Phantoms Weekly

Published on November 3, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5 - PHANTOMS at LOWELL, 7:00 PM - Tsongas Arena

This will be the first of four matchups this season between the Phantoms and the Lowell Devils (New Jersey Devils). The Devils have a .500 record at 4-4-0-1 and currently sit in 5th place in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division. Pascal Rheaume leads the Devils with nine points on three goals and six assists. The Phantoms swept the season series against Lowell last year, winning all four times they met. The Devils have their sights on moving up in their division, as they currently sit only four points out of first place.

FRIDAY, NOV. 7 - PHANTOMS at MANCHESTER, 7:30 PM - Verizon Wireless Center

The Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings) have gotten out to a slow start this year and currently sit in last place in the Atlantic Division at 2-5-0-1. This is the only time the Monarchs will host the Phantoms this season, but they will face them once more in Philadelphia in January. Gabe Gauthier has been a bright spot for the Monarchs, tallying seven points (2G, 7A) in eight games. The two teams faced each other twice during the 07-08 season, splitting the season series. The Monarchs will be looking to jump-start an offensive unit that has scored a league-low 19 goals.

SATURDAY, NOV. 8 - PHANTOMS at PORTLAND, 7:00 PM - Cumberland County Civic Center

The Phantoms and Portland Pirates (Buffalo Sabres) will square off for the first of two meetings this season. Portland is in its first season as Buffalo's affiliate after several years affiliated with Anaheim. Despite the switch, former Flyer Kevin Dineen remains as the head coach of the Pirates. Portland has started off the season strong and is currently riding a five game point streak heading into the week. They currently sit in a first-place tie in the Atlantic Division with 13 points. The goaltending duo of Jhonas Enroth and Adam Dennis each have recorded three wins in net to begin the year. The two teams split their two-game series last season.

SUNDAY, NOV. 9 - PHANTOMS VS. PROVIDENCE, 4:00 PM - Dunkin Donuts Center

Philadelphia ends its four game road trip with a visit to a Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins) team that sits in a tie with Portland for first place in the Atlantic Division. This will be the first of two contests between the two teams. Defenseman Johnny Boychuk is among the leaders in assists this season with 11 through their first nine games. With the 2008-09 season in full gear, the Bruins will attempt to pull away in a tight Atlantic division.

NEXT HOME GAME

The Phantoms return to the Wachovia Spectrum on Friday, November 14th when they host the Hershey Bears at 7:05 PM. It's Phantoms Children's Book Week and all fans who bring in a new or gently used children's book will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a Phantoms jersey. Also helping to celebrate the evening will be the Free Library of Philadelphia, which will be signing up fans for library cards. Tickets are still available! Call 1-800-298-4200 or go online to phantomshockey.com for more details.

PHANTOMS SET FOR 500th WIN

The next time the Phantoms win a game, they will have recorded the 500th victory in team history. Heading into this week's action, Philadelphia has an all-time record of 499-346-40-20 and 65 ties in 970 games all-time. That's an average of just over 41 wins per season over the club's existence.

FAST START FOR SYVRET

Defenseman Danny Syvret is no doubt surprising onlookers with his fast start to the season thus far. Syvret leads the Phantoms with two goals and nine assists for 11 points in the team's first 10 games. Syvret is already within nine points of his career high of 20 points in an entire season, which he hit in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons. Although it's early in the year, Syvret's current pace would give him 88 points on the season, which would shatter the Phantoms franchise record for points in a season by a defenseman. Jamie Heward's 65 points in the 1997-98 season sits as the high-water mark to this point.

DOWNIE PROVIDES BOOST

Steve Downie started this past week with the Phantoms and did so in a big way, tying a franchise record with four assists in the win over Norfolk on Wednesday night. After the performance, Downie was recalled by the Flyers. In just three AHL games this season, Downie had picked up six points and invigorated a Phantoms team that had lost four games in a row. In his first game back with the parent squad, Downie logged twelve shifts and 6:34 seconds of ice-time in a 3-2 victory against the New York Islanders.

BIG OVATION FOR WORLD SERIES CHAMPS

The Phillie Phanatic was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first puck pitch on Sunday night against the Hershey Bears. Goaltender Scott Munroe was on the receiving end of the Phanatic's throw, which was a called strike three by the Phantoms "umpire" Phlex.

The Phanatic drew a standing ovation from a hometown crowd still buzzing about the Philadelphia Phillies winning their first championship in 28 years.

NOMINATIONS

The Phantoms nominated LW Boyd Kane for Reebok/AHL Player of the Week honors this week. Kane recorded the first Phantoms hat trick in almost a full year and was first star in Saturday's 5-2 win at Hershey, and also recorded an assist in Sunday's 4-3 shootout win.

The Phantoms nominated Danny Syvret for CCM/AHL Player of the Month consideration. Syvret posted two goals and nine assists for 11 points over the 10 games in October. Although early in the season, his current pace would obliterate the Phantoms franchise record for points by a defenseman in a season, which is 65 posted by Jamie Heward in 1997-98. Syvret is already within nine points of his career high for points in a season, which was 20 with Grand Rapids two years ago and with AHL Edmonton three years ago.

Claude Giroux was nominated for Reebok Edge/AHL Rookie of the Month consideration. Giroux led the Phantoms vast rookie corps with three goals and four assists for seven points in 10 games in October. Giroux scored the game winning goal in Philadelphia's season opener back on October 10 vs. Bridgeport, and scored two of his three goals as part of Philadelphia's top power play unit.

Finally, the Phantoms nominated Scott Munroe for Reebok X-Pulse/AHL Goaltender of the Month consideration. Munroe was 3-1 in four starts for the Phantoms in October with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage. Munroe had one shutout, making 31 saves against Albany on October 25.

PHANTOMS NOTES

Boyd Kane's hat trick on Saturday was the first by a Phantom since Ryan Potulny accomplished the feat on November 9, 2007... The Phantoms reacquired Josh Gratton last week and he made his Phantoms return on Sunday vs. Hershey. Gratton came from Nashville in exchange for defenseman Tim Ramholt... Philadelphia's power play was 7-for-21 this week (33.3 percent) while the penalty kill snuffed out 17 of 19 opposing opportunities (89.5 percent). That's a special teams index of 122.8... The Phantoms allowed 21 shots to the Bears in the third period on Sunday. That's the most this season and three shy of the franchise record of 24, also set by the Bears back in the third period of a game in 2000.

PHANTOMS HOCKEY ON THE INTERNET

The Phantoms have joined with the rest of the American Hockey League in forming AHL Live, a brand-new way to catch Phantoms hockey on the Internet. Once again this year, all Phantoms games, home and away, can be viewed online at www.ahllive.com. The video broadcasts are $6 per game, and a full-season pass can be purchased for $140.

Also once again this year, fans can listen to just the audio portion of all games free of charge at Phantomshockey.com. The service is provided by AHL Live and is courtesy of your Philadelphia Area Dodge Dealers. Dodge will also bring the ever-popular Coaches Corner to fans on Phantomshockey.com.

TICKET INFORMATION

It's not too late to secure a great Phantoms ticket package for the 2008-09 season! Packages are available that range from six games to a full, pro-rated season ticket for all remaining Phantoms home games. Phantoms ticket packages get you a great list of benefits, including discounted seats, special perks and guaranteed access to tickets for the final regular season game at the Wachovia Spectrum on April 12, 2009. Call the Phantoms at 215-465-4522 for more details!

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

TOYOTA CUP STANDINGS

Through the first ten games of the season, Scott Munroe leads the annual race for the Toyota Cup. Players are awarded points each time they are chosen as a star of the game, with five points given for a first star, three points for a second star and one point for a third star. The player with the most points at the end of the season will win a monetary donation to the charity of his choice courtesy of Toyota.

Player 1st

Star 2nd

Star 3rd

Star Points

Scott Munroe 1 2 0 11

Claude Giroux 1 0 1 6

Danny Syvret 0 2 0 6

Boyd Kane 1 0 1 6

Jared Ross 1 0 0 5

David Laliberte 1 0 0 5

Steve Downie 0 1 1 4

Jonathan Matsumoto 0 0 1 1

Patrick Maroon 0 0 1 1

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American Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2008


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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