Monday, January 8, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - Three different Grand Rapids players scored in the middle period to lift the Griffins to an eventual 3-2 win over the Phantoms on Monday night at the Wachovia Spectrum. Darren Reid continued his hot play, scoring for the third consecutive game and picking up his fifth goal in that span.

The game was nearly at its halfway point before either team netted a goal, and it was Grand Rapids finally striking first at 8:42 of the second period. Danny Syvret fired a shot from the right side point that Scott Munroe stopped, but the rebound went right to the stick of Ryan Keller. Keller fired it into an open net for the 1-0 lead. The night marked Keller's third consecutive game with a goal.

The Griffins jumped ahead by two goals less than four minutes later. Grand Rapids was operating on a power play when Kip Miller tossed a puck in front from the right side. Matt Ellis poked at it and Munroe made the save, but Jonathan Ericsson was able to jab home the second effort at 12:36 to make it a 2-0 lead.

Grand Rapids took a 3-0 advantage right before the second intermission on another power play goal. Syvret blasted a slapshot from the right point and Darryl Bootland altered the puck's path, sending it past Munroe with just over 22 seconds remaining in the frame.

Philadelphia cracked the scoreboard at 3:14 of the third period. Boyd Kane carried the puck down the right side and centered for Niko Dimitrakos, who fired a puck by the right leg of goaltender Stefan Liv to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Phantoms got a final boost with 41.9 seconds remaining when Darren Reid shoveled home a loose puck in front with the goaltender on the bench. But they couldn't quite find the back of the net for the equalizer.

Munroe took a loss for just the second time in his last six starts, stopping 28 of 31 shots. Liv earned the win with 27 saves on 29 Phantoms opportunities.

The Phantoms now hit the road for a four-game trip that begins on Wednesday night in Bridgeport with a 7:30 matchup against the Sound Tigers. Philadelphia returns home on Friday, January 19 to host Bridgeport at 7:05. Individual tickets for all Phantoms games, including $8 tickets for children 14 and under anywhere in the building, are on sale now at phantomshockey.com or by calling 800-298-4200.

BOXSCORE
Grand Rapids Griffins 3 at Philadelphia Phantoms 2 - Status: Final

Jan 8, 2007 - Wachovia Spectrum

1st Period

Scoring - No Scoring
Penalties - M. Hussey Gra (hooking) 0:40, P. Zingoni Phi (hooking) 3:00, D. Smith Gra (interference) 12:16, M. Hussey Gra (holding) 17:33, M. Ellison Phi (tripping) 18:05

2nd Period

Scoring - 1. Grand Rapids, R. Keller (9) (D. Syvret, R. Oulahen) 8:42
2. Grand Rapids, J. Ericsson (4) (M. Ellis, K. Miller) 12:36 PP
3. Grand Rapids, D. Bootland (11) (D. Syvret, D. Meech) 19:37 PP
Penalties - K. Miller Gra (holding) 1:25, N. Guenin Phi (interference) 11:30, E. McGrath Gra (holding) 14:20, T. Grant Phi (boarding) 18:08

3rd Period

Scoring - 4. Philadelphia, N. Dimitrakos (10) (B. Kane) 3:14
5. Philadelphia, D. Reid (8) (N. Dimitrakos, J. Slaney) 19:18
Penalties - R. Keller Gra (holding) 7:07, R. Oulahen Gra (holding the stick) 12:19, M. Davis Phi (hooking) 12:19

GRA Shots: 12 12 7 TOTAL: 31
PHI Shots: 7 13 9 TOTAL: 29

Power Play Conversion
Grand Rapids Griffins 2-4. Philadelphia Phantoms 0-6.

Goaltenders

Grand Rapids Griffins
Liv 6-7-1 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 60:00 SV: 27 GA: 2 [W]

Philadelphia Phantoms
Munroe 6-8-0 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 58:45 SV: 28 GA: 3 [L]

Start : 7:03 PM
End : 9:13 PM

Attendance : 4995

Referee I: Ryan Fraser (14)
Referee II:

LINESMAN I: Aaron Lundbohm (95)
LINESMAN II: Matt McNulty (26)