Phantoms edge River Rats in longest AHL game

Apr 25, 2008 - 5:21 AM ALBANY, New York (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phantoms and Albany River Rats more than earned a day off between games of their East Division semifinal series.

Ryan Potulny scored at 2:58 of the fifth overtime, giving the Phantoms a 3-2 victory over the River Rats on Thursday in the longest game in the 72-year history of the American Hockey League.

The tally, which came on Philadelphia's 101st shot of the night, ended the game a mere 5 hours, 38 minutes after it began. The contest, which was completed in 142:58, eclipsed the previous league record of 134:56, set in the 2003 Calder Cup Finals when the Hamilton Bulldogs skated to a 2-1 triumph over the Houston Aeros.

Michael Leighton, who won the Aldege "Baz" Bastien Award as the AHL's top goaltender during the regular season, made an astounding 98 saves in a losing cause for the River Rats. Scott Munroe turned aside 65 shots for the Phantoms, who took a three-games-to-two lead in the series.

Philadelphia's Jared Ross made the chance for history possible by scoring his second goal of the game with 4:47 remaining in the third period to forge a 2-2 tie. Kiel McLeod netted both tallies for Albany.