Patrick Maroon tipped home a centering pass from Steve Downie with 3.9 seconds left in regulation to lift the Philadelphia Phantoms to a 3-2 win over the Lowell Devils on Monday afternoon at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, N.J., in the AHL’s 2007 preseason opener.
Maroon, 19, was a sixth-round draft choice by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007.
The Phantoms jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a pair of first period goals by David Laliberte. Lowell then drew within a goal with 50 seconds left in the frame on a goal from Sean Zimmerman.
Nick Palmieri tied the game for Lowell just 1:27 into the second period. The 2-2 deadlock stood until Maroon’s late winner.
Lalibertie’s first goal was unassisted, and Oskars Bartulis and Mario Kempe grabbed assists on his second goal. Claude Giroux received the other assist on the game-winner.
The Phantoms outshot Lowell 33-25 on the afternoon, including a 14-6 advantage in the second period, and were 1-for-8 on the power play. Jeremy Duchesne started the game and made 8 saves on 10 shots before yielding to Scott Munroe just before the game’s halfway point. Munroe stopped all 15 shots he faced.
Dave Caruso and Frank Doyle combined for 30 saves for the Devils.
