Little Club in Big House

Hershey Bears v Philadelphia Phantoms, November 23, 2001

First Union Center, Sec 304 Row 10

We made it a tradition to go to the Thanksgiving Friday Phantoms game. This one did us in. At least for see the Phantoms at the Big House.

The AHL Phantoms began playing the old Spectrum when the Flyers moved next door to the Core States Center/First Union Center/Wachovia Center.

The new building has never been a good substitute for the Flyers. Now it was evident it sucked seeing the Phantoms there too.

Jordan Krestanovich scored twice in the third period as the visiting
Hershey Bears rallied for a 4-4 tie with the Philadelphia Phantoms.
Krestanovich netted a power-play marker 4:46 into the final period,
drawing Hershey within two scores.

After Riku Hahl netted a power-play goal midway through
the third, the 20-year-old winger then beat goaltender Maxime
Ouellet on a penalty shot with 1:53 left in regulation as the
Bears improved to 4-1-2 over their last seven.

Frederic Cassivi was pulled late in the first period but returned to start the
second, collecting 15 saves, including three in the extra
session, to preserve the tie. John Slaney tied for the
league-lead in goals among defenseman with his eighth marker
five minutes into the middle stanza for a 3-0 Philadelphia lead.

The Phantoms remain unbeaten (3-0-4) over their last seven
games. Ouellet yielded one goal on the first 13 shots he faced,
but surrendered three goals on the final 15 Hershey chances to
settle for the tie.

Only 10,610 showed up for the event.  During this time period, when Hershey was in town,
games at the Spectrum were routinely sell outs.