BONVIEAGE

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Tops Phantoms 3-2

PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Phantoms fell into a 3-1 hole and couldn’t quite climb back out in a 3-2 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Tuesday night at the Wachovia Spectrum. The game was the last regular season appearance at the Spectrum for former Phantoms and current Penguins pugilist Dennis Bonvie, who is retiring following the season.

The Phantoms took a 1-0 lead on a shorthanded goal in the first period. Nate Guenin worked a puck free along the left wing boards in the Phantoms end and sent it out to Darroll Powe at center. The Princeton grad skated in on a breakaway and beat goaltender John Curry between the legs 4:38 into the frame.

But the Penguins answered with three consecutive goals. They first benefited from a fluke goal with 5:48 to play in the first, when Paul Bissonnette threw a puck in front that hit a defenseman’s skate and slid past Scott Munroe to tie the game at 1-1.

The Pens took a 2-1 lead with 4:02 gone in the second period during a five-on-three power play. A puck was pinballing around in the slot and finally came to Tim Brent, who had a fairly open net in which to fire a puck for the advantage.

Brent then set up what would turn out to be the game-winning goal with 4:45 to play in the middle frame. He fed Ryan Stone in the left-wing circle, who in turn put it past Munroe for a 3-1 lead.

Philadelphia got one of the goals back early in the third. Stefan Ruzicka crashed the left post during a power play and put home the rebound of a shot by Lars Jonsson, making it a 3-2 game with 2:02 gone in the period. Philadelphia generated a total of 19 shots in the third, but no more of them made it past Curry.

Munroe played 35:15 before yielding to Martin Houle, who played 23:13 in his first appearance of the season for the Phantoms. Munroe gets the loss, while Curry took the win with 34 saves on 36 bids.

The Phantoms are now 38-20-2-3 on the season for 81 points and remain seven ahead of the Albany River Rats in the East Division playoff race.

The Phantoms are off until Friday, when they visit the Norfolk Admirals. The next home game is next Tuesday, March 11 against Norfolk at the Wachovia Spectrum. It’s Dollar Dog Night at the Spectrum next Tuesday, and all tickets from tonight’s game are good for a free ticket to that game as the result of tonight’s Guaranteed Win Night promotion. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008