Phantoms Weekly

Published on April 26, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms and Norfolk Admirals split the first two games of their East Division Semifinal series. On Wednesday, Ian MacNeil and Stefan Ruzicka each scored to lead Philadelphia to a 2-1 win in Game One. Antero Niittymaki made 30 saves and recorded an assist to post the win in his first postseason appearance as a Phantom. Michael Leighton stopped 33 shots for Norfolk, while Shawn Thornton spoiled Niittymaki's shutout bid with 3:12 remaining in the game. Norfolk evened the series on Friday when Quintin Laing scored 9:51 into overtime of a 2-1 Admirals victory. Ajay Baines also scored and Craig Anderson registered 28 saves for Norfolk. MacNeil tallied Philadelphia's lone goal and Niittymaki turned aside 14 shots.

PHANTOMS VS. NORFOLK

The Phantoms went 5-4-1 vs. the Norfolk Admirals during the regular season (3-1-1 at home, 2-3 on the road). Kirby Law and Patrick Sharp led Philadelphia with seven points apiece, while Randy Jones, Mark Murphy and Peter White each had six points. Law topped all Phantoms with five goals and White led the team with six assists. Neil Little went 3-1 with a 1.26 GAA, while Antero Niittymaki was 2-3-1 with a 2.15 GAA. Each goalie had one shutout.

For Norfolk, Ajay Baines and Carsen Germyn had five points apiece against Philadelphia. Baines topped the Admirals with four goals, while Germyn, Marty Wilford and Burke Henry all had four assists. Steve Passmore (1-2 with a 1.67 GAA) and Craig Anderson (3-2 with a 2.02 GAA) saw the most action in net for Norfolk.

Philadelphia is 17-17-2-2 all-time vs. the Admirals, and is meeting them in postseason play for the first time.

PLAYOFF FACTS

* Ian MacNeil has scored the first goal of the game in each of the first two contests vs. Norfolk.

* The Phantoms set a franchise playoff record by allowing just 16 shots in Game Two. The previous record of 18 was set vs. Hershey in Game Five of the 1997 Mid-Atlantic Division Finals.

* Philadelphia is 7-7 all-time when a playoff game goes into overtime.

* Only four current Phantoms (Neil Little, Kirby Law, Peter Vandermeer & John Slaney) remain from the team's last postseason appearance in 2002.

* Antero Niittymaki is only the fifth goaltender to appear in a playoff game with the Phantoms.

EAST DIVISION CHAMPS

The Phantoms captured the F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy as the champion of the AHL's East Division this season. 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.

BACK IN THE PLAYOFFS

The Phantoms are back in the playoffs after not qualifying last year for the first time. In its last postseason appearance in 2002, Philadelphia finished as the eighth seed in the Western Conference and swept a best-of-three qualifying round series against the Rochester Americans. The Phantoms then took on the top-seeded Syracuse Crunch and got swept in the best-of-five conference quarterfinals.

PHANTOMS NOTES

* Dennis Seidenberg returned to action in Game One after missing the final 42 games of the regular season due to a broken leg.

* Ben Stafford also played in Game One after sitting out the final seven games with an elbow injury.

* Jeff Carter recorded five shots in his pro debut in Game One.

* Stefan Ruzicka scored his first goal as a pro in Game One.

* Antero Niittymaki put together a rare two-game point streak last week. After scoring in the regular-season finale in Hershey on April 11, the goalie assisted on Ian MacNeil's first-period goal in Game One vs. Norfolk.

REGULAR-SEASON 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 AMONG THE REGULAR-SEASON 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), 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 first among defensemen in shooting percentage (.151), third 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)

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 26, 2004


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