Wunderkid comes up big for Phantoms
by David W. Unkle
May 8, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms
(PHILADELPHIA)---Jeff Carter's goal at 15:20 of the first overtime propelled the Philadelphia Phantoms to a 3-2 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Game Two of their East Division Finals.
The 1st round draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2003 Entry Draft has made the most of his brief professional career.
For a guy who wasn't on the roster at the beginning of April, his AHL teammates are sure happy to have the 19-year old around.
"This kid's giving us quality play in some pretty tough situations", said Phantoms head Coach John Stevens.
"He relishes responsibility and he wants to be the guy out there trying to make a difference."
Arguably, he's doing just that.
He's scored three goals in eight games, including the last three games.
Two goals were game-winners.
One ended the Phantoms' series against the Norfolk Admirals in six games.
Tonight's goal allowed the Phantoms to split their first two home games instead of heading up to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with a two games to none deficit.
His AHL playoff numbers are even more impressive factoring in his playoff experience with his junior team, the Sault Saint Marie Greyhounds.
Eight games played. No goals. Two assists.
The 6-3 center from London, Ontario is quickly grabbing attention in Philadelphia and not just for his actions on the ice.
His teammates are impressed with how he handles himself in the locker room.
"He's a quiet kid", said Phantoms forward Peter Vandermeer.
"I remember he came first came in here he wanted to make sure that he wasn't stepping on anyone's toes". "He knows that some guys who have been around here all year long are now out of the lineup."
"I came here thinking I was going to work out and practice but I had the chance to step in", said Carter
With the team's top scorers, Kirby Law and Peter White struggling (a combined 1goal and 5 assists in eight games) struggling, Carter finds himself tied for the team lead in goals with three.
"It took me a little while to get the first (goal) but once the first one went in they've started falling", said Carter.
Two times when the Phantoms were on the brink of disaster, the kid's come through in the clutch.
"The kid's a big strong horse...he's got great skill and a great attitude", said Vandermeer.
With the way the Phantoms started the game, no one thought that Carter (or anyone else on the roster) would stop the implosion.
If Shane Endicott's goal just 2:41 into the game set the tone, then Michel Ouellet's goal less than five minutes later served as the underscore.
A dejected Phantoms' team limped into the locker room still feeling the after-effects of their 5-4 loss two nights ago.
Whatever Stevens said between periods, it worked.
Eighteen shots on Penguins goalie Sebastien Caron resulted in a 2-2 going into the third.
Facing overtime, John Slaney and Randy Jones gave the Phantoms their best chance to win a game they didn't deserve to win in the final three minutes.
Caron came up big on Slaney's shot and Jones hit the far post, setting the stage for Carter's heroics.
Added Vandermeer, "he came up with a huge goal tonight; it was the difference in this game and it may turn out to be the difference in this series".
SCORINGWBS 2-0-0-0 PHL 0-2-0-1
SHOTS ON GOAL
WBS 11-7-7-5 PHL 9-18-5-7
SCORING SUMMARY
Period 1
Wilkes-Barre: Endicott (Boileau, Kostopoulos) 2:41 Wilkes-Barre: Ouellet (Whitney, Koltsov) 7:27 (pp)
Period 2
Philadelphia: Slaney (Meyer, Murphy) 4:02 Philadelphia: Seidenberg (Law, Slaney) 18:30 (pp)
Period 3
(no scoring)
Overtime
Philadelphia: Carter (MacNeil, Stafford) (pp)
POWER PLAYS
Wilkes-Barre: 1 for 5 Philadelphia: 2 for 6
GOALIES S SA MIN Caron (WBS) 39 36 75:20 Niittymaki (PHL) 20 28 75:20
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American Hockey League Stories from May 8, 2004
- Canada, Sweden advance to Gold Medal game - Providence Bruins
- Rochester leads AHL North Division Final - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Phantoms lose 3-0 in Game Three of East Division Finals - Adirondack Phantoms
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Pens fall in overtime on Jeff Carter's power play goal - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Wunderkid comes up big for Phantoms - OSC Original by David W. Unkle
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