Phantoms zapped up north

January 16, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


SYRACUSE - Penalty trouble once again dogged the Philadelphia Phantoms on Wednesday night, as the Syracuse Crunch used a 3-for-9 night on the power play to charge to a 5-3 win at the Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter.

Each team scored in the first period, with the Phantoms starting the scoring early thanks to some assistance from Syracuse defenseman Brett Motherwell's face. Stefan Ruzicka

took a wrist shot that clanged against Motherwell's grill and fell to the ice in front of Pete Zingoni, who pushed it past Adam Munro for the 1-0 advantage just 1:50 into the game.

The Phantoms had a power play with about five minutes left in the period, but it was Syracuse that capitalized with a shorthanded goal on a three-on-one rush. Adam Pineault finished it off at 15:21 to tie the game at 1-1.

The Crunch posted their first power-play marker just 28 seconds into the second period. Joakim Lindstrom found the back of the net for the early goal, which gave Syracuse a 2-1 lead.

Kyle Greentree leveled the score just over three minutes later with a power play goal of his own. He redirected a Frederik Cabana point parcel past the leg of Munro at 3:48, knotting matters at 2-2.

But Syracuse blew the game open with three consecutive goals over the rest of the period, the first two of which completed the power play onslaught. First it was Gilbert Brule blasting home a one-timer from the left circle off a cross-ice pass at 8:07, and Zenon Konopka knocked one home at 14:53. Twenty-seven seconds later, Derek Mackenzie scored to give Syracuse a 5-2 lead.

The Phantoms got one goal back in the third period when Triston Grant redirected an Oskars Bartulis shot past Munro just under five minutes into the frame. But the Phantoms could muster no more scoring.

Brian Boucher took the loss after allowing five goals on 28 shots in 35:20 of action. He was spelled after the fifth goal by Scott Munroe, who stopped the remaining 13 of Syracuse's 41 shots. Munro stopped 21 of Philadelphia's 24 shots. The game marked the second consecutive night that the Phantoms allowed five goals, and the three power play goals came after Manchester posted four power-play markers on Sunday.

The Phantoms are now 27-13-1-0 for 55 points. They'll return to action on Friday night at the Wachovia Spectrum when they host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. It's Country Craze Night, with national recording artist Whiskey Falls performing a postgame concert on the Spectrum ice. Also on Friday, the #99 Carl Edwards Office Depot Sprint Cup car will be on the concourse. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

MEDIA NOTE - ROSS TO MISS ALL-STAR GAME: Jared Ross underwent an appendectomy on Wednesday morning at a Syracuse hospital after suffering from abdominal pains on Tuesday night. Because of the procedure, he will be unable to participate in the on-ice portions of the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Reebok, but is still looking to attend the event. Ross had previously been selected to represent the Phantoms on the PlanetUSA squad. A replacement will be announced by the AHL in the near future.



American Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2008


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