Phantoms Defeat Norfolk in Shootout, 4-3

Jon Sim scored once in regulation and twice in a shootout, leading the Phantoms to a 4-3 victory over the Norfolk Admirals at the Norfolk Scope on Saturday night.

With the Phantoms leading 2-1 entering the third period, the Admirals scored twice on goals by Krys Barch and Rene Bourque to take a 3-2 lead.

After Bourque's goal at 11:26, Sim took a feed from R.J. Umberger and sent a one-timer past goaltender Adam Munro just 20 seconds later for his 35th goal of the season, leading the team.

In the shootout, Sim and Joni Pitkanen scored on their attempts while Bourque and Matt Ellison tallied for Norfolk after five tries from each side. Sim scored again on Philadelphia's sixth attempt and Neil Little stopped Bourque to give the Phantoms the victory.

Philadelphia remains in second place in the East Division with 93 points, as the first place Binghamton Senators also won on Saturday night to stay one point ahead of the Phantoms. Norfolk is in third place with 89 points.

After a scoreless first period, Tony Voce put the Phantoms ahead with a shorthanded goal. Norfolk's Marty Wilford turned the puck over in the neutral zone and it was taken by Philadelphia's Patrick Sharp. Sharp's slap shot went wide of the net, bounced off of the back boards and into the air, and Voce whacked it in out of mid-air at 9:04.

Erik Nickulas tied the game when his slap shot beat goaltender Neil Little at 12:39, but the Phantoms would take the lead before the end of the period when John Slaney poked in a loose puck in front of the goal crease with just 17 seconds remaining in the frame.

The Phantoms improved to 6-4 in games decided by a shootout.

Philadelphia and Norfolk have split their eight games head-to-head this season, with two more remaining. The Phantoms are back in Norfolk this Wednesday night before the Admirals visit the Wachovia Spectrum for the regular season finale on April 17.

Phantoms Notes: Little moved into a tie with Jean-Francois Labbe for ninth all-time in AHL career victories with 202. ... Dennis Seidenberg played in his 300th game as a pro. ... David Printz and Eric Meloche were healthy scratches for the Phantoms.