Friday, March 2, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - Rookie Denis Tolpeko scored twice to lead the Philadelphia Phantoms to a 4-2 win over the Binghamton Senators at the Wachovia Spectrum. Matt Ellison and Mark Cullen also scored for the Phantoms, who earned their sixth straight win of the season over Binghamton and pulled within eight points of the final playoff spot in the East Division.

It took less than 30 seconds for the Phantoms to get on the board. Ellison carried the puck into the zone from the left wing side and crossed into the slot. He was stickchekced of the puck, but it bounced off a few skates and came back to Ellison in the right-wing circle. He lifted a backhand past goaltender Kelly Guard just 27 seconds into the game to give the Phantoms a 1-0 lead.

Tolpeko made it a two-goal advantage. Cullen centered the puck from the bottom of the left wing faceoff circle through the slot and into the right circle, where the Russian rocketed a one-timer past Guard at 13:30.

The Senators took advantage of a Philadelphia defensive miscue to get on the board at 14:31 of the period. Scott Munroe made an aggressive defensive play behind the net, but the puck came out in front of the unoccupied cage to Josh Hennessey. He knocked it home to make it 2-1 at the first intermission.

Philadelphia took a 3-1 lead with just over six minutes remaining in the second period. The Phantoms were still set up in the Binghamton end following a power play, and managed to get the puck to the left point for Don Morrison. Morrison's drive made it through traffic and Tolpeko was able to deflect it past Guard at 13:47 for his second of the night.

The Senators drew back within a goal at 15:30 of the period. Shawn Collymore had a puck near the inside of the left circle and was able to turn and fire a shot through a screen and past Munroe to make it a 3-2 game. But Binghamton would score no more, and the Phantoms iced it when Cullen, back after missing the previous 13 games with a hand injury, bagged an empty-netter from center ice.

Munroe took the win with 28 saves on 30 Binghamton scoring attempts, while Guard absorbed the loss with 21 saves on 24 of Philadelphia's 25 shots.

The Phantoms return to action tomorrow night at the Wachovia Spectrum against the Hartford Wolf Pack at 7:05. The first 5,000 fans will receive a Phantoms Puzzle Bank courtesy of Wachovia. The game will also be televised live on Comcast SportsNet beginning at 7:00. 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

Binghamton Senators 2 at Philadelphia Phantoms 4 - Status: Final
Mar 2, 2007 - Wachovia Spectrum

1st Period

Scoring - 1. Philadelphia, M. Ellison (8) (E. Meloche, D. Printz) 0:27
2. Philadelphia, D. Tolpeko (8) (M. Cullen, B. Kane) 13:38
3. Binghamton, J. Hennessy (23) (N. Komadoski, J. David) 14:31
Penalties - M. Sgroi Bng (fighting) 1:45, M. Grenier Phi (fighting) 1:45, J. Heerema Bng (hooking) 18:49

2nd Period

Scoring - 4. Philadelphia, D. Tolpeko (9) (D. Morrison, D. Printz) 13:57 5. Binghamton, S. Collymore (1) (N. Petruic, K. Saurette) 15:30
Penalties - C. Pecker Bng (boarding) 11:35, D. Bois Bng (roughing) 15:30, G. Pisellini Phi (roughing, roughing) 15:30

3rd Period

Scoring - 6. Philadelphia, M. Cullen (8) (D. Printz, E. Meloche) 19:26 EN
Penalties - M. Ellison Phi (tripping) 0:35, M. Koalska Bng (holding) 2:25, J. Timonen Phi (slashing) 3:27, R. Rawlyk Bng (high-sticking) 13:31, D. Bois Bng (slashing) 18:20, M. Grenier Phi (roughing) 18:20

BNG Shots: 13 6 11 TOTAL: 30
PHI Shots: 10 7 8 TOTAL: 25

Power Play Conversion
Binghamton Senators 0-3. Philadelphia Phantoms 0-4.

Goaltenders

Binghamton Senators
Guard 9-18-3 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 58:54 SV: 21 GA: 3 [L]

Philadelphia Phantoms
Munroe 10-11-1 Start: 1st 0:00 Min: 59:48 SV: 28 GA: 2 [W]

Start : 7:06 PM
End : 9:19 PM

Attendance : 6671

Referee I: Shaun Davis (41)
Referee II:

LINESMAN I: Scott Adams (20)
LINESMAN II: Scott Pomento (25)