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Phantoms Weekly

April 7, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


WEEKEND RECAP

The Phantoms secured seven out of a possible eight points last week to keep themselves in prime position to win the organization's fifth division championship. The Phantoms kicked things off last Wednesday with a 1-0 shutout of Norfolk that came on the back of 23 saves by Martin Houle. On Friday, the Phantoms lost to Bridgeport 6-5 in overtime despite scoring four power play goals on the evening. Saturday saw a 2-1 overtime win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Michael Teslak's first career start and win. On Sunday the Purple beat Bridgeport by a 5-4 count. Stefan Ruzicka had four points (1G, 3A) in the victory.

UPCOMING OPPONENTS

Friday, April 11, 7:05 and Saturday, April 12, Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears, 7:00: The Phantoms and the Bears (Washington Capitals) will finish out their 12-game season series with a home-and-home beginning in Philadelphia on Friday and ending in Hershey on Saturday. The Phantoms and Bears each have five wins so far in the ten games played. The Bears won the last meeting between the two clubs, 3-1, with Frederic Cassivi making 25 saves on 26 Phantoms shots. The Bears are trying to wrap up the final playoff spot in the East Division, and can do so with a win in one of their remaining three games or some stumbles by Bridgeport and Binghamton.

Sunday, April 13- Phantoms vs. Albany River Rats, 5:05: The Phantoms and River Rats (Carolina Hurricanes) will wrap up the regular season on Fan Appreciation Night at the Wachovia Spectrum. Albany has clinched a playoff spot and a postseason matchup against either the Phantoms or the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Phantoms are currently 4-2-1 against the River Rats, and are 3-0 at home. The River Rats won the last meeting between the two clubs, 2-1. Michael Leighton made 29 saves on 30 Phantoms shots.

Live audio and video broadcasts are available for every game at Phantomshockey.com.

PHANTOMS RESET

The Phantoms start the last week of the 2007-08 season with a record of 45-25-4-3 for 97 points. With Sunday's win over Bridgeport, the Phantoms assured themselves of no worse than a second-place finish in the East Division, meaning they have clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. However, the Phantoms could still play any one of four teams in the first round, as the East Division is the only one in the AHL where the division title and the playoff participants have yet to be finalized. Here is the current situation in the East Division:

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins: 46-26-1-4 for 97 points with three games remaining.

Max wins: 49 Max points: 103

Philadelphia Phantoms: 45-25-4-3 for 97 points with three games remaining.

Max wins: 48 Max points: 103

Albany River Rats: 42-28-3-4 for 91 points with three games remaining.

Max wins: 45 Max points: 97

Hershey Bears: 39-30-2-6 for 86 points with three games remaining.

Max wins: 42 Max points: 92

Binghamton Senators: 34-30-8-5 for 81 points with three games remaining.

Max wins: 37 Max points: 87

Bridgeport Sound Tigers: 38-34-1-3 for 80 points with four games remaining.

Max wins: 42 Max points: 88

In their pursuit of the East Division title, the Phantoms enter the final week of the season needing Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to lose at least one game. If both teams win out, the Penguisn would take the championship based on the first tiebreaker, which is overall wins. Wilkes-Barre currently holds that with one more win than the Phantoms. The second tiebreaker is points in the head-to-head series. The Phantoms hold that tiebreaker.

The Penguins play at home against Bridgeport on Wednesday, on the road at Albany on Friday and then finish their season at home on Saturday against Norfolk.

The Phantoms play a home-and-home series with Hershey on Friday and Saturday and then play Albany at home on Sunday.

At the other end of the playoff race, Hershey needs one more win to clinch the final playoff spot in the East. The Phantoms could have a lot to say about that race, as they face Hershey twice. If the Phantoms win both games and Bridgeport or Binghamton win its remaining games, Hershey could need to win its final game of the season on Sunday to make the playoffs.

PUZZLE BANKS THIS FRIDAY NIGHT

This year's Phantoms Puzzle Bank will be given away Friday night to the first 2,000 kids 14 and under, courtesy of Wachovia, when the Phantoms host the Hershey Bears. The top-shelf giveaway item features a challenging puzzle of Phantoms goaltender Scott Munroe.

IT'S YOUR NIGHT ON SUNDAY

The Phantoms will wrap up the regular season on Sunday night with the yearly Fan Appreciation Night gala. The team will be giving away hundreds of prizes, including the very jerseys the team wears during the game. It could also clinch the Phantoms an East Division championship!

Tickets for both games are still available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at Phantomshockey.com or by phone at 800-298-4200.

RUZICKA NOMINATED FOR PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The Phantoms nominated RW Stefan Ruzicka for Rbk/AHL Player of the Week honors this week. Ruzicka posted seven points last week on two goals and five assists. He did all his scoring over two games, posting a goal and two assists on Friday night in a 6-5 overtime loss at Bridgeport and recording a goal and three assists in Philadelphia's 5-4 revenge win over the Sound Tigers on Sunday, earning first star honors in that game. He was a -1 on the week and took a total of 17 shots.

FAN'S CHOICE VOTING UNDERWAY

Now's your chance to pick your player of the year! The annual Fan's Choice award goes to the player voted a fan favorite by you, the fans. Voting will get underway on Tuesday online at phantomshockey.com.

NOTES

Jeff Tambellini's hat trick on Friday night was the first the Phantoms have surrendered all year. The last hat trick against the Phantoms was tallied by Marc-Antoin Pouliot of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on February 7, 2007. Tambellini's trick was just the fifth hat trick against the Phantoms in the last three years and the 29th against in team history... Martin Houle's shutout of Norfolk on Wednesday was the team's ninth this season. That ties this year's club with the 2004-05 club for the second-most shutouts in a season in team history. The club record is 13 shutouts in the 2003-04 season... the Phantoms need three points out of a possible six this weekend to become the fifth 100-point team in franchise history. Their current point total of 97 points already secures them at least the sixth-best regular season record in team history, and at least a 37-point turnaround from a year ago. This year's squad can still eclipse the 2003-04 point total of 101 and can tie the 2004-05 point total of 103... Today's additions of Andreas Nodl and Michael Ratchuk will give the Phantoms eight players who have joined their roster from the amateur ranks since March 14. Six of those eight players are Flyers draft picks from the last four years.

ZINGONI IN LINE TO WIN CSN BRACKET CHALLENGE

Pete Zingoni and Phlex are representing the Phantoms in the Comcast SportsNet Bracket Challenge during the NCAA Tournament, and Zingoni's bracket will be the winner among the celebrities if Kansas wins tonight! Fans can head over to www.comcastsportsnet.com and see how their picks have stacked up with the two Phantoms representatives and several other CSN personalities, area athletes and noted figures.

PHANTOMS HOCKEY ON THE INTERNET

The Phantoms have teamed up with the Philadelphia Area Dodge Dealers to provide free audio broadcasts of all Phantoms games, home and away, this season. The Phantoms official website, Phantomshockey.com, in conjunction with league and team partner B2 Networks, will provide the home for the audio. In addition to the games, Dodge will also bring the ever-popular Coaches Corner to fans on Phantomshockey.com. New editions of the weekly sit-down with Phantoms head coach Craig Berube will be posted to the site every Tuesday.

WATCH THE GAMES THROUGH B2

Every Phantoms game this season is being broadcast with streaming video through the league's partnership with B2 Networks. A ticket for the game is $6, which allows fans to watch the game via a broadband Internet connection from their own homes! Visit www.phantomshockey.com for more details.

TICKET INFORMATION

All kids tickets for all Phantoms games are just $10. To purchase, go to phantomshockey.com or call 1-800-298-4200.

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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.

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