By Mike Thornton
Philadelphia Phantoms Correspondent

NORFOLK, VA - The Phantoms held a 1-0 lead for more than half the game, but the Norfolk Admirals eventually turned up the heat and took a 3-1 win at Norfolk Scope on Wednesday night. The loss mathematically eliminates the Phantoms from playoff contention.

For yet another night, the Phantoms struck first with continued optimum efficiency on the power play. Matt Ellison hit paydirt from the left-side circle with Philadelphia's first shot of the night, bouncing the puck off the leg of Norfolk netminder Adam Munro and in for the 1-0 lead just 2:16 into the game.

The advantage held until 16:29 of the second period, when Jordan Hendry sent a wrist shot in from the top of the right circle through a screen and past Martin Houle, making it 1-1. Norfolk then took the lead with just 22 seconds left in the frame on a power play goal from Nathan Barrett.

In the third period, Pavel Vorobiev added an insurance marker at 6:36. He stole a puck behind the Phantoms net and was able to beat Houle with a wraparound for an unassisted tally. Philadelphia would draw no closer, although the Phantoms did have a later goal by Triston Grant disallowed when it was ruled that Grant played the puck with a high stick.

Houle made his seventh straight start and finished the night with 30 saves on 33 Norfolk chances, while Munro took the win with 23 stops on 24 Philadelphia shots.