Phantoms Weekly

June 6, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHANTOMS UP 2-0 IN CALDER CUP FINALS
The Phantoms are halfway toward the Calder Cup title after a pair of wins in Chicago last week. The series began on Thursday when Antero Niittymaki stopped all 27 shots he faced in a 1-0 Philadelphia victory. Niittymaki made 13 of his 27 saves in the first period before Mike Richards tallied the only goal of the game 5:58 into the second during a power play. Chicago's Kari Lehtonen finished with 31 saves to suffer the hard-luck loss. On Saturday, Patrick Sharp scored 3:50 into the second overtime to lift the Phantoms to a 2-1 win over the Wolves. John Slaney added a second-period power-play goal and Niittymaki made 48 saves as Philadelphia assumed a 2-0 series lead for the fourth time this postseason. Steve Maltais tallied the lone goal and Lehtonen registered 26 saves for Chicago, which went 1-for-13 on the power play.

NIITTYMAKI ON TOP OF HIS GAME
Goaltender Antero Niittymaki has stopped 75-of-76 shots over the first two games to help Philadelphia assume a 2-0 lead in the Calder Cup Finals. The 24-year-old notched his third playoff shutout on Thursday by making 27 saves and then turned aside 48 shots in Saturday's double-overtime triumph, only allowing a second-period power-play goal during a 5-on-3 advantage for Chicago. The Wolves are a combined 1-for-18 on the power play thus far in the series.

PICARD MAKES PRO DEBUT
With defenseman Randy Jones out with an injury for Game Two, the Phantoms opted to sign 19-year-old Alexandre Picard to an amateur tryout contract to fill the roster spot. Picard, who had been practicing with the Phantoms since the beginning of the Eastern Conference Finals, made his pro debut on Saturday while being paired with veteran John Slaney. A 2003 third-round draft pick by the Flyers, Picard was named the Halifax Mooseheads' team MVP this season after totaling 38 points (15G, 23A), 46 PIM and a plus-18 rating in 68 games.

BACK IN THE CALDER CUP FINALS
Philadelphia is in the Calder Cup Finals for the second time in its nine-year history. The Phantoms' first trip came in 1998, when they beat the Saint John Flames in six games to capture the Calder Cup in just their second year of existence.

PHANTOMS VS. CHICAGO
Philadelphia and Chicago are meeting for the first time since the 2002-03 season. Chicago joined the AHL from the defunct International Hockey League in 2001-02 and went 3-0-1 against the Phantoms during the teams' only career match-ups. The Wolves, who won the Calder Cup in 2002, advanced to this year's finals thanks to series wins over Houston, Cincinnati and Manitoba.

The 2005 Calder Cup Finals is a match-up of the leagues' top two postseason offenses and defenses. Entering the series, Chicago was averaging an AHL-best 3.29 goals per game and 1.57 goals allowed per game, while Philadelphia was second at 3.24 goals per game and 2.06 goals allowed per game.

PHANTOMS ON TV
If necessary, Games Five, Six and Seven of the Calder Cup Finals would be televised live in Philadelphia. Comcast SportsNet will air Game Five from the Wachovia Center on Saturday at 7:05 p.m., as well as Game Six from Chicago on Monday, June 13 at 8:05 p.m. ET. CN8 is set to televise Game Seven from Chicago on Wednesday, June 15 at 8:05 p.m. ET.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The Phantoms have compiled a combined 13-2 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 9-0 thus far in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Philadelphia is now 21-8 all-time when playing at the Wachovia Center during the postseason.

PHILADELPHIA ON HOME WIN STREAK
Philadelphia's current 11-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 nine games this postseason and the final two home games of the 2004 East Division Finals vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

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
* Philadelphia has allowed just six first-period goals in 19 games this postseason.
* The Phantoms are up 2-0 after beginning a playoff series on the road for the first time in club history.
* The Phantoms' 1-0 win in Game One was the first ever by a road team in Calder Cup Finals history.
* Mike Richards' goal in Game One ended a streak of 352:58 in which Chicago did not trail in a game, which dated back to the division finals against Cincinnati.
* John Slaney has tied Dave MacIsaac for most career playoff points (26) by a Phantoms defenseman.
* The Phantoms are 13-1 this postseason when scoring at least two goals in a game.
* Philadelphia is 15-1 this season when wearing its purple third jerseys (6-1 in regular season & 9-0 in playoffs).
* Philadelphia is now 10-8 all-time in overtime playoff games.
* The Phantoms are 59-38 all-time in postseason play, including a 35-15 mark at home.

PLAYOFF PEP RALLY ON TUESDAY
Chickie's & Pete's in South Philadelphia (16th & Packer) will host a Phantoms Playoff Pep Rally this Tuesday from 5:00-7:00 p.m. The event will feature appearances by Phantoms coaches John Stevens, Kjell Samuelsson and Craig Berube, while Flyers and Phantoms broadcaster Steve Coates will serve as master of ceremonies for the pep rally. The Phantom Patrol and Phlex will distribute Cheer Cards upon arrival, and Chickie's & Pete's will offer a special discount to Phantoms fans wearing Phantoms jerseys, t-shirts and hats.

UPCOMING PHANTOMS INTERVIEWS
* Ben Stafford will be a guest on KYW TV's morning show during the 6:00 a.m. hour on Tuesday, June 7.
* Todd Fedoruk and Riley Cote will be guests on FOX's Good Day Philadelphia this Tuesday at 7:50 a.m.
* Jeff Carter will enter the AHL chat room this Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at www.theahl.com.

TRENTON WINS KELLY CUP
The Philadelphia Flyers' other minor-league affiliate, the Trenton Titans, captured the Kelly Cup Finals for the championship of the East Coast Hockey League. Trenton defeated the Florida Everblades in six games last week for the franchise's first ECHL title. 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.

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.

CALDER CUP FINALS (best-of-seven)
Date Opponent Site Time (ET)/Result
Thursday, June 2 Chicago Wolves Allstate Arena W 1-0
Saturday, June 4 Chicago Wolves Allstate Arena W 2-1 (2OT)
Wednesday, June 8 Chicago Wolves Wachovia Center 7:05 p.m.
Friday, June 10 Chicago Wolves Wachovia Center 7:05 p.m.
*Saturday, June 11 Chicago Wolves Wachovia Center 7:05 p.m. (CSN)
*Monday, June 13 Chicago Wolves Allstate Arena 8:00 p.m. (CSN)
*Wednesday, June 15 Chicago Wolves Allstate Arena 8:00 p.m. (CN8)

* if necessary



American Hockey League Stories from June 6, 2005


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