February 3, 2010

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Jared Ross and Andreas Nodl paced the Adirondack Phantoms with two points each, but they fell short to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5-4 in a shootout Wednesday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Adirondack had great energy to start the game, encouraged by an early power play called 33 seconds into the first period. They created several scoring chances and held the puck in the offensive zone for more than a minute after the power play ended, but they could not get the puck past Penguins goalie John Curry. Against the run of play it was Wilkes-Barre/Scranton that struck first when Mark Letestu threw a backhand pass from the right corner into the slot and found an unmarked Ben Lovejoy for an open net one-timer at 7:06. It was 2-0 on the Penguins’ second shot of the game on a similar play, this time Joe Vitale made a backhand pass from behind the goal line to set up Tim Wallace, who had his initial shot blocked, but put the rebound through the legs of a stranded Johan Backlund at 9:45.

The Phantoms got on the board at 12:54 as captain Jared Ross made a beautiful cross-crease pass to Andreas Nodl for a wide-open tap-in; left wing Mika Pyorala had the second assist on the goal for his first career AHL point. Adirondack completed the turn around minutes later when Nodl returned the favor to his captain. Nodl caused a turnover in the neutral zone, then fed the puck forward to Ross, who skated down the left wing and unleashed a blazing slap shot from the left face off dot off the underside of the crossbar and into the top left corner of the net at 15:17 to tie the game at 2-2.

Adirondack took the lead early in the second period on a play that was started by a very athletic move from defenseman Logan Stephenson. While being checked into the boards, Stephenson was able to stick his leg around the Penguins’ forward and get his right skate on the puck to keep it in the offensive zone, kicking it down to the right corner to Patrick Maroon. That was all Maroon needed, as he broke away from his defender, using his strength to power to the front of the net and tuck the puck inside the far post at 1:43, giving the Phantoms a 3-2 lead. Adirondack held the lead until late in the frame when a miscue at the offensive blue line gave Chris Conner a shorthanded breakaway. Backlund had already stopped Dustin Jeffrey on a shorthanded breakaway earlier in the period, but this time Conner was able to slide the puck through the legs of the Swedish goaltender at 18:53, tying the game 3-3 with his unassisted, shorthanded goal.

It was a tight battle for the first twelve minutes of the third period. But at 12:31 defenseman Chris Lee scored on his own rebound after a scramble in the crease to put the Penguins ahead 4-3. Just when it looked as though Adirondack was running out of time, Jason Ward rescued the team by picking up his own rebound, reaching between three Penguins defenders to grab the loose puck and score his eighth goal of the season to tie the game at 4-4 at 17:12.

Each team had chances in a scoreless overtime, but Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would prevail in the shootout, getting goals from Letestu in the first round and Wyatt Smith in the third round. Nodl scored for Adirondack in the third round, but the game ended when Maroon’s fifth round attempt was denied by Curry, giving the Penguins a 5-4 shootout win.

John Curry allowed 4 goals on 24 shots in regulation and overtime, but stopped 4-of-5 in the shootout to earn the win as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton improved to 23-23-1-1 on the season. Johan Backlund made 25 saves on 29 shots in 65 minutes of action and added three saves on five shootout attempts as Adirondack earned a point and went to 22-22-2-2. The Penguins out-shot the Phantoms 30-24 in the game and went 0-for-2 on the power play; Adirondack was 0-for-4 on the man-advantage.

Adirondack now returns home as they prepare to take on the Atlantic Division’s first place Manchester Monarchs on Friday, February 5th for a 7:00 pm face off at the Civic Center. Friday is Facebook night; let the box office know you’re a Facebook friend and receive $3 off your ticket and get a free winter ski cap, while supplies last.

There is no better way to watch Phantoms Hockey than by sharing it with a group of your family and friends. Bring a group of 15 or more people to the Glens Falls Civic Center and qualify for incredible discounted ticket prices off the regular box office rates. For more information about group tickets, contact the Phantoms at (518) 480-3355 or online at www.phantomshockey.com.

FINAL BOX SCORE

Adirondack Phantoms 4 At Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5 (SO) - Status: Final SO
Feb 3, 2010 - Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Adirondack 2 1 1 0 - 4
W-B/Scranton 2 1 1 0 - 5

1st Period-1, W-B/Scranton, Lovejoy 6 (Letestu, Johnson), 7:06. 2, W-B/Scranton, Wallace 14 (Vitale, Tangradi), 9:45. 3, Adirondack, Nodl 6 (Ross, Pyorala), 12:54. 4, Adirondack, Ross 4 (Nodl), 15:17. Penalties-Vitale Wbs (tripping), 0:33; Marshall Adk (slashing), 16:05; Smith Wbs (slashing), 16:05.

2nd Period-5, Adirondack, Maroon 7 (Stephenson, Matsumoto), 1:43. 6, W-B/Scranton, Conner 8 18:53 (sh). Penalties-Smith Wbs (tripping), 14:50; Engelland Wbs (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:26.

3rd Period-7, W-B/Scranton, Lee 6 (Caputi, Johnson), 12:31. 8, Adirondack, Ward 8 (Kalinski, Marshall), 17:12. Penalties-Bourdon Adk (interference), 0:08; Kalinski Adk (slashing), 6:01; Smith Wbs (hooking), 9:19.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Adirondack 1 (Ross NG, Matsumoto NG, Nodl G, Pyorala NG, Maroon NG), W-B/Scranton 2 (Letestu G, Conner NG, Smith G, Jeffrey NG, Johnson NG).

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 10-7-4-3-0-24. W-B/Scranton 7-9-11-2-1-30.

Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 0 of 4; W-B/Scranton 0 of 2.

Goalies-Adirondack, Backlund 14-10-2 (29 shots-25 saves). W-B/Scranton, Curry 18-14-1 (24 shots-20 saves).

A-5,588

Referees-David Banfield (44).
Linesmen-Leo Boylan (97), Jameel Chaudry (51).