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Phantoms Weekly

March 9, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms went 2-2 last week to retain first place in the East Division. On Wednesday, Norfolk jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period and settled for a 4-2 victory over the Phantoms. Craig Anderson made 23 saves for the Admirals, while Antero Niittymaki stopped 19 shots for Philadelphia. The Phantoms ended their season-high seven-game road trip on Saturday with a 4-0 loss in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Tomas Surovy scored twice, Michel Ouellet had three assists and Sebastien Caron registered 27 saves in notching his second straight shutout over the Phantoms. Neil Little made 13 saves before being replaced by Niittymaki. Philadelphia returned home on Sunday and rallied for a 5-3 triumph over Albany. After falling behind 3-0 in the first period, the Phantoms responded with five unanswered goals, including two by Ian MacNeil. Ben Stafford and Mike Peluso contributed two points apiece, while Niittymaki registered 25 saves in the win. The Phantoms and River Rats hooked up again on Monday as Philadelphia cruised to a 6-1 victory. Kirk Furey tallied two of Philadelphia's four first-period goals and Steve Gainey and Mark Murphy both finished with three points. Niittymaki stopped 26 shots as Philadelphia tied a season high for most goals in a game and recorded its largest margin of victory in 2003-04.

FIRST IN THE EAST

Through games of March 8, the Phantoms reside in first place in the AHL's East Division. Philadelphia currently sports a 36-21-6-1 record for 79 points, two points ahead of second-place Bridgeport, which has played one less game. The Hartford Wolf Pack own the Eastern Conference lead with 81 points and have also played one fewer game. Philadelphia's 36 wins through 64 games are its most since finishing the 2000-01 season with 36, and the team's 19 home wins are the most since totaling 21 in 1999-2000.

MEYER & JONES MAKE NHL DEBUTS

Rookie defensemen Freddy Meyer and Randy Jones both made their NHL debut on March 6, playing for the Flyers in a 2-1 loss at Washington. The duo became the 17th and 18th people to play for both the Flyers and Phantoms this season.

PENALTY LEADERS

The Phantoms continue to lead the league in penalty minutes (29.66 per game), major penalties (96), minor penalties (504), 10-minute misconducts (17) and game misconducts (23).

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

Philadelphia seeks a two-game sweep of the Providence Bruins this Friday. After not facing each other in 2002-03, Philadelphia posted a 1-0 victory on Nov. 16 thanks to Peter White's first-period shorthanded goal. Antero Niittymaki made 24 saves en route to his first career AHL shutout. The Phantoms hold a commanding 11-3-1 lead in the all-time series, including a 5-2 mark on the road.

The Phantoms make their only visit of the season to Manchester on Saturday night. The Monarchs entered the league as an expansion team in 2001-02 and did not play Philadelphia until last season, when the teams split two meetings. Manchester posted a 4-1 home win on Nov. 30 before losing 5-1 to the Phantoms at the Spectrum on March 2. The Monarchs are set to play in Philadelphia on Sunday, March 28 at 6:05 p.m.

Philadelphia will look to complete a two-game sweep of the Portland Pirates on Sunday. After Portland won both meetings in 2002-03, the Phantoms captured a 3-1 decision on Nov. 23 at home. Dennis Seidenberg scored twice in the win and Neil Little stopped 22-of-23 shots. Philadelphia leads the all-time series, 6-4-1, including a 1-3-1 mark when playing in Portland. The Phantoms' lone road win in the series came on March 7, 1999.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

The first Scout Sleepover Night will take place on Friday, March 19. Scout troops that register in advance will receive a ticket to that night's game vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at the Wachovia Spectrum and then get to camp out inside the Wachovia Center. Disney's Brother Bear will be screened on the arena's videoboard and all participants will receive a late-night snack and breakfast. March 19 is also Kids Run The Show Night, as winning entrants will have the chance to join the Phantoms' marketing, sales, public relations, operations, box office, fan development, game production and vice president staffs for a night. In addition, the People-Pet Partnership and the Phantoms will be hosting Adopt-A-Pet Night, as adoptable dogs and cats will be on the concourse to meet prospective owners. The Pennsylvania SPCA and Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Association (PACCA) will also have information tables on the concourse. The first 4,000 kids 14 and under in attendance on Sunday, March 21 will receive a Neil Little bobblehead doll, courtesy of Wachovia.

PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS

3/2 - DELETE John Slaney, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
3/6 - DELETE Randy Jones & Freddy Meyer, recalled by Flyers (NHL)
3/7 - ADD John Slaney, Randy Jones & Freddy Meyer, reassigned from Flyers (NHL)
3/9 - ADD Dennis Seidenberg, loaned on a conditioning assignment from Flyers (NHL)
3/9 - DELETE John Slaney, recalled by Flyers (NHL)

PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS (thru 3/8)

* Kirby Law is tied for fifth in points (58), tied for seventh in assists (36) and tied for 15th in goals (22)
* Peter White is tied for fifth in assists (37) and tied for 18th in points (47)
* Mike Peluso is 11th in shots (196)
* Peter Vandermeer is first in penalty minutes (338)
* Boyd Kane is first in minor penalties (64)
* Neil Little is 14th in goals-against average (2.12), tied for eighth in wins (18) and tied for sixth in shutouts (4)
* Antero Niittymaki is tied for 12th in wins (17) and tied for sixth in shutouts (4)
* Dennis Seidenberg is first among defensemen in game-winning goals (4) and 16th in shots (123)
* Randy Jones is tied for fourth among rookies in assists (22) and tied for 15th in points (30). Among defensemen, he is tied for 13th in assists and points.
* Kirk Furey is tied for 14th overall and ninth among defensemen in plus/minus (+18)
* John Slaney is first among defensemen in goals (13), tied for third in power-play goals (7), tied for first in shorthanded goals (2), tied for second in game-winning goals (3) and tied for 11th in points (31)
* Freddy Meyer is tied for third among defensemen in goals (11) and tied for fifth in power-play goals (6). Among rookies, he is tied for 14th in goals and tied for third power-play goals.
* The Phantoms are second in wins (36), tied for second in road wins (17), third in shots allowed per game (25.83) and second in power-play goals scored (57)

PHANTOMS NOTES

* Peter White recorded his 300th assist as a Phantom on March 3 at Norfolk.
* The Phantoms are 8-0-2 when Boyd Kane scores a goal, including 5-0 on the road.
* Philadelphia is 10-1-1 when Mark Murphy scores a goal, including 6-0-1 when he tallies at home.
* The Phantoms are 5-0 when Kirk Furey scores in a home game.
* Philadelphia is 5-0 when wearing its purple third jerseys.
* The Phantoms are 14-2 when a defenseman scores in a home game.
* When playing three games in three days, Philadelphia is a combined 11-10-3 during the first two days and 9-2-0-1 when playing the third game.
* The Phantoms are 11-2-0-1 when playing on Sunday this year.

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 12 Providence Bruins Dunkin' Donuts Center 7:05 p.m.
March 13 Manchester Monarchs Verizon Wireless Arena 7:35 p.m. (CN8)
March 14 Portland Pirates Cumberland County Civic Center 4:05 p.m.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

Date Opponent Site W-L-T Score
March 3 Norfolk Admirals Norfolk Scope L 4-2
March 6 W-B/Scranton Penguins Wachovia Arena L 4-0
March 7 Albany River Rats Wachovia Spectrum W 5-3
March 8 Albany River Rats Wachovia Spectrum W 6-1



American Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2004


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