Pens Pocket Win

PHILADELPHIA - Matt Ellison scored his first three goals as a member of the Phantoms, posting his first career hat trick in Philadelphia's 4-2 win over the Lowell Lock Monsters at the Wachovia Spectrum on Sunday evening. Captain John Slaney and rookie Stefan Ruzicka each had three assists as the Phantoms erased a five-game cold snap in front of 8,045.

For the first time in seven efforts, the Phantoms scored first. Ruzicka was working from the left-wing corner and found Marc Cavosie in front, who was able to beat goaltender Vitaly Kolesnik from 15 feet for his first goal of the year.

After Lowell tied the score with a Keith Aucoin power play goal at 12:12, Philadelphia banked one of their own four minutes later on Ellison's first of the night. Taking advantage of a five-on-three situation, John Slaney slid the puck from the right point to the high center slot, where Ellison blasted a one-timer past the outstretched right leg of Kolesnik for his first goal as a member of the Phantoms. The assist was Slaney's 300th in the American Hockey League.

Ellison struck again later in the frame to give his squad a two-goal lead. The chase was on for a loose puck in the slot, and Ellison managed to chop his backhand on the loose puck and forked it by Kolesnik to make the score 3-1.

After a scoreless second, Lowell cut the lead back to a goal with another power play marker at 9:01 of the third period. Mike Zigomanis blasted a drive from the left point that changed direction on the way in and left Beauchemin with no chance.

Eliminating the building Lowell momentum, Ellison completed the hat trick with a shorthanded tally at 15:53 of the third. He converted on a breakaway, beating Kolesnik low and triggering a shower of hats from the stands.

"Just to put some points on the board and helping the team out feels really good," commented Ellison. "Hopefully everyone remembers what winning's like 'cause it's so much fun...so if we get this feeling in the room hopefully we'll keep it for a while."

Beauchemin, playing his second consecutive game, earned the win with a solid 30 saves on 32 Lowell shots. Kolesnik took the loss with 28 saves on 32 Phantoms chances. Each team finished the evening 2-for-8 on the power play.

Next up for the 15-21-0-3 Phantoms is a two-game trip to Winnipeg, where they'll play the Manitoba Moose Friday and Saturday night at 8:05 PM. Philadelphia's next home action is Friday, Jan. 20 when the Hershey Bears come to the Wachovia Spectrum for a 7:05 tilt.