RATA TAT TAT

Phantoms Fall in Albany 2-1

ALBANY, NY – The East Division leading Philadelphia Phantoms and the newly anointed second place team in the East squared off Sunday afternoon in New York’s capital. With a 2-1 win, the Rats trimmed the Phantoms lead in the Division to just seven points.

The Phantoms drew first blood at 11:58 of the first period. Jared Ross attempted a stick-side wraparound on the net of goaltender Michael Leighton. The bid was stopped, but not covered, as Boyd Kane swooped in and chipped a backhander into the cage. For Ross, it was his team-leading 48th point on his 32nd assist. Kane, meanwhile, posted his 14th goal.

After a scoreless second, Casey Borer dented the twine behind Philly’s Scott Munroe to tie the game at one. A left point slap shot made its way through a screen and into the top right corner. Former Phantom Kiel McLeod tabbed the lone assist with a face-off win at 3:51.

The Rats then took a lead with 66 seconds to go. Jeff Hamilton, parked to the right of Munroe, redirected a point shot with his left leg and into the net. The goal was disputed by the Phantoms, but held up to the scrutiny of referee Jeff Smith and his linesmen. It was the second straight game in Albany where the Phantoms were left scratching their heads on a deciding goal. In the previous match in Capital District on February 16, the Rats won in OT, thanks in large part to a fortunate bounce off a linesman’s skate that led to a 2-on-1 and the eventual winner.

Sunday, which was game 62 on the season, was the first of the season where the Phantoms were not granted a single power play. It was also the first time this season the Phantoms lost a game when leading after two periods. Their record now sits at 24-1-0-0 in the situation and 38-19-2-3 overall.

Munroe made several nice saves in the game and withstood an early flurry to set the foundation for the first period goal from Kane. He stopped 27 of 29 Albany shots, while Leighton turned aside 29 of 30.

The Phantoms return to the Wachovia Spectrum this Tuesday, March 4 to host the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins at 7:05 PM. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

Sunday, March 02, 2008