Phantoms Weekly

March 1, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms went 2-1-1 last week to move into first place in the East Division. On Wednesday, Steve Gainey had a goal and an assist and Neil Little made 21 saves in a 4-1 victory at Cincinnati. Randy Jones contributed two assists, while Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 24 shots for the Mighty Ducks. The teams met again on Friday and skated to a 2-2 tie. Ian MacNeil and Mike Peluso each scored and Antero Niittymaki finished with 19 saves for Philadelphia. Bryzgalov turned aside 27 shots for Cincinnati, which has not beat Philadelphia at home since March 2001. The Phantoms moved on to Milwaukee on Saturday and suffered a 5-2 defeat. Simon Gamache scored a pair of goals and Darren Haydar had a goal and two assists for the Admirals. John Slaney and P.J. Stock tallied goals for Philadelphia, while Little made 19 saves. Philadelphia bounced back and posted an impressive 5-3 victory in Grand Rapids on Sunday. Slaney and Boyd Kane both scored twice and Niittymaki stopped 25 shots for the Phantoms. Jeff Nelson registered a goal and two assists for the Griffins, who had a 16-game home unbeaten streak come to an end.

FIRST IN THE EAST

The Phantoms enter the final quarter of the 2003-04 season in first place in the AHL's East Division. Philadelphia currently sports a 34-19-6-1 record for 75 points, one point ahead of second-place Bridgeport. The Hartford Wolf Pack own the Eastern Conference lead with 78 points. Philadelphia's 34 wins through 60 games is its most since finishing the 2000-01 season with 36.

SO FAR SO GOOD

Philadelphia is 3-1-1 on its season-high seven-game road trip. After beginning the trek with a win in Hershey on Feb. 21, the Phantoms posted a win and a tie in Cincinnati. The team then suffered a 5-2 loss in Milwaukee, but responded with a 5-3 victory over the AHL-leading Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday. The trip wraps up this week with games in Norfolk on Wednesday and in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday.

PENALTY LEADERS

The Phantoms continue to lead the league in penalty minutes (29.63 per game), major penalties (90), minor penalties (469), 10-minute misconducts (16) and game misconducts (22).

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

The Phantoms are 4-3-1 vs. the Norfolk Admirals heading into Wednesday's encounter 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. 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, but Patrick Sharp netted a pair of goals in a 4-1 Phantoms win on Jan. 18. Philadelphia is 16-16-2-2 all-time vs. the Admirals, including an 8-7-1-2 mark in Norfolk. The teams' final match-up is set for Wednesday, March 31 in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia is 3-3 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, and made it three in a row on Jan. 4 when Sharp scored twice in a 3-2 triumph. Wilkes-Barre got back in the win column on Jan. 17 as Kris Beech netted the game-winner 6:01 into the third period of a 4-3 decision, and then posted a 2-0 win on Feb. 18 behind 30 saves by Sebastien Caron. The Phantoms hold a 29-15-3-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 16-7-1 mark on the road. The teams will next meet on March 16 & 19 in Philadelphia.

The Phantoms bring a 2-1 record into Sunday and Monday's home games vs. the Albany River Rats. Albany scored the first three goals and held on for a 4-3 win in the series opener on Nov. 1. John Slaney had a goal and an assist for Philadelphia in defeat. Philadelphia then evened the series with a 4-0 victory on Nov. 29 as Antero Niittymaki made 24 saves and Peter White scored twice. Kirk Furey compiled a goal and two assists on Feb. 6 to help Philadelphia cruise to a 5-2 triumph. The Phantoms are 12-12-4-1 all-time vs. the Rats, including a 7-4-2-1 mark when playing in Philly. The teams will meet for the final time on Friday, April 9 in Albany.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

On March 7 & 8, fans will have the chance to win a luxury golf vacation, courtesy of the Phantoms, WYSP (94.1 FM) and www.1stop4golf.com. The first 1,000 fans in attendance each night will receive a scratch & win card, which could reveal the vacation. Lucky fans will also win discounted greens fees and merchandise from local golf courses.

PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS
2/24 - DELETE Nick Deschenes, reassigned to Trenton (ECHL)
2/25 - ADD Antero Niittymaki & Freddy Meyer, reassigned from Flyers (NHL)
2/26 - ADD Nick Deschenes, recalled from Trenton (ECHL)
2/26 - DELETE Chris Houle, loaned to Trenton (ECHL)
2/29 - ADD Kirby Law, reassigned from Flyers (NHL)

PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS (thru 2/29)

* Kirby Law is sixth in points (55), tied for seventh in assists (34) and tied for 15th in goals (21)

* Peter White is tied for seventh in assists (34) and tied for 18th in plus/minus (+15)

* Mike Peluso is 11th in shots (186)

* Peter Vandermeer is first in penalty minutes (324)

* Boyd Kane is first in minor penalties (58)

* Neil Little is tied for ninth in goals-against average (2.02), tied for fourth in wins (18) and tied for sixth in shutouts (4)

* Antero Niittymaki is tied for 15th in wins (15) and tied for sixth in shutouts (4)

* Dennis Seidenberg is first among defensemen in game-winning goals, 13th in shots (123) and tied for 18th in goals (7) and plus/minus (+11)

* Randy Jones is tied for fourth among rookies in assists (20) and tied for 17th in points (26). Among defensemen, he is tied for 13th in assists and tied for 16th in points.

* Kirk Furey is tied for 14th overall and tied for ninth among defensemen in plus/minus (+16)

* John Slaney is first among defensemen in goals (13), tied for first in power-play goals (7) and shorthanded goals (2), tied for second in game-winning goals (3) and 11th in points (31)

* Freddy Meyer is tied for eighth among defensemen in goals (9), tied for 10th in power-play goals (4) and 17th in plus/minus (+12)

* The Phantoms are second in wins (34), tied for first in road wins (17), third in shots allowed per game (25.90) and fifth in goals allowed per game (2.22)

PHANTOMS NOTES

* John Slaney played in his 400th AHL game on Feb. 25 at Cincinnati, recorded his 100th assist as a Phantom on Feb. 27 at Cincinnati and registered his 500th point as a pro on Feb. 28 at Milwaukee.

* Peter White played in his 400th game as a Phantom on Feb. 28 at Milwaukee and in his 900th game as a pro on Feb. 29 at Grand Rapids.

* Boyd Kane recorded his 200th point as a pro on Feb. 29 at Grand Rapids.

* Les Borsheim notched his first AHL point with an assist on Feb. 29 at Grand Rapids.

* Kirby Law registered his first NHL point with an assist on Feb. 24 vs. Chicago.

* The Phantoms have allowed a league-low two shorthanded goals this season.

* Philadelphia has a league-high seven wins when trailing after two periods, including six on the road.

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)
March 3 Norfolk Admirals Norfolk Scope 7:15 p.m.
March 6 W-B/Scranton Penguins Wachovia Arena 7:05 p.m.
March 7 Albany River Rats Wachovia Spectrum 6:05 p.m.
March 8 Albany River Rats Wachovia Spectrum 7:05 p.m.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
Date Opponent Site W-L-T Score
Feb. 25 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Cincinnati Gardens W 4-1
Feb. 27 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks Cincinnati Gardens T 2-2
Feb. 28 Milwaukee Admirals Bradley Center L 5-2
Feb. 29 Grand Rapids Griffins Van Andel Arena W 5-3



American Hockey League Stories from March 1, 2004


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