By Mike Thornton
Philadelphia Phantoms Correspondent

PHILADELPHIA - On Sunday night at the Wachovia Spectrum, the Philadelphia Phantoms formidable winning streak was halted at five games with a 2-1 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins. The loss put the Phantoms at the brink of playoff elimination.

Philadelphia drew first blood for the seventh consecutive game, as with 3:20 remaining in the first period the home team made the Pens pay for a turnover. Tony Voce pickpocketed the puck behind the net and fed it into the slot for Jim Campbell. He in turn rifled a one-timer perfectly into the upper right corner, over the glove of goaltender Andy Chiodo, for the 1-0 lead. The assist extended Voce's season-high point-scoring streak to 10 games. The Philadelphia-born winger has six goals and 10 assists during the run: 10(6/10/16).

The Penguins tied things up at 7:12 of the second period. Kenny Corupe came down the right wing and was ridden to the bottom of the circle, but was able to turn the corner and fire the puck past Martin Houle from a bad angle.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took a 2-1 lead at the 9:50 mark when Krystofer Kolanos prodded in a puck that Houle had stopped and apparently frozen at the left post. But the follow up on the initial bid from Maxime Talbot ended up being the disgruntled game-winner.

Despite outshooting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 13-4 the rest of the way, including 13-1 in the third period, the Phantoms could not find the equalizer.

"We certainly created the chances, we just didn't execute to get the puck in the net," said Phantoms bench boss John Stevens. "The effort in the third period I thought was great, especially at the end of four in five nights. A pretty good weekend. Unfortunately we need every game right now and it stings to let that one get away."

The Phantoms are now one point away from being eliminated from the playoffs. Any point accumulated by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers or not gained by Philadelphia will seal the Phantoms fate.