Stefan "Rosey" Ruzicka's Natural Hat Trick Lifts Phantoms to 5-4 Overtime Victory

Published on October 6, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHILADELPHIA - Stefan Ruzicka registered just the third natural hat trick in team history with a goal 15 seconds into overtime to give the Philadelphia Phantoms a dramatic 5-4 extra-session win over the Norfolk Admirals at the Wachovia Center on Friday night. Philadelphia erased a 4-1 deficit to stun Norfolk on the strength of Ruzicka's first three goals of the season, including the equalizer with just 15 seconds remaining.

The Phantoms fell behind 3-1 after the first period, with Norfolk receiving goals from Brandon Bochenski, Carl Corrazini and Ivan Novoseltsev. Corrazini grabbed his second shorthanded goal of the night at 9:21 to stretch Norfolk's advantage to a trio of tallies.

But the Phantoms resurgence began at 12:14 when Alexandre Picard shoveled a puck through traffic and past Norfolk netminder Sebastien Caron on the power play to draw the Phantoms within a pair. The 4-2 score would stand through the second intermission.

Ruzicka's charge began with just over two minutes gone in the third. Known to his teammates as "Rosey," Ruzicka converted a back-door feed from Matt Ellison to make it a 4-3 game. Then, with just seconds left and Phantoms goaltender Martin Houle on the bench, Daniel Corso mailed a pass from inside his own blue line to Ruzicka's tape in the neutral zone, springing the Slovakian on a breakaway. He beat Caron to knot the game at 4-4.

The Phantoms didn't waste any time in the added period. While forechecking at the blue line, Marty Murray sacrificed his own personal well-being and pushed the puck to Ruzicka immediately before being flattened by a Norfolk defenseman. Ruzicka fought through Admrials blueliner Steve Munn and went across the top of the goal crease before stuffing it past the outstretched left leg of Caron, putting the crowd of 8,766 into a full lather.

Houle came up with 29 saves on 33 shots, while Caron stopped 20 of 25. The win pushed the Phantoms to 8-3-0-0-0 in season openers, 8-2-1-0-0 in home openers, and marked the second consecutive year that the Phantoms won in overtime after tying the affair late in regulation. In 2005, it was John Slaney scoring with 2.7 seconds left in regulation before Mark Murphy scored the game-winner at 3:13 of overtime to beat Binghamton 4-3. Friday's win also came on the 10th anniversary of the Phantoms first-ever home game, won over Rochester 3-1 at the Wachovia Spectrum.

With kids tickets only $8, the Phantoms next play at home on Sunday, October 15 vs. Binghamton at the Wachovia Center at 7:05. The game follows a two-game trek to Winnipeg for games against the Manitoba Moose on the 13th and 14th. Individual tickets for all Phantoms games are on sale now at phantomshockey.com or by calling 800-298-4200.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 6, 2006


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