PHILADELPHIA 4, SYRACUSE 3 (SO)
Stefan Ruzicka tallied two goals and an assist in regulation, and 2008 AHL All-Star Alexandre Picard notched the decisive shootout goal to lead Philadelphia past visiting Syracuse by a 4-3 final on Tuesday at the Wachovia Spectrum.
Goaltender Brian Boucher made a season-high 43 saves through regulation and overtime and stopped four of five in the shootout for the Phantoms, who secured their third consecutive victory.
Both of Ruzicka’s regulation goals came on the power play, one each in the first and third periods. Picard assisted on both tallies.
Nate Guenin also scored in regulation for the Phantoms, while Jared Ross added a shootout marker. Picard’s goal in the shootout’s fifth round gave Philadelphia the win.
With Syracuse trailing 3-1 late in the third period, defenseman Andrei Plekhanov and forward Derek MacKenzie scored at 18:07 and 19:08, respectively, sending the game to overtime.
MacKenzie also scored earlier in the game for the Crunch. The two-goal effort gave him 20 markers for the season.
The victory gave Philadelphia a split of their two-game season series with the Crunch, avenging a 5-3 loss in Syracuse on Jan. 16.
HOUSTON 7, PEORIA 1
Houston scored four goals in the second period and added three more in the third for a 7-1 road victory over Peoria at the Carver Arena.
Adrian Foster had a game-high four points (1-3-4) for the Aeros, and Peter Olvecky contributed a pair of goals. Both players were plus-4 on the night.
Aeros goaltender Barry Brust picked up the victory with 27 saves, only allowing a first-period goal to Peoria’s Nikolay Lemtyugov. That goal initially gave the Rivermen a 1-0 advantage.
The seven tallies marked a season high for Houston and came just two days after being blanked in a 1-0 loss at Toronto.
MANITOBA 6, IOWA 3
Brad Moran scored twice and added an assist as Manitoba doubled up visiting Iowa by a 6-3 count at the MTS Centre.
With the game tied 3-3 midway through the third period, Moose forwards Alexandre Bolduc, Maxime Fortunus, and Moran all scored to provide the final margin.
Shaun Heshka and Jimmy Sharrow also netted goals for Manitoba, and goaltender Drew MacIntyre picked up the victory with 25 saves.
James Neal, Nolan Baumgartner, and Marty Sertich scored for the Stars in the losing effort. Sertich now has a goal in two straight games and three of his last four outings.
