-L-T Score

Jan. 7 Hamilton Bulldogs Wachovia Spectrum W 3-2

Jan. 9 Springfield Falcons Springfield Civic Center W 3-2

Jan. 10 Binghamton Senators Veterans Memorial Arena W 2-1



American Hockey League Stories from January 12, 2004


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