Sunday, March 21, 1999
PHILADELPHIA 6, MIGHTY DUCKS 2
Injuries take their toll
BY DAVE HELLER
Enquirer contributor
Don't tell the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks that Saturday's game against Philadelphia was a playoff preview. An undermanned Ducks team was swamped by the Phantoms — likely first-round playoff opponent — 6-2 at Cincinnati Gardens.
If the two teams do meet in the postseason, the makeup of the Ducks (30-32-1-4) team to face the Phantoms (38-20-2-9) will be markedly different.
Cincinnati was without Bob Wren (hand injury) and Frank Banham (ankle injury), two of the team's top three goal scorers, defensemen Rick Goldmann (recalled to Ottawa), Dan Trebil (with Anaheim) and Terran Sandwith (ankle injury) and bruising right wing Peter LeBoutillier (various injuries).
“We're missing a few bodies that would have helped us a lot,” Ducks goalie Jamie Ram said. “It caught up tonight. We had won three in a row. Hopefully, it's a hiccup in the road for us and not a big mountain.”
But it seems like no matter who is in the lineup for Cincinnati, they still lose to Philadelphia. In 22 games versus the Phantoms in franchise history, the Ducks have been victorious just three times.
“I think we sit back against them,” Craig Reichert said. “They have some guys with great speed and I think sometimes we get caught watching what they're doing. Sometimes it's too late and it ends up in our net.”
The Ducks missed the defensemen and LeBoutillier. Philadelphia had nu merous scoring chances. Cincinnati players either either Phantoms unguarded in front or were not able to outmuscle them.
Ram never stood a chance, much to the delight of Cincinnati fans, who have booed him constantly.
It was obvious from the start that Ram was in for a tough night when he was forced to make four great point blank saves in the first three minutes. But by the time there was 7:01 remaining in the second period, Philadelphia had scored five times and Ram was pulled in favor of Tom Askey, eliciting one of the few cheers of the game from Ducks fans.
“It was obvious we were weak on defense and Philadelphia exploded on us,” Ducks coach Moe Mantha said. “Philadelphia knew where our weakness was and they attacked it. Jamie Ram was left out to hang to dry on a lot of goals. Philadelphia outworked us and beat us on the one-on-ones, that's why we got our butts kicked.”
Philadelphia ....... 2 3 1—6
Cincinnati ....... 1 0 1—2
First period: 1, P, Wesenberg 21 (Joseph, Montgomery), 16:47; 2, C, Stevenson 3 (Pavlikovsky, Nikulin), 17:49; 3, P, Chernov 3 (Greig, Eaton), 19:17.
Second period: 4, P, Eaton 9 (Greig, White), ppg, 2:02; 5, P, Greig 19 (White, Healey), ppg, 11:15; 6, P, Joseph 2 (White, Belanger), 12:59.
Third period: 7, P, Healey 25 (Bonvie, Wesenberg), 12:15; 8, C, Reichert 22 (Kwiatkowski, Crowley), ppg, 18:46.
Shots on goal: Phil 12-10-9=31; Cin 13-17-11=41. Power play opportunities: Phil 2-4; Cin 1-7. Goalies: Philadelphia, Boucher (12-7-5); Cin Ram (13-17-1) and Askey (12:59 of 2nd). Attendance: 5,044.
Sports Stories
Bullpen battle tightens
White Sox have interest in Fordyce
REDS NOTEBOOK
Rangers 5, Reds 4
