Phantoms Weekly

Published on April 5, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms went 3-0-0-1 last week to remain among the elite teams in the AHL. On Wednesday, Kirby Law scored twice and Antero Niittymaki made 26 saves in a 3-0 victory over the Norfolk Admirals. Niittymaki extended his club record for shutouts in a season to seven as Philadelphia captured the season series with Norfolk, 5-4-1. Law scored two more goals on Friday and Niittymaki stopped 35-of-36 shots to lead the Phantoms to a 4-1 win over the Hershey Bears. Mark Murphy and Freddy Meyer also scored in the victory. Philadelphia hit the road on Saturday and notched its sixth win in a row with a 4-1 triumph in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Meyer and John Slaney tallied two goals apiece and Neil Little turned aside 23-of-24 shots as the Phantoms and Penguins ended their season series even at 5-5. Law and Kirk Furey gave Philadelphia a two-goal first-period lead on Sunday before Binghamton rallied for a 3-2 overtime win. Niittymaki finished with 24 saves, but couldn't handle Julien Vauclair's slap shot with 1:09 to go in the extra session. Binghamton won the season series, 4-2.

PLAYOFF RACE

With three games remaining in the regular season, Philadelphia is in the running for the best record in the AHL. The Phantoms and Milwaukee Admirals currently lead the league with 98 points, while Philadelphia sits two points ahead of Hartford for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Admirals and Wolf Pack have each played one less game than the Phantoms, however. The Phantoms also own a four-point lead over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for first place in the East Division.

HOME ICE ADVANTAGE

The Phantoms ended the home portion of the 2003-04 season with a 24-11-3-2 mark. The team lost just four of its final 21 games in Philadelphia and recorded its most home wins since also collecting 24 in 1998-99. The Phantoms' 24 home wins currently rank tied for second in the AHL.

SLANEY NAMED AHL SECOND TEAM ALL-STAR

John Slaney, who broke the AHL record for most career goals by a defenseman in February, was named an AHL Second Team All-Star for the 2003-04 season on April 1. Slaney was also named an AHL First Team All-Star in 2000-01 and 2001-02, and is a two-time winner of the Eddie Shore Award for the top defenseman in the AHL.

SEEKING 12 STRAIGHT VS. HERSHEY

The Phantoms will seek an unheard of 12-0 sweep of the Hershey Bears when the teams conclude the season against each other this Sunday. Philadelphia is 11-0 vs. Hershey this season, outscoring the Bears, 44-12, in the process. The 11-game win streak is a new franchise record for most consecutive victories vs. one opponent, breaking the mark of eight straight wins over Adirondack from Jan. 10, 1998 - March 16, 1999. Philadelphia also blanked Hershey in three straight games (Jan. 16-Feb. 20) to match a club record for most consecutive shutouts vs. one team. Philadelphia had previously shut out Syracuse in three straight games from Oct. 10, 1998 - March 24, 1999.

PENALTY LEADERS

The Phantoms continue to lead the league in penalty minutes (28.26 per game), minor penalties (598), 10-minute misconducts (21) and game misconducts (23). They are tied for first in major penalties (106).

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

The Phantoms bring a 4-1 record into Friday's encounter against 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 before Ian MacNeil had two goals and an assist to help the Phantoms rally from a three-goal deficit and post a 5-3 win on March 7. The following night, Furey scored twice in the first period and Niittymaki made 26 saves in a 6-1 victory. The Phantoms are 14-12-4-1 all-time vs. the Rats, including a 5-8-2 mark when playing in Albany.

The Phantoms and Bridgeport Sound Tigers are 3-3-1 against each other heading into Saturday'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. Hamilton scored twice more on Dec. 12 to lead Bridgeport to a 4-1 road win. The Phantoms got back in the win column on Jan. 23 as Kirk Furey scored twice and Antero Niittymaki made 16 saves in a 2-0 decision, and then posted a 2-1 win on March 26 thanks to White's game-winner 5:14 into the third. Philadelphia is 7-6-1-1 all-time vs. the Sound Tigers, including a 3-3-1 mark when playing in Bridgeport.

The Phantoms are an improbable 11-0 against the rival Hershey Bears heading into Sunday's regular-season finale. 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. Niittymaki improved to 5-0 vs. the Bears on Jan. 16 when he made 19 saves in a 4-0 shutout before Neil Little turned aside 24 shots in a 2-0 road win on Jan. 24. Little made 29 saves in another shutout (3-0) on Feb. 20 and Freddy Meyer recorded a hat trick (all in the third period) in a 4-1 victory the next night. On April 2, Law scored twice and Niittymaki made 35 saves in a 4-1 victory. The Phantoms hold a 48-32-8-5 all-time record vs. the Bears, including a 20-18-4-4 mark on the road.

PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS

4/2 - ADD Randy Jones, reassigned from Flyers (NHL)

4/3 - ADD Ben Eager, signed to ATO

PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS (thru 4/4)

* Kirby Law is fifth in points (71), eighth in assists (41), tied for sixth in goals (30), tied for 13th in shots (219) and tied for 14th in power-play goals (9)

* Peter White is fifth in assists (46), tied for 12th in plus/minus (+20) and tied for 18th in points (58)

* Mike Peluso is tied for 13th in shots (219)

* Peter Vandermeer is first in penalty minutes (375)

* Boyd Kane is first in minor penalties (70)

* Neil Little is 12th in goals-against average (2.03), tied for 10th in wins (21) and tied for ninth in shutouts (5)

* Antero Niittymaki is tied for fifth in wins (23), tied for fourth in shutouts (7) and ninth in goals-against average (1.98)

* Dennis Seidenberg is tied for second among defensemen in game-winning goals (4)

* Randy Jones is tied for 11th among rookies in assists (24)

* Kirk Furey is 10th overall and sixth among defensemen in plus/minus (+22)

* John Slaney is tied for eighth overall in power-play goals (10). Among defensemen, he is first in goals (18) and game-winning goals (5), tied for first in power-play goals (10) and shorthanded goals (2), tied for fifth in points (45), tied for 12th in plus/minus (+17) and 13th in assists (27)

* Freddy Meyer is third among defensemen in goals (14) and tied for fifth in power-play goals (6). Among rookies, he is tied for fourth in power-play goals, tied for 12th in goals and tied for 11th in plus/minus (+14).

* The Phantoms are first in wins (45), second in shots allowed per game (25.68), fourth in power-play goals scored (66) and fifth in goals allowed per game (2.09)

PHANTOMS NOTES

* Antero Niittymaki had a scoreless streak of 197:02 snapped on April 2 vs. Hershey. It fell 11:23 shy of Neil Little's club record.

* Ben Stafford's streak of 177 consecutive games played came to an end on March 31 vs. Norfolk due to an elbow injury. It was the longest current games played streak in the AHL.

* Peter White became just the eighth player in AHL history to record 500 assists on April 4 vs. Binghamton.

* John Slaney played in his 200th game as a Phantom on April 4 vs. Binghamton.

* Ian MacNeil recorded his 200th point as a pro on March 31 vs. Norfolk.

* Brett Engelhardt had an assist in his pro debut on March 31 vs. Norfolk.

* Ben Eager made his pro debut on April 3 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

* Philadelphia went 8-0 this season when wearing its purple third jerseys.

* Philadelphia's recent six-game win streak was its longest since capturing seven straight from Nov. 18-Dec. 2, 2000.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for the Phantoms' first three Calder Cup Playoff games, as well as 15-game strips for the entire playoffs are on sale. Prices for individual Phantoms playoff games are $15, $19 and $20 for adults, and $9 for all children 14 and under. Individual game playoff tickets are available at the Wachovia Center box office and all Ticketmaster locations throughout the Delaware Valley. Seats 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 sales office at 215-465-4522 for information on group discounts.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2004


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