Phantoms Weekly

Published on January 10, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Phantoms went 2-1 over the weekend to extend their lead in the AHL's East Division to eight points. On Friday, Jamie Pushor's first goal of the season midway through the third period was the difference as the visiting Syracuse Crunch posted a 2-1 victory over the Phantoms. Jon Sim tallied the lone goal and Antero Niittymaki made 29 saves for Philadelphia, which is winless in its last six meetings with the Crunch. The Phantoms traveled to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday and came away with a 4-3 win after Patrick Sharp scored twice in a shootout. Neil Little stopped 24-of-27 shots before denying the final two Penguins in the shootout. Eric Meloche, R.J. Umberger and Sim all scored in regulation for the Phantoms. Philadelphia returned home on Sunday and cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Albany River Rats. Little stopped all 27 shots he faced to record his 16th shutout as a Phantom and Sim tallied a pair of goals during the third period. Dennis Seidenberg and Ryan Ready each added two points to help Philadelphia snap a four-game home losing streak.

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

Philadelphia has two wins and a shootout loss against the Binghamton Senators heading into Wednesday's showdown. The Phantoms posted a 3-2 victory in the first meeting between the teams on Nov. 13 before a 2-1 shootout victory at home four days later. The Senators responded with a shootout victory of their own on Dec. 19, downing the Phantoms 3-2. Philadelphia is now 4-5 all-time against the Senators, including a 1-4 mark when playing at home. The teams, who never faced each other prior to 2003-04, will next face off on Saturday, March 19 in Binghamton.

The Phantoms bring a 1-0-2 mark vs. the Norfolk Admirals into Friday and Sunday's match-ups. Ben Stafford lifted Philadelphia to a 3-2 win on Nov. 14 when he scored 2:41 into overtime. Norfolk answered with a 2-1 triumph on Dec. 4 thanks to Pavel Vorobiev's goal with 41.1 seconds left in overtime, and then posted another 2-1 overtime win on Mikhail Yakubov's score. Philadelphia went 5-4-1 against the Admirals last year, including a 3-1-1 mark at home, before defeating Norfolk in six games in the East Division Semifinals. The Phantoms are 18-17-2-4 all-time vs. Norfolk (10-9-1-2 at home & 8-8-1-2 on the road). The teams will next play on Feb. 9 in Norfolk.

WORKIN' OVERTIME

The Phantoms went into overtime or a shootout five times in six games from Dec. 19-Jan. 1. Philadelphia is now 4-2 in overtime games and 5-3 in shootouts, and its combined 14 games going past regulation tie for most in the AHL with Portland. The Phantoms have played the most shootout games (8) in the league and are tied with Hartford for the most shootout wins (5).

WOOD EARNS ECHL ALL-STAR NOD

Rookie defenseman Stephen Wood was named to the National Conference team for the 2005 ECHL All-Star Game last week. The game is taking place on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the Sovereign Center in Reading, Pa. Prior to his call-up to the Phantoms on Dec. 16, Wood compiled 10 points (2G, 8A) and 27 penalty minutes in 20 games with the Trenton Titans. He is scoreless with a plus-1 rating in 11 games as a Phantom this year.

HALL OF FAME NIGHT

Former head coach Bill Barber and legendary tough guy Frank "The Animal" Bialowas became the first two inductees into the Phantoms Hall of Fame on Sunday, Jan. 9, as Philadelphia held a special Hall of Fame induction ceremony prior to its 3-0 win over the Albany River Rats. Barber and Bialowas were joined at center ice by their families as a banner with their names on it was raised to the rafters of the Wachovia Spectrum.

PHANTOMS TRANSACTIONS
1/6 - ADD Brent Robinson, recalled from Trenton (ECHL)
1/8 - ADD Chris Houle, recalled from Trenton (ECHL)
1/8 - ADD Nick Deschenes, recalled from Trenton (ECHL)
1/8 - DELETE Nick Deschenes, reassigned to Trenton (ECHL)

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS

Everyone in attendance on Jan. 9 during Win-One-Get-One-Free Night can redeem their ticket stubs on Wednesday for a free ticket to that night's game against Binghamton. Wednesday is also a Business Persons Special, as fans can purchase $8 tickets in exchange for their business card. The $8 ticket also includes a free beverage at Bullies prior to the game. On Sunday, a NASCAR racecar will be on display inside the Wachovia Spectrum.

PHANTOMS AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERS (thru 1/9)
* Ben Eager is tied for third among rookies in minor penalties (24).
* Josh Gratton is tied for fourth in penalty minutes (182) and major penalties (20).
* Freddy Meyer is third among defensemen in shooting percentage (.125).
* Antero Niittymaki is fourth in goals-against average (1.96) and tied for second in shootout wins (3).
* Joni Pitkanen is tied for 12th among defensemen in points (21) and tied for fourth in shots (95).
* Dennis Seidenberg is tied for 10th among defensemen in points (22) and tied for first in game-winning goals (3).
* R.J. Umberger is seventh among rookies in points (23), fifth in goals (11) and tied for sixth in assists (12).
* Tony Voce is 11th among rookies in points (18), tied for second in power-play goals (4) and tied for fourth in plus/minus (+8).
* The Phantoms are fifth in shots allowed per game (27.59), third in goals allowed per game (2.27), ninth in power-play percentage (17.4), and seventh in penalty minutes per game (27.43) and goals per game (3.03).

PHANTOMS NOTES
* All three of Philadelphia's wins over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season have been in a shootout.
* Eric Meloche changed his jersey number from 22 to 27 on Jan. 8 and proceeded to score for the first time in 10 games that night against his former team in Wilkes-Barre.
* Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre scored eight seconds apart in Saturday's game, as Jon Sim lit the lamp just moments after Michel Ouellet during the second period. The Phantoms' record for fastest two goals by both teams is six seconds, however.
* Patrick Sharp recorded his 100th point as a pro on Jan. 9.
* Philadelphia has outscored the opposition 44-22 in the second period of games this season, but owns just a 59-57 lead in the first and third periods combined.
* The Phantoms are unbeaten in their last seven meetings (6-0-1) with Albany at home. The River Rats last won in Philadelphia on Dec. 9, 2000.
* Philadelphia's penalty-killing unit is 22-for-23 over the last three games.

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 Four Pack.

UPCOMING GAMES
Date Opponent Site Time (ET)
Wednesday, Jan. 12 Binghamton Senators Wachovia Spectrum 7:05 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 14 Norfolk Admirals Norfolk Scope 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 16 Norfolk Admirals Wachovia Spectrum 7:05 p.m.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
Date Opponent Site W-L Score
Friday, Jan. 7 Syracuse Crunch Wachovia Spectrum L 2-1
Saturday, Jan. 8 W-B/Scranton Penguins Wachovia Arena W 4-3 (SO)
Sunday, Jan. 9 Albany River Rats Wachovia Spectrum W 3-0

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American Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2005


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