Three Shorthanded Goals Lift Binghamton To 5-3 Win Over Phantoms

January 19, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


BINGHAMTON, NY - The Binghamton Senators scored three shorthanded goals that were the difference in a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday night. The outburst set a franchise record for both clubs and gave the Senators their first victory over the Phantoms since March of 2006, a span of 11 consecutive games.

Justin Mapletoft was responsible for the first two man-down markers, both in the first period. The first came 6:06 into the contest, when he brought a puck down the left side into the circle before snapping a wrist shot past Scott Munroe to the upper left-side corner. The second happened with 6:59 left in the period when Mapletoft took a pass from Greg Mauldin and finished it off from the right circle.

Philadelphia jumped on the board just 35 seconds into the second period. Denis Gauthier was working a puck around the end boards from the right side of the net. Goaltender Jeff Glass saw the play over his left shoulder, and then turned to his right to follow the puck as it came out. What he didn't see was Ryan Potulny lurking behind the net and taking the puck back the other way, wrapping it around the right post before Glass could recover to make it a 2-1 game.

But the Senators answered with another shorthanded goal from Denis Hamel, which arrived via airmail in the Phantoms net from a distance of about 95 feet. His shot from seven feet short of the center red line eluded Munroe and made the score 3-1, in addition to ending Munroe's night with nine saves on 12 shots.

The Phantoms proceeded to sneak back into the game with the next two goals. Potulny recorded his second of the night, a bank shot off a Binghamton defenseman in front, with 3:45 remaining. Then with just 1:26 left, Philadelphia was able to capitalize on one of its power plays when David Laliberte blasted a slapshot through Glass from the left circle during a 5-on-3 advantage, tying the contest at the second intermission.

But Binghamton wasn't done. Ilya Zubov recorded the game-winner from the right circle at 7:36 of the third, and Shawn Weller called Geico to pick up some insurance with a goal at 11:12 of the frame.

Boucher took the loss on 18 of 20 shots faced in relief. Glass took the win with 34 saves on 37 Phantoms shots.

The Phantoms are now 27-14-1-1 for 56 points. They maintained their six-point lead over the rest of the division, but there are now four teams within eight points of them with Binghamton, Albany and Hershey all winning.

The Phantoms will look to snap their mini-skid when they return to the Wachovia Spectrum on Sunday to host the Lowell Devils. Before the game, the Phantoms will welcome their four millionth fan to the game. Afterwards, the Phantoms will hold their annual Photo Night, with all the players hanging out on the ice after the game to take pictures with fans. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.



American Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2008


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