PENGUINS SLIP AWAY FROM PHANTOMS

Late Goal Gives Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3-2 Win

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Phantoms scored twice in a span of 2:04 late in the third period to erase a two-goal deficit, but Kurtis McLean posted the deciding goal with 1:09 remaining to lift the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 3-2 win at the Wachovia Spectrum on Sunday evening.

The Pens built their 2-0 advantage with two power play goals. The first came with 55.2 seconds remaining in the first period when Tim Brent fired a shot from the right side circle that Brian Boucher stopped, but the rebound caromed into the left circle. Chris Minard was there to fire it home to make it 1-0 at the break.

The second goal came 6:33 into the third period, four seconds after Ryan Parent, who was stickless after being disarmed by a two-hander behind the Phantoms net, was whistled for holding in the left corner of the zone. Mark Ardelan scored directly off the ensuing face-off from the left circle to give the Penguins the 2-0 lead.

The Phantoms broke through with 5:59 remaining in the third period. Parent took a pass at the left point and fired a wrist shot that goaltender David Brown did not see. It flew past him into the upper left corner to make it a 2-1 game.

Then, 2:04 later, Steve Downie tied the affair. Nate Guenin ripped a shot from the right point that Brown stopped, but he left a rebound and Downie was there by himself to finish it off.

But that set the stage for McLean’s winner, which came off a long headman pass from Nathan Smith. The feed eluded the Phantoms and sprung McLean on a breakaway, which he finished upstairs.

Boucher made 33 saves and earned the game’s second star for his efforts, while Brown was named third star with 27 stops on 29 Phantom bids. Philadelphia was held without a power play goal for the third consecutive game, going 0-for-5, while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored on two of their nine man-advantage opportunities.

The Phantoms wrap up their rivalry week on Friday, Dec. 21 in the last home game before Christmas when they take on the Hershey Bears at 7:05. It’s the second night of the Phantoms Toys for Tots collection with the Marine Corps, where Phantoms fans are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to the game to donate to the cause. Also, Santa Claus will be on hand on the concourse.

Sunday, December 16, 2007