RUZICKA X 2 = WIN

Winger’s Two Shootout Tallies Power Phantoms 2-1 Victory

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Stefan Ruzicka scored not one, but two shootout goals to boost the Philadelphia Phantoms to a 2-1 shootout win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday night. The extra standings point gave the Phantoms a seven-point lead over the Penguins in the AHL’s East Division standings.

The Phantoms started the scoring at 9:12 of the second period on a pretty hookup between Nate Guenin and Pete Zingoni. Guenin played a headman pass to center for Zingoni, who carried it over the blue line. He came between the circles with one hand on his stick while carrying Wilkes-Barre’s Deryk Engelland on his back, but managed to outdistance the defenseman, pull the puck to his forehand and beat David Brown between the pads for the 1-0 lead.

But the Penguins tied it up just before the break while on a power play. Mark Letestu fired a shot from the right circle through traffic and past a screened Brian Boucher into the upper left corner with just over 35 seconds remaining, making it a 1-1 affair.

Scoring did not take place through the next 25 minutes of regulation and overtime. The nearly angelic Penguins granted Philadelphia just two power plays in the game, the second of which spanned the final 1:27 of the overtime period, but the Phantoms could not take advantage and the game went to a shootout.

Ruzicka’s first goal in the shootout gave the Phantoms a 1-0 lead, but Wilkes-Barre responded with goals by Tim Brent in the 3rd round and Chris Minard in the 4th round to take a 2-1 advantage. With the game on the line, Kyle Greentree stuck a backhander between the back bar and the inside top of the net, forcing a sixth round. Boucher stopped Brent on his encore, setting up Ruzicka’s game-winner inside the left post.

Boucher was named the first star after earning the win by turning aside 32 of Wilkes-Barre’s 33 shots on the evening. Brown absorbed the shootout loss with 29 saves on 30 shots faced.

The Phantoms are now 27-11-1-0 for 55 points. They’re right back at it on Sunday afternoon when the Manchester Monarchs make their only visit of the season to the Wachovia Spectrum in a game that marks the halfway point of the 2007-08 season for Philadelphia. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

Saturday, January 12, 2008