Phantoms keep climbing in East Division

A three-goal outburst early in the second period was enough to propel Philadelphia to a 5-2 win over Binghamton at the Wachovia Spectrum on Tuesday night.

The Phantoms are now just five points behind Albany and Bridgeport in the race for fourth place in the East Division.

Denis Tolpeko, Eric Meloche and Jared Ross scored 3:47 apart to turn a scoreless tie into a 3-0 Philadelphia lead.

Josh Hennessy scored twice for the Senators to cut the deficit to 3-2, but Matt Ellison and Pete Zingoni put the game away with goals in the third period.

Scott Munroe made 27 saves for the Phantoms, who have won all seven meetings with Binghamton this season.

It was the eighth straight loss for the Senators, who have also dropped eight in a row on the road.


GRAND RAPIDS 5, PEORIA 3
Ryan Oulahen and Kip Miller scored 69 seconds apart late in the second period, sending Grand Rapids to a 5-3 win over visiting Peoria.

The loss ended the Rivermen’s points streak at seven games (5-0-0-2), while the Griffins improved to 11-3-1-0 in their last 15 games.

Miller finished with two goals and an assist, Jeff Campbell had a goal and an assist and Dan Smith ended a 136-game AHL drought with his first goal since Mar. 25, 2005.

Stefan Liv made 24 saves for his seventh win in his last nine decisions.

Trent Whitfield scored a pair of power-play goals for Peoria.