PHILADELPHIA PHANTOMS vs. WILKES-BARRE/ SCRANTON PENGUINS

Wachovia Spectrum
Sunday, December 16, 2007

TONIGHT'S GAME – The Philadelphia Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers) tonight host the Wilkes-Barre/ Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins). The Phantoms are winners of two straight games and are now 19-7-1-0. The 39 points that they have accrued has them in first place in the East Division, five points up on the Albany River Rats. The Hershey Bears and Binghamton Senators each have 30 points. The Penguins follow in fifth place in the East with 27 points and an overall record of 13-12-0-1 in 26 games.

PHANTOMS LAST GAME – The Phantoms were in Norfolk, Virginia last night and skated away with a 1-0 win. Darroll Powe provided the offense with an unassisted shorthanded goal at the game’s midway point. The rookie dashed from his own blueline and beat opposing netminder Karri Ramo. Scott Munroe was splendid throughout, stopping a total of 25 shots, including 13 in the final frame. The shutout was his second of the season and fourth as a Phantom. Earlier this season he blanked Binghamton. Last season he pitched shutouts against Rochester and Bridgeport. This season, he also combined with Brian Boucher to blank Worcester on November 3. The 1-0 win was the Phantoms ninth in regular season team history. The last, ironically, was in Norfolk on October 22, 2005. Jamie Storr tabbed the win that night.

PENGUINS LAST GAME – Yesterday in Glens Falls, New York, the Penguins tied the team record for most goals in a game putting up eight against the Albany River Rats. It was the 10th time the team recorded eight goals in a game, and the third time on the road (Feb. 6, 2001 @ St. John’s and Oct. 23, 2005 @ Bridgeport). Jonathan Filewich scored the first two goals of the game. Chris Minard also bagged a pair, as Michael Leighton showed a chink or two in his armor and had to be lifted after granting three goals on the first eight shots. Justin Peters did not fare much better, coughing up the next five. Possibly lost in the scoring explosion was the 37 save effort of John Curry, as the Rats actually outshot the Pens 38-36.

ALL-TIME - This is the 906th regular season game in Phantoms franchise history. Philadelphia has an all-time record of 465-321-37-17 and 65 ties. The Phantoms have 1049 points in 905 games.

THE SERIES – This is the fifth game of the 10 game set with the Penguins. The Phantoms are 3-1 in those games. Philly took the first three games by scores of 4-1, 3-2, and 5-2. The last time these two squared off, the Pens took a 4-1 win on November 14. The Phantoms leading scorer in the series is Stefan Ruzicka. He has seven points in three goals on four assists in four games: 4(3/4/7). Jeff Taffe leads the Penguins in the series with five points on three goals and two assists in the four games: 4(3/2/5)---This is the 87th regular season game all-time in the series. The Phantoms are 44-36-2-1 with three ties in the series.

PHANTOM FILES – The Scott Munroe jumped into first place in the AHL's goaltending rankings with his shutout performance last night, which lowered his goals-against average to 1.95. He has the league's fourth-best save percentage at .925---The Phantoms have not scored a power play goal in their last two games, marking the first time this season that the unit has failed to convert in consecutive contests. Prior to this weekend, the Phantoms had scored at least one power play goal in seven consecutive games and have 11 goals overall in that stretch. The Phantoms now have at least one PPG in 23 of their 27 games so far this season, and remain fourth overall in the AHL at 21.7 percent despite the two-game drought. The Phantoms penalty kill has allowed just three goals in the last nine games after killing off all 13 opposing power plays so far this weekend. That showing has vaulted the penalty killing unit into the AHL lead at 88.1 percent---Alexandre Picard was called up to the Flyers on Friday morning and appeared in last night's 6-5 SOL to Carolina, playing 12:03 and recording a -2 in the high-scoring contest. He was on the ice for two Flyers power play goals. Picard remains with the big club for their game at New Jersey today. He has five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 24 games with the Phantoms, tying him for fifth in scoring among AHL defensemen---Jesse Boulerice is eligible to return to action for the Phantoms today. Boulerice received a 25-game NHL suspension on October 12 for a hit on Vancouver's Ryan Kesler, and was subsequently issued an eight-week suspension by the American Hockey League on October 22---Tomorrow, Phantoms head coach Craig Berube will celebrate his 42nd birthday---Philadelphia’s penalty kill is the best in the AHL at 88.1%

PEN TO PAPER – The seven-goal margin of victory last night for the Pens tied the team high water mark, set five times previously, and established a new road record for largest margin of victory. The previous mark was six goals, set on Feb. 19, 2005 @ Hershey (7-1) and Nov. 12, 2005 @ Portland (6-0)--- Jonathan Filewich’s first goal last night against the Albany River Rats was his 100th career point. He added a second goal to go over the century mark, and that tally proved to be his ninth game-winning goal in a Penguins uniform, good for seventh on the team’s all-time list---Jeff Taffe carries a six-game scoring streak into tonight’s game against the Phantoms, equaling his season high streak set from Oct. 3-20. In the current streak, he has three goals and five assists: 6(3/5/8).

ON THE AIR – The Philadelphia Phantoms have partnered with the Philadelphia Area Dodge Dealers to provide free audio broadcasts of all Phantoms games home and away this season. It is the first time in the team's 12-year history that fans have the opportunity to enjoy audio broadcasts for all 80 of the Phantoms regular season games plus playoffs. The Phantoms official website, Phantomshockey.com, in conjunction with league and team partner B2 Networks, provides the home for the audio. Broadcaster Mike Thornton handles the play-by-play. In addition to the games, Dodge will also bring the ever-popular Coach’s Corner to fans on Phantomshockey.com. New editions of the weekly sit-down with Phantoms head coach Craig Berube are posted to the site every Tuesday.

HELPING HANDS – Today, the Phantoms are staging their eighth annual Helping Hands auction to benefit the Children's Miracle Network at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The entire Phantoms roster and selected Flyers players - Daniel Briere, Martin Biron, Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Kimmo Timonen, and Riley Cote - have made handprints on 11 x 17 cards, which have been framed and are ready for display. The majority of the cards will be sold via silent auction on the Spectrum concourse tonight during the game, while selected cards will be sold in a live auction after the game in Bullies. Sunday also marks the first of two Toys for Tots nights the Phantoms are holding over the next week. Again, fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy to Sunday's game or the Friday, Dec. 21 game vs. Hershey to donate to Toys for Tots.

NEXT GAME – On Friday, December 21 the Phantoms host the Hershey Bears at 7:05 PM. Fans are asked to donate to Toys for Tots at the game.

Sunday, December 16, 2007