PENS INK WIN OVER PHILLY

Phantoms Take Just Second Loss Of Season, 4-1 To Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

PHILADELPHIA – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ensured that the Philadelphia Phantoms unfortunately will not reach 78 wins this season after dealing the home team a 4-1 setback on Wednesday afternoon in the team’s School Day Game at the Wachovia Spectrum. A total of 7,782 fans, the vast majority of them schoolchildren from the greater Philadelphia region, came out for the annual matinee event.

The Phantoms took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a shorthanded tally by Frederik Cabana. Darroll Powe brought the puck down the left side and had a two-on-one with Cabana, but it was snuffed by the Wilkes-Barre backcheck. Powe stayed with the play though and dumped a puck off the back boards that rebounded right to Cabana on the right post. He jammed it past Ty Conklin for the 1-0 lead at 8:34.

But that was the only goal that Conklin would allow. The Penguins tied the score at 1-1 just 92 seconds into the second period on a Connor James slapshot from the center point that went through traffic and beat a screened Scott Munroe.

Alex Goligoski secured the win for the flightless waterfowl with a goal at 2:32 of the third period. There was a scramble in front of the net and Goligoski ended up with some space to the right of the net. He was able to tuck it past Munroe inside that post for the 2-1 advantage.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton bought some insurance on the first professional goal for Jonathan D’Aversa near the third period’s halfway point. Tyler Kennedy and Nathan Smith worked the puck along the right-wing boards into the zone before Kenney swept the puck cross-ice to the left wing circle. D’Aversa’s one-timer found the net before Munroe could get back across, making it 3-1 with 10:22 left in the frame. An empty-netter by Jeff Taffe with nine seconds left wrapped up the scoring.

Munroe absorbed his first loss of the season with 17 saves on 20 of Wilkes-Barre’s 21 shots, while Conklin took the win with 23 saves. It was the first win for the Penguins over Philadelphia in four tries this season and just the second regulation loss overall for the Phantoms, who are now 13-2-1. The game was also the first of the season in which the Phantoms did not score a power play goal.

Philadelphia plays its only game of the weekend this Friday night when it hosts the Binghamton Senators at 7:05 at the Wachovia Spectrum. Flyers winger Ben Eager will be signing autographs from 6-7 PM on the Spectrum concourse, and Phantoms assistant coach Neil Little will be meeting with fans in Bullies at 6:15. Also, it’s the annual Shake Your Mac ‘N Cheese Night, where fans are encouraged to bring boxes of macaroni and cheese to shake during the game and donate afterwards to area food banks. Finally, the game is the first of two Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Nights this season. Tickets are available by clicking here, in person at the Wachovia Complex box office, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

Phantoms season tickets and game plans are still available for the 2007-08 season. Fans can secure the same great seat at a discount for 6, 10, 20 or prorated season tickets for Phantoms home games this season while receiving an impressive list of exclusive benefits. Packages start as low as $60!

For more information or to make a deposit, call the Phantoms at 215-465-4522 during normal business hours. Single-game tickets for the entire season are available via ComcastTIX at www.phantomshockey.com, with kids tickets only $10 for any seat, any game, all season long. More information is also available at the Phantoms website, Phantomshockey.com

Wednesday, November 14, 2007