Three-Goal Night For Former Phantom Paces Admirals

December 27, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


NORFOLK -Steve Downie posted a hat trick against his former club to lead the Norfolk Admirals to a 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Phantoms on Saturday night at Norfolk Scope. Jonathan Matsumoto scored both Philadelphia goals in the loss, which dropped the Phantoms to fifth place in the East Division after Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Binghamton both leapfrogged Philadelphia in the standings with Saturday night wins.

The Admirals jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the game was much more than five minutes old. The first goal came 2:37 in when Brandon Segal came down the left wing and blasted a slapshot from the bottom of the circle that beat Scott Munroe low to the short side.

Then while on a power play, Jason Ward fired a slapshot from the right side that was deflected and changed direction on Munroe. He stopped the initial puck, but the rebound was poked in by Justin Keller at 5:11. The Phantoms had a four-minute power play later in the period, but were held off by Admirals goaltender Mike McKenna and the Norfolk penalty kill.

The Admirals continued their offensive onslaught in the second period, scoring four more goals and at one point holding an 18-3 shot advantage. Grant Potulny scored on a power play off the rebound of a Zenon Konopka shot to make it 3-0 just 1:25 into the frame, and then Downie put home a rebound for his first goal against his former club less than two minutes later.

With 4:24 remaining in the period, Jay Rosehill chased a dump-in into the left-wing corner and tossed it in front of the net, where it hit a Phantom and caromed past Munroe to make it a 5-0 lead. But two minutes later, Matsumoto stopped Philadelphia's scoreless streak at 93:21 when he took a slapshot from the slot that hit a Norfolk skate, skimmed the left post and beat McKenna to make it 5-1. It was Philadelphia's first power play goal since December 14 and snapped an 0-for-25 streak for the club.

But Norfolk answered with Downie's second goal with 24 seconds to play in the period. Downie's centering pass from behind the net appeared to bounce off a couple Phantoms skates and past Munroe, making it a 6-1 game at the second intermission.

Downie secured the hat trick during a 2-on-1 rush. He called his own number and beat Munroe with a wrister from the right circle at the 10:16 mark. Matsumoto finished the scoring on a scramble in front at 14:08.

The Admirals peppered Munroe with 48 shots, the most this season by a Phantoms opponent, and Munroe stopped 41. McKenna took the win with 34 saves on 36 Philadelphia bids.

The Phantoms are next in action on Tuesday night when they visit the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The club returns home to kick off 2009 on January 2 for a 6:05 face-off against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Dollar Dog Night at the Wachovia Spectrum. Tickets for that game, as well as all 2008-09 regular season games, are available by calling 1-800-298-4200 or visiting phantomshockey.com.

The best way for fans to secure a ticket for the final regular season game at the Wachovia Spectrum on April 12, 2009 is to purchase either a game plan package or season tickets. Packages are available now in convenient blocks of 6, 10, 16, and 20 games, as well as pro-rated full season tickets for all remaining home games. All packages receive an impressive list of exclusive benefits, discount prices and the same seat for each game, beginning at just $60!

For more information or to make a deposit, call the Phantoms at 215-465-4522 during normal business hours. More information is also available at the Phantoms website, Phantomshockey.com



American Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2008


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