Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Takes 4-3 Win

Published on October 11, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


WILKES-BARRE, PA - Chris Minard scored twice and added an assist to lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins over the Philadelphia Phantoms 4-3 on Saturday night at Wachovia Arena. Andreas Nodl, Jonathan Matsumoto and Darroll Powe scored for the Phantoms, who go to 1-1 on the two-day-old American Hockey League season.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton posted the game's first goal during a shorthanded situation just 64 seconds into the contest. Dustin Jeffrey capitalized on a turnover at the Phantoms blue line and walked in on net, beating Jean-Sebastien Aubin to give the Penguins an early-1-0 advantage.

The Phantoms tied it up with 2:59 remaining in the frame. Powe pulled a puck off the wall and centered it off a skate and to Nodl between the circles. Nodl one-timed the feed past Wilkes-Barre goaltender Adam Berkhoel to knot the game at 1-1 in the first intermission.

Philadelphia took a 2-1 lead with a power-play marker near the halfway point of the second period. Boyd Kane brought the puck into the zone on the left-wing side and played a centering pass that was met by the backhand portion of Matsumoto's extended stick with 9:04 to play in the second.

But the Penguins evened matters with a power-play marker of their own less than three minutes later. Minard was able to bat a puck past Aubin at 13:10 for his first goal of the evening, making it a 2-2 contest at the second intermission.

The Pens were one goal better than the Phantoms in the third period. Their first tally came just 1:40 into the frame when Ben Lovejoy found a rebound between the circles and fired it off the pads of Aubin and in. It became a 4-2 lead 4:20 into the frame when Minard found a puck in the slot while Aubin was on his stomach and without his stick. The fortuitious opportunity gave Minard his second goal of the evening and his team a two-goal advantage.

Powe pulled the Phantoms within a goal with 8:11 to play when he sniped a gorgeous shot from the left-side circle that went top-shelf to Berkhoel's short side. But Philadelphia was unable to find the equalizer.

Both teams were 1-for-6 on the power play. Aubin turned away 24 of 28 Penguin shots in absorbing the loss in his first game as a Phantom, while Berkhoel turned aside 27 of 30 in earning the win.

The loss gives the Phantoms a split of the AHL's opening weekend. They now will prepare for the Hershey Bears, who come to the Wachovia Spectrum for their first visit of the year on Friday night, October 17, at 7:05 PM. Tickets for Friday's game, as well as all 2008-09 regular season games, are available by calling 1-800-298-4200 or visiting phantomshockey.com.

Comcast-Spectacor recently announced that the Wachovia Spectrum will close after the Phantoms conclude their 2008-09 season. The Spectrum opened on September 30, 1967 with the Quaker City Jazz Festival. After nearly 30 seasons of Philadelphia Flyers hockey and Philadelphia 76ers basketball, the Spectrum gave way to the Wachovia Center in 1996.

The best way for fans to secure a ticket for the final game 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, 20 and 40 games. Receiving an impressive list of exclusive benefits, discount prices and the same seat for each game begins 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

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American Hockey League Stories from October 11, 2008


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