November 14, 2009

GLENS FALLS, NY – Stefan Legein scored an unassisted short-handed goal to send the game into overtime and rookie goalie Nic Riopel made 25 saves to record his first career professional win as the Adirondack Phantoms beat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3-2 in a shootout Saturday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

After losing to Binghamton Friday night at home 5-0, it appeared as though Adirondack had something to prove as the gloves came off just two seconds into the game. As soon as the opening puck was dropped Patrick Maroon squared off with Sound Tigers’ forward Matt Martin. The rest of the period was just as physical, but scoreless as the Phantoms out-shot Bridgeport 13-4.

David Laliberte broke the deadlock at 4:55 of the second period when he took a cross-ice pass from captain Jared Ross and shot the puck home at the left post for a power play goal; Sean Curry also assisted on the play. The Phantoms hemmed Bridgeport into their own zone for a majority of the period and out-shot the Sound Tigers 20-9 in the middle frame, but they could not get another puck past goaltender Scott Munroe. The visitors answered back in the final minute of the period as Jesse Joensuu stood in the trapezoid and set up a Greg Moore one-timer just above the crease at 19:09 to tie the game at 1-1.

Bridgeport rookie Matt Martin gave the Sound Tigers their first lead of the game with a power play goal at 3:18 of the third period on a nice pass from defenseman Mark Flood. However, just as he did against Bridgeport on November 4th, Adirondack right wing Stefan Legein answered immediately to tie the game. With Patrick Maroon in the box serving a Phantoms bench minor for too-many men on the ice, Legein rushed up the right side and took a shot that was blocked by Munroe. Legein persisted by digging out his own rebound and slotting the puck home at 4:32 for an unassisted, short-handed goal.

Adirondack had the only two shots on goal in overtime, but the game went to a shootout. Trevor Smith scored in the first round for Bridgeport, but Krys Kolanos tied the score with a goal in the fourth round for Adirondack. It progressed into sudden-death and in the seventh round Maroon beat his former teammate Munroe for a 2-1 lead. At the other end of the ice rookie goaltender Nic Riopel tipped Justin DiBenedetto’s shot up onto the crossbar and was mobbed by his teammates in celebration of Riopel’s first professional win.

Nic Riopel finished the game with 25 saves on 27 shots through 65 minutes of play and then stopped 6-of-7 shootout attempts for his first pro and AHL victory, helping Adirondack improve to 7-6-1-0 on the year. Scott Munroe made an impressive 49 saves on 51 shots in the game, but took the loss with 5-of-7 shootout saves as Bridgeport fell to 8-10-0-1 on the season. The Phantoms out-shot the Sound Tigers 52-27 in the game and went 1-for-4 on the power play; Bridgeport was 1-for-3 with the man-advantage.

Adirondack will complete their three-game home stand on Wednesday, November 18th as they host the Toronto Marlies for a 7:00 pm face off at the Glens Falls Civic Center; it will be the Marlies’ only to Glens Falls this season.

The Time Warner Cable Cup Four-Pack is now on sale at the Phantoms office, starting as low as $56. 2009-10 Phantoms full and partial season ticket packages are still available for the 2009-10 season presented by Bud Light. For more information please contact the Adirondack Phantoms at (518) 480-3355 or online at www.phantomshockey.com.

FINAL BOX SCORE

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2 At Adirondack Phantoms 3 (SO) - Status: Final SO
Nov 14, 2009 - Glens Falls Civic Center

Bridgeport 0 1 1 0 - 2
Adirondack 0 1 1 0 - 3

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Martin Bri (fighting), 0:02; Maroon Adk (fighting), 0:02; Haley Bri (slashing), 19:12.

2nd Period-1, Adirondack, Laliberte 2 (Ross, Curry), 4:55 (pp). 2, Bridgeport, Moore 6 (Joensuu, Flood), 19:09. Penalties-Kohn Bri (slashing), 3:11; Gleed Bri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:55; Martin Bri (hooking), 16:06.

3rd Period-3, Bridgeport, Martin 3 (Flood, Moore), 3:18 (pp). 4, Adirondack, Legein 5 4:32 (sh). Penalties-Mormina Adk (delay of game), 2:34; served by Maroon Adk (bench minor - too many men), 3:50; DiBenedetto Bri (roughing), 5:03; Moore Bri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 5:03; Beaulieu Adk (unsportsmanlike conduct), 5:03; Marshall Adk (roughing), 5:03; Kolanos Adk (slashing), 15:08.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Bridgeport 1 (Smith G, Moore NG, Mauldin NG, Joensuu NG, Martin NG, Romano NG, DiBenedetto NG), Adirondack 2 (Mormina NG, Ross NG, Matsumoto NG, Kolanos G, Laliberte NG, Nodl NG, Maroon G).

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 4-8-15-0-0-27. Adirondack 13-19-17-2-1-52.

Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 1 of 3; Adirondack 1 of 4.

Goalies-Bridgeport, Munroe 4-5-1 (51 shots-49 saves). Adirondack, Riopel 1-3-0 (27 shots-25 saves).

A-4,027

Referees-Chris Ciamaga (41).
Linesmen-Steeve Lemay (64), Jim Harper (59).