Phantoms Weekly
Published on April 13, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
The Phantoms went 1-1-1 over the weekend to conclude the regular season and seal their fourth division title. On Friday, Joe Hulbig and Steve Kariya each recorded a goal and two assists to lead the Albany River Rats to a 5-3 victory over the Phantoms. Matus Kostur stopped 23 shots to post the win and help Albany end a four-game slide vs. Philadelphia. Mark Murphy and John Slaney both finished with a goal and an assist, while Antero Niittymaki registered 27 saves. The Phantoms bounced back and skated to a rare 0-0 tie in Bridgeport on Saturday to clinch the East Division crown. Neil Little turned aside all 25 shots he faced to record the shutout, while counterpart Wade Dubielewicz had 28 saves as the Phantoms and Sound Tigers concluded their season series even at 3-3-2. Philadelphia then ended the season with Sunday's dramatic 3-2 overtime win in Hershey, as Niittymaki was credited with the game-winning, shorthanded, empty-net goal with 2:28 left in the extra session. Niittymaki finished with 32 saves, while Peter Vandermeer and Kirby Law also scored.
EAST DIVISION CHAMPS
The Phantoms captured the F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy as the champion of the AHL's East Division with Saturday's 0-0 tie in Bridgeport. The division title for the Phantoms is their fourth in club history, as they finished first in each of their first three years in the league (1996-99). Philadelphia finished the year with a 46-25-7-2 record (101 points) for its most successful season since 1998-99, when it recorded 47 wins and 105 points.
FIRST PLAYOFF GAME SET FOR APRIL 21
Philadelphia will host Game One of the best-of-seven East Division Semifinals on Wednesday, April 21 at 7:05 p.m. at the Wachovia Center. The Phantoms' opponent will be the winner of the division qualifying round between Binghamton and Norfolk. Game Two will also be played at the Center on April 23 at 7:05 p.m.
PHANTOMS SWEEP ALL 12 GAMES WITH HERSHEY
The Phantoms completed a 12-0 season sweep of the Hershey Bears with Sunday's 3-2 overtime triumph. Philadelphia outscored the Bears, 47-14, including a pair of 3-2 overtime affairs in Hershey. The Phantoms became the first AHL club to sweep all 12 match-ups vs. an opponent since Saint John accomplished the feat vs. Hamilton in 2000-01. The Flames went on to win the Calder Cup that season.
The 12-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.
NIITTYMAKI CAPS MEMORABLE SEASON WITH GAME-WINNING GOAL
Goaltender Antero Niittymaki wrapped up an impressive second season with the Phantoms by making 32 saves and scoring the game-winning goal in Sunday's 3-2 overtime win in Hershey. Needing a win to reach the playoffs, the Bears pulled goaltender Phil Sauve during a power play for a 5-on-3 advantage. Hershey's Shane Willis had the puck beside the net and tried a shot off Niittymaki that sailed through the crease and off the far boards. The puck caromed out of the zone and down the length of the ice before trickling over the goal line just ahead of a pair of oncoming Bears at the 2:32 mark.
The goal was the first ever by a Phantoms goaltender and just the seventh ever by an AHL netminder. Niittymaki went 24-13-6 with a 2.02 goals-against average and club-record seven shutouts in 49 games as a Phantom this season. He also won each of his first three NHL starts with the Flyers, posting a 1.00 GAA with the big club.
BERUBE PLAYS FINAL GAME
Player/assistant coach Craig Berube recorded an assist in the final game of his 18-year career on Sunday in Hershey. Ironically, the 38-year-old began his career with the Bears back in 1986-87. Berube finished his career with 205 points (73G, 132A) and 3,746 PIM in 1,188 NHL and AHL games. "The Chief" will be a full-time assistant coach with the Phantoms next season.
LAW JOINS 100-GOAL CLUB
On April 11, All-Star right wing Kirby Law joined Peter White and Mark Greig as the only players to score 100 goals as a Phantom. Law completed the season with team highs in goals (32), points (73) and shots (232), while adding 41 assists, nine power-play goals, four game-winning goals and a plus-16 rating. The assist and point totals were career highs.
RECORDS & MILESTONES
* The Phantoms obliterated the club record for fewest goals allowed with 168 (2.10 per game). The previous mark of 210 was accomplished in 2001-02.
* Philadelphia's team record for shutouts entering the season was five (2000-01). This year, Antero Niittymaki finished with seven and Neil Little had six as the Phantoms almost tripled the record with 13.
* Little broke his own club record for lowest goals-against average in a season with a 1.96. The old mark of 2.02 was set in 2001-02.
* The Phantoms drew an AHL season-high crowd of 15,603 on Jan. 31 for a 4-3 overtime win over Milwaukee.
* Philadelphia won its 300th game in franchise history on Nov. 29 - a 4-0 shutout at Albany.
* Ian MacNeil's power-play goal 3:19 into the first period on Feb. 27 in Cincinnati was the 2,000th goal in Phantoms history.
* Philadelphia set club records for most penalty minutes in a game (210) and most combined penalty minutes in a game (373) in a 5-1 loss to Binghamton on Dec. 28. Peter Vandermeer also set an individual team record with 44 PIM.
* John Slaney's goal 11:14 into the third period on Feb. 21 in Hershey made him the AHL's all-time leading scorer among defensemen.
PENALTY LEADERS
The Phantoms finished atop the league standings in penalty minutes (28.24 per game), minor penalties (622), 10-minute misconducts (24) and game misconducts (23), while placing third in major penalties (107).
PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS
4/10 - ADD Ben Eager, signed to ATO
PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS (final)
* Kirby Law finished fifth in points (73), tied for ninth in assists (41), fifth in goals (32), 11h in shots (232) and tied for 16th in power-play goals (9)
* Peter White finished tied for fifth in assists (48), tied for 15th in plus/minus (+20) and 17th in points (60)
* Mike Peluso finished tied for 16th in shots (220)
* Peter Vandermeer finished first in penalty minutes (398)
* Boyd Kane finished first in minor penalties (71)
* Neil Little finished sixth in goals-against average (1.96), tied for 10th in wins (21) and tied for seventh in shutouts (6)
* Antero Niittymaki finished fifth in wins (24), tied for fifth in shutouts (7) and ninth in goals-against average (2.02)
* Dennis Seidenberg finished tied for second among defensemen in game-winning goals (4)
* Randy Jones finished tied for 15th among rookies in assists (24)
* Kirk Furey finished tied for 11th overall and sixth among defensemen in plus/minus (+22)
* John Slaney finished tied for seventh overall in power-play goals (11) and tied for 15th in plus/minus (+20). Among defensemen, he was first in goals (19) and shooting percentage (.151), game-winning goals (5), power-play goals (11) and shorthanded goals (2), third in points (48), tied for 10th in plus/minus and tied for 13th in assists (29)
* Freddy Meyer finished third among defensemen in goals (14) and tied for sixth in power-play goals (6). Among rookies, he was tied for fifth in power-play goals, tied for 13th in goals and 12th in plus/minus (+13).
* The Phantoms finished tied for first in wins (46), second in shots allowed per game (25.85), fourth in power-play goals scored (66) and fifth in goals allowed per game (2.10)
PHANTOMS NOTES
* Stefan Ruzicka made his pro debut on April 10 at Bridgeport.
* The Phantoms recorded just their second 0-0 tie in club history on April 10 in Bridgeport. The other was on Oct. 10, 1998 when Brian Boucher and Syracuse's Craig Hillier pitched matching shutouts.
* Ian MacNeil played in his 500th game as a pro on April 10 at Bridgeport.
* Philadelphia went 8-0 this season when wearing its purple third jerseys.
* Mark Murphy was the only Phantom to appear in all 80 games.
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.
American Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2004
- Canucks Recall Robert McVicar - Manitoba Moose
- Rampage weekly - San Antonio Rampage
- Admirals ready for playoffs - Milwaukee Admirals
- Sound Tigers Finish Regular Season On Eight Game Unbeaten Streak - Bridgeport Islanders
- Langfeld Assigned To Binghamton - Binghamton Senators
- Aeros, Stars ink secondary affiliation deal - Houston Aeros
- Crunch Challenge Central New York Residents to Grow Playoff Beards - Syracuse Crunch
- Bears raise over $62,000 for central PA charities in 2003-04 - Hershey Bears
- G Harding assigned to Aeros - Houston Aeros
- Round One: Syracuse Crunch vs. Rochester Americans - Syracuse Crunch
- Craig Assigned from Hershey & Cruikshank Placed on IR - Hershey Bears
- Phantoms Weekly - Adirondack Phantoms
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