Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Comes Back for 5-4 OT Win Over Phantoms
May 3, 2008 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Mahoning Valley Phantoms News Release
WILKES-BARRE, PA - The Philadelphia Phantoms watched a three-goal third period lead evaporate and fell to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5-4 in overtime in Game 2 of the East Division Finals on Saturday night at Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre. The series is now tied at 1-1 heading back to Philadelphia for Monday night's Game 3 at the Wachovia Center.
Philadelphia jumped on the board first near the end of the first period. Ryan Potulny beat goaltender John Curry on the power play with 1:33 to play in the frame off a feed from Stefan Ruzicka, giving the Phantoms the 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
The Penguins tied things up at 8:51 of the second period with their own power play tally. Chris Minard put one past Scott Munroe off a setup from Ryan Stone, making it a 1-1 contest.
The Phantoms then jumped ahead with three goals in a time span of 1:17. Boyd Kane picked up the first two, first putting one short side over the blocker of Curry on the power play at the 15:22 mark, and then knocking home a rebound at 16:29. Just ten seconds after Kane's second marker, Lars Jonsson scored on a blast from the point that made it through traffic and gave Philadelphia the three-goal advantage at 4-1.
But the Penguins crawled back into the game beginning at the 3:36 mark of the third period, when Tim Brent fired a shot that was initially not ruled a goal. The game was stopped on the ensuing breakout though, and after a consultation between the officials and the goal judge, it was ruled the puck entered the net and came out, and the score was 4-2.
The Pens pulled within a goal just under ten minutes later. There was 6:35 left in regulation when Luca Caputi forced a turnover behind the Philadelphia net, pulled it in front and beat Munroe to make it 4-3.
Then Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tied it with 45.4 seconds to play. With his team's net empty and an extra skater out, Kurtis McLean fired a low shot from the left circle that beat Munroe just inside the left post. It knotted the game at 4-4 and forced overtime.
The Phantoms started the extra session on the power play after a late Penguins penalty in the third, but could not convert. Shortly after it ended, Minard intercepted an outlet pass in the slot and beat Munroe to the glove side 2:07 into the extra session, completing the comeback.
Munroe took the loss with 28 saves on 33 shots, while Curry stopped 26 of 30 to get the win.
The series now comes to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 this Monday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 7 at the Wachovia Center. Both games start at 7:05. The series will return to Wilkes-Barre for a Game 5 on Friday, May 9. Game 6, if necessary, will be at the Wachovia Center on Saturday, May 10. Tickets for Games 3, 4 and 6 are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.
North American Hockey League Stories from May 3, 2008
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Comes Back for 5-4 OT Win Over Phantoms - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- Four Unanswered Goals Leads Phantoms to Title Game - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
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