GREENTREE LEAVES WITH WIN

Overtime Goal Sends Phantoms Past Penguins

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Kyle Greentree tipped home a feed from Jonathan Matsumoto 1:39 into overtime to give the Philadelphia Phantoms a 2-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday night. Goaltender Michael Teslak made 26 saves to record his first professional win, which pulled the Phantoms even with the Penguins at 95 points as the teams continue to jockey for control of the East Division.

Both teams found the board in the first period, with the Phantoms striking first. Ryan Potulny was hanging around unmarked in the left circle when he deflected a Denis Gauthier wrister from the left point and sent it past Penguins goaltender John Curry at the 9:59 mark.

Tim Brent struck back for the Penguins with 1:56 to play in the frame. After Alex Goligowski fired a point shot that found the post, Brent tussled and tangoed with Phantoms at the top of the crease before finding the loose puck and putting it past Teslak for the 1-1 tie.

That was it, until Greentree ended it in the extra session. Matsumoto played a centering pass from the right wing that Greentree reached out and touched, sending it high over Curry’s shoulder and emptying the contents of the Philadelphia bench.

Teslak, who recently joined the Phantoms from Michigan Tech, earned the game’s second star as well as the win. Curry stopped 28 shots in absorbing the loss.

The Phantoms have their 95 points on a record of 44-25-4-3, while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has its 95 points due to a record of 45-26-1-4. Both teams clinched berths in the 2008 Calder Cup playoffs on Friday night, and from this point are battling for the East Division championship. Currently the Penguins hold the first tiebreaker, which is overall wins. In the event it is necessary, the Phantoms would hold the second tiebreaker of head-to-head wins after stringing together a 7-3 record against the Penguins in 10 games this season.

Philadelphia finishes up its 3-game weekend tomorrow evening at the Wachovia Spectrum when it hosts the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 5:05. It’s Spring Cleaning Day at the Spectrum, and fans are asked to bring in any unwanted items such as clothing, food or other household goods for donation to local charities via the Comcast-Spectacor Foundation. There were be several other things going on, including a giveaway of a team-autographed dustpan and a team-autographed shower curtain. 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, April 05, 2008