GREAT SCOTT – PHANTOMS ADVANCE WITH GAME 7 WIN

Munroe Makes 21 Saves For Second Shutout Of Series in 2-0 Win Over Albany

PHILADELPHIA – Scott Munroe came out on top of one of the best series-long goaltending duels in American Hockey League playoff history, making 21 saves for his second shutout of the series as the Phantoms beat the Albany River Rats 2-0 in Game 7 of the East Division Semifinals at the Wachovia Center. The Phantoms now move on to play the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the East Division Finals beginning Thursday night in Wilkes-Barre.

Stefan Ruzicka needed only 22 seconds to pot his first of the series, which would be the eventual game-winner. Ruzicka pulled the puck off the left-side wall, went to the left-wing circle and fired it over the glove hand of goaltender Michael Leighton for an early 1-0 lead. It was just three seconds away from being the fastest opening playoff goal in Phantoms history.

The teams stood nose-to-nose for the next 57 minutes until Ryan Potulny ended most of the suspense with 1:27 remaining. He poked the puck away from an Albany player at center ice, triggering a three-on-one break. Potulny called his own number and blasted a shot past Leighton from the top of the right-wing circle for an unassisted marker.

The stellar goaltending in the series was largely responsible for breaking several American Hockey League records for frugal scoring. The league’s previous record for fewest goals scored by a team in a seven-game series was 13, set several times before; both teams broke that record, with Albany scoring 12 goals and the Phantoms scoring 11.

The teams also combined to break two 55-year-old AHL records. The combined total of 23 goals for both teams broke the mark for fewest total goals in a seven-game series, which was the 28 combined goals scored by Cleveland and Pittsburgh in a 1953 playoff series. The teams played a record-setting 513 minutes, 33 seconds in the series, which broke the record of 453:36 set by Cleveland and Pittsburgh in that same series.

Munroe played in the shadow of Leighton’s 98-save performance in the five-overtime Phantoms win in Game 5 that drew national attention, but the Philadelphia netminder finished the series by allowing just one goal in his final 235:22 of play. He stopped 102 of 103 shots in that span, which began after Albany scored at 17:14 of the second period of Game 5. Munroe completed the series with a 1.29 goals-against average, a .952 save percentage and two shutouts.

The AHL’s reigning Aldege “Baz” Bastien Goaltender of the Year, Leighton finished the series with a 1.18 goals-against average and a .968 save percentage. He earned one of the game’s three stars in six of the seven contests, and also had two shutouts.

The Phantoms will open their series with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with Game 1 on Thursday, May 1 at 7:05 at the Wachovia Arena in Wilkes-Barre. Games 3 and 4 will be played in Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center on Monday, May 5 and Wednesday, May 7, both at 7:05. The date of Game 6 is yet to be determined, but if it is necessary, it will also be played at the Wachovia Center. Tickets for all three scheduled home games in the series are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008