Phantoms Weekly
Published on May 23, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
The Phantoms opened up the Eastern Conference Finals over the weekend with a pair of wins at home against the Providence Bruins in Game One and Game Two, leaving them just two victories shy of their first appearance in the Calder Cup Finals since 1998 and six wins short of their second American Hockey League championship. On Friday, defenseman Freddy Meyer was the unlikely hero, scoring his first three career playoff goals to register the hat trick in a 4-2 Phantoms victory. Antero Niittymaki made 22 saves on 24 shots to pick up the victory in net, while Mike Richards capped the scoring with an empty net goal. Richards and Jon Sim each had two assists on the night. The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
The teams reconvened again the next night at the Wachovia Center, and this time it was Niittymaki who stole the show in a 3-0 victory for Philadelphia. The Turku, Finland native stopped all 33 shots he faced in recording his second shutout of the 2005 playoffs. Jeff Carter tallied a goal in the first period and was the only score through two periods of play. R.J. Umberger scored early in the third period to give the Phantoms a two-goal cushion before Richards registered his second empty net goal in as many nights.
NIITTYMAKI GETS HIS SECOND PLAYOFF SHUTOUT
Phantoms goaltender Antero Niittymaki made 33 saves on Saturday in leading the Phantoms to a 3-0 win in Game Two of the conference finals. He notched his second shutout of the postseason by making 10 saves in the first period, 14 in the second and nine in the final stanza. The 24-year-old netminder registered six shutouts during the regular season. In the playoffs thus far, Niittymaki has nine wins, a 1.89 goals against average and .939 save percentage. His other shutout came in a 3-0 victory over the Norfolk Admirals on April 23 in Game Two of the East Division Semifinals when he made 32 saves.
MEYER REGISTERS SIXTH PHANTOMS PLAYOFF HAT TRICK
After going without a goal in the first 11 games of the 2005 playoffs, Phantoms defenseman Freddy Meyer scored the Phantoms' first three in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday in a 4-2 victory. It was the second career hat trick for Meyer, with his last one coming on Feb. 21, 2004 in Hershey.
Meyer's hat trick was the sixth in Phantoms playoff history and first since Mark Greig accomplished the feat on April 27, 2001 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Meyer is the first defenseman to do so, however.
PHANTOMS LEADING THE WAY SINCE 1997
With 55 postseason victories over the last eight-plus seasons, the Phantoms have the most wins in the playoffs of any team in the American Hockey League over that span. Hamilton is second on the list (53), followed by Rochester (48) and the Phantoms' current opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals, Providence (46).
COMCAST SPORTSNET TO TELEVISE GAME SIX
Game Six, if necessary, of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Phantoms and Providence Bruins will be carried live on Comcast SportsNet. The game would take place at the Wachovia Center on Sunday night, May 29, and would feature Flyers radio play-by-play voice Tim Saunders as well as Flyers television color commentator Steve Coates, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
TRENTON LEADING IN KELLY CUP FINALS
The Philadelphia Flyers' other minor league affiliate, the Trenton Titans, are currently in the Kelly Cup Finals for the championship of the East Coast Hockey League. Trenton is facing the Florida Everblades, and has a two-games-to-none lead after winning the first two on the road. In Game One, the Titans dominated in a 7-0 shutout victory, before squeaking out a 2-1 win in Game Two. The next three games of the series are at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton. Current players on the Titans' roster who also saw time with the Phantoms this season include Jeff Smith, B.J. Abel, Stephen Wood, Rosario Ruggeri, Brent Robinson, Nick Deschenes and Chris Houle.
PLAYOFF RECORDS
* Philadelphia's current 10-game home playoff win streak is the longest in club history, breaking the previous record of five set during the 1999 postseason (May 7-22 vs. Kentucky & Rochester). The current streak includes the final two home games of the 2004 East Division Finals vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
* The scores by Jeff Carter, Jon Sim and Ryan Ready 2:11 apart in the comeback win last Friday against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were the fastest three goals in Phantoms playoff history. Jeff Lank, Craig Darby and Mike Maneluk accomplished the old mark of 3:54 on May 22, 1998 at Albany.
* Mike Richards tied a club record for most shorthanded goals (2) in a playoff series. Sean O'Brien first accomplished the feat against Kentucky during the 1999 Western Conference Semifinals.
* Philadelphia's 21 goals in the East Division Finals obliterated the previous team record of 13 for series that last five games. The 33 combined goals also broke the previous five-game series record of 28. Both marks were set during the 2000 Mid-Atlantic Division Semifinals against Hershey.
* The Phantoms matched a team record with eight power-play goals in the Wilkes-Barre series. The club did it in three prior series, most recently against Hershey in the 2000 Mid-Atlantic Division Semifinals.
PHANTOMS VS. PROVIDENCE
The Phantoms swept both meetings with the Bruins in 2004-05 and have captured the last seven match-ups vs. Providence, including the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals. Philadelphia posted a 4-3 overtime victory in Providence on Nov. 21 when Patrick Sharp evened the score with 1:20 left in regulation and Jon Sim tallied the game-winner 1:14 into the extra session. Three days later, Sim scored twice more and Antero Niittymaki stopped 20-of-21 shots in a 4-1 decision that included a combined 208 penalty minutes and seven fights.
In the two games vs. Providence during the regular season, Sim topped Philadelphia with five points (3G, 2A), including the game-winning goal in each game, while Niittymaki made both starts in net and recorded a 1.98 goals-against average. Patrice Bergeron and Brent Thompson each had two points to lead the Bruins.
The teams are meeting in postseason play for the first time.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The Phantoms have compiled a combined 12-2 record this season when playing at their other home arena, the Wachovia Center. The team sported a 4-2 mark in six regular-season contests there before going 8-0 thus far in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Philadelphia is now 20-8 all-time when playing at the Wachovia Center during the postseason.
The AHL record for consecutive home wins in the playoffs belongs to the Providence Bruins, who won 16 straight over three playoff runs in 1997, 1999 and 2000. The 1999 Bruins won 10 in a row at home in the playoffs, which is the single season mark.
PLAYOFF FACTS
* Ryan Ready has a five-game point-scoring streak (1G, 6A), tying him for the longest in the AHL this postseason.
* Mike Richards has a goal in each of the last four games, tying him for the longest in the AHL this postseason. His streak includes two shorthanded goals and two empty-net goals.
* A different Phantom has scored the game-winning goal in nine of the team's 10 postseason victories this year. Jeff Carter is the only player with more than one.
* The Phantoms' 12 combined goals in Games Four and Five of the division finals are the most in consecutive playoff games since the club also scored 12 from May 16-20, 1999 vs. Kentucky and Rochester.
* Philadelphia's 7-4 win in Game Five of the East Division Finals was its highest-scoring playoff game since an 8-2 win over the Penguins on April 27, 2001.
* Neil Little's relief appearance in Game Five of the division finals was his first playoff action since 2002.
* The Phantoms are 55-36 all-time in postseason play, including a 34-15 mark at home.
PHANTOMS AMONG THE POSTSEASON LEAGUE LEADERS (thru 5/22)
* Jeff Carter is tied for first in goals (10), third in points (14), tied for second in power-play goals (4) and tied for second in shots (48). He is also first among rookies in goals, points, power-play goals and shots, and plus/minus (+6).
* Josh Gratton is first in major penalties (3).
* Freddy Meyer is tied for fourth among defensemen in points (6), tied for second in goals (3), is third in shooting percentage (.150) and tied for third in plus/minus (+8).
* Antero Niittymaki is first in wins (9), tied for first in shutouts (2), second in minutes (763:11) and saves (371), third in goals against average (1.89) and fourth in save percentage (.939).
* Joni Pitkanen is second among defensemen in plus/minus (+9).
* Ryan Ready is tied for seventh in points (12) and is third in assists (11).
* Mike Richards is tied for first in shorthanded goals (2). He is also first among rookies in shorthanded goals, is second in points (11), second in goals (5), tied for second in assists (6) and tied for first in shooting percentage (.333).
* Patrick Sharp is tied for fourth in points (13) and is fourth in assists (10).
* Jon Sim is tied for seventh in points (12), tied for fourth in goals (6) and tied for second in power-play goals (4).
* R.J. Umberger is tied for fourth among rookies in points (7).
* The Phantoms are first in goals per game (3.38), second in goals allowed per game (1.92), fifth in power-play percentage (18.8) and sixth in penalty killing (88.0 percent).
TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets as well as strips for the entire playoffs, are on sale. Walk-up prices for individual Phantoms playoff games are $16, $20 and $21 for adults, and $10 for all children 14 and under. However, fans ordering tickets in advance can save $1 per ticket off the walk-up price. Contact the Phantoms sales office at 215-465-4522 to purchase 16-game playoff strips or for information on group discounts. In addition, the team is offering Playoff Family Value Packs for the first time at $52 (upper level) and $69 (lower level). 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
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS (best-of-seven)
Date Opponent Site Time (ET)/Results
Friday, May 20 Providence Bruins Wachovia Center 4-2 W
Saturday, May 21 Providence Bruins Wachovia Center 3-0 W
Monday, May 23 Providence Bruins Dunkin' Donuts Center 7:05 p.m.
Wednesday, May 25 Providence Bruins Dunkin' Donuts Center 7:05 p.m.
*Friday, May 27 Providence Bruins Dunkin' Donuts Center 7:05 p.m.
*Sunday, May 29 Providence Bruins Wachovia Center 7:05 p.m. (CSN)
*Tuesday, May 31 Providence Bruins Wachovia Spectrum 7:05 p.m.
Friday, May 20, 2005 - PHANTOMS 4, Providence 2
Scoring Attn. Shots PIM PP W/L Goalie (SA-SV)
Bruins 0-1-1 24 22 2-11 Toivonen (36-33)
PHANTOMS 2-1-1 7,261 37 31 1-5 Niittymaki (24-22)
Bruins: Dallman (4, PP), Hilbert (5, PP)
Phantoms: Meyer (1,2,3, PP, SH), Richards (4, EN)
Saturday, May 21, 2005 - PHANTOMS 3, Providence 0
Scoring Attn. Shots PIM PP W/L Goalie (SA-SV)
Bruins 0-0-0 33 17 0-2 Toivonen (24-22)
PHANTOMS 1-0-2 8,260 25 15 0-3 Niittymaki (33-33)
Bruins: None
Phantoms: Carter (10), Umberger (3), Richards (5, EN)
American Hockey League Stories from May 23, 2005
