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Phantoms Weekly

May 3, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms captured their East Division Semifinal series vs. the Norfolk Admirals in six games. On Tuesday in Game Three, Mark Murphy scored twice and John Slaney added a goal and an assist as Philadelphia posted a 3-1 victory. Antero Niittymaki needed to make just 17 saves to post the win, but was tested a bit more the following night when Philadelphia downed the Admirals, 2-1, in three overtimes. Niittymaki stopped 49-of-50 shots in Game Four and rookie B.J. Abel tallied the game-winner 13:02 into the sixth period. Norfolk avoided elimination on Friday with a 2-1 triumph in Game Five. Craig Anderson recorded 26 saves to notch the win and Blake Bellefeuille's power-play goal with 1:54 remaining was the difference. Peter Vandermeer scored the lone goal and Niittymaki turned aside 23 shots for Philadelphia. The Phantoms returned home on Saturday and captured the series with a 3-2 victory in Game Six. Peter White registered a goal and an assist as Philadelphia built a three-goal lead and held on for the win. Niittymaki finished with 27 saves.

PHANTOMS VS. WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON The Phantoms went 5-5 vs. the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins during the regular season (3-2 at home, 2-3 on the road). Kirby Law led Philadelphia in points (8) and assists (6), while John Slaney contributed six points and topped the club with four goals. Neil Little went 3-2 with a 2.18 GAA, while Antero Niittymaki was 2-3 with a 2.35 GAA.

For Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Matt Murley (10 points) and Kris Beech (9) were the top scorers against Philadelphia. Michel Ouellet topped the Penguins with four goals, while Murley had seven assists. Andy Chiodo finished 3-0-0-1 with a 1.65 GAA and Sebastien Caron shut out the Phantoms in each of his two starts.

Philadelphia is 31-17-3-1 all-time in regular-season play vs. the Penguins. The teams will be meeting in the playoffs for the second time, as Wilkes-Barre defeated the Phantoms in six games during the 2001 Western Conference Semifinals.

PLAYOFF FACTS
* Philadelphia scored first in five of the six games vs. Norfolk and outshot the Admirals five times.
* Four different Phantoms had the game-winning goal during the East Division Semifinals.
* Philadelphia is now 8-7 all-time when a playoff game goes into overtime.
* The Phantoms are 10-7 all-time in playoff games at the Wachovia Center.
* 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.

PHANTOMS PLAY EIGHTH-LONGEST GAME IN AHL HISTORY

The running time of 113:02 during Philadelphia's 2-1 victory in three overtimes in Game Four at Norfolk was the longest in Phantoms history and the eighth longest in AHL annals. Philadelphia's previous record for the longest game was 100:42 - a 3-2 loss in Hershey in Game Six of the 1997 Mid-Atlantic Division Finals. In case you were wondering, the AHL record for longest game occurred in Game Two of last year's Calder Cup Finals between Houston and Hamilton - a four-overtime affair that lasted 134:56.

OTHER PHANTOMS PLAYOFF RECORDS
* The Phantoms set a playoff record by allowing just 16 shots in Game Two vs. Norfolk. The previous record of 18 was set vs. Hershey in Game Five of the 1997 Mid-Atlantic Division Finals.
* Also in Game Two, the Phantoms tied a playoff record by allowing three shots in the third period. Philadelphia also allowed just three shots at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the third period of Game Two of the 2001 Western Conference Semifinals.
* Philadelphia finished with a playoff record-low zero shots during the third period of Game Three at Norfolk. The previous record of two was set at Albany in the third period of Game Six of the 1998 Western Conference Finals. Philadelphia's all-time regular-season low for shots in a period is one.
* The Phantoms had a playoff record-low zero penalty minutes in Game Six vs. Norfolk. The previous mark of four was set vs. Hershey in Game Seven of the 1997 Mid-Atlantic Division Finals and in Game Five of the 2000 Mid-Atlantic Division Semifinals. The Phantoms accomplished the feat once during regular-season action - on Nov. 11, 2000 at St. John's.
* The six combined penalty minutes in Game Six is also a new club playoff record. The previous mark of 12 was set vs. Hershey in Game Seven of the 1997 Mid-Atlantic Division Finals and in Game Five of the 2000 Mid-Atlantic Division Semifinals.
* The nine goals allowed in the East Division Semifinals are the fewest in a seven-game series. The previous record of 11 was set vs. Albany in the 1998 Western Conference Finals. Philadelphia also broke the AHL record (10) for fewest goals allowed in a series that lasted six games.

WHITE BECOMES ALL-TIME POSTSEASON GAMES PLAYED LEADER

Already the Phantoms' all-time leader in playoff points, goals and assists, Peter White passed Neil Little last week to become number one in games played with 52. Little entered the 2004 postseason with 50 games played, but did not appear in the division semifinals. White now needs one game-winning goal to break a first-place tie (5) with Jim Montgomery and is two power-play goals away from breaking Montgomery's mark of seven.

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.

PHANTOMS NOTES
* B.J. Abel has a three-game point streak.
* Jeff Carter scored his first goal as a pro in Game Six.
* Antero Niittymaki had a scoreless streak of 125:24 snapped in Game Five.
* The Phantoms are now 9-0 this season when wearing their purple third jerseys.
* Peter Vandermeer's goal in Game Five was his first in the playoffs since 1999, when he helped Rochester advance to the Calder Cup Finals.

TICKET INFORMATION

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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