March 7, 2010

HERSHEY, PA – The Adirondack Phantoms led 2-1 after forty minutes, but ran into penalty trouble and lost the advantage as the Hershey Bears responded with three power play goals in the third period to earn a 4-2 win Sunday afternoon at the Giant Center.

The Phantoms came out with a determined intensity as they squared off with the defending champs for the sixth time this year. Adirondack tested Bears goalie Michal Neuvirth with an early shot from Andreas Nodl that developed off a turnover created by Jared Ross. Hershey pushed a few tough shots at Johan Backlund in the Phantoms net, but the score remained level. Then with just under four minutes remaining in the opening period former Phantoms captain Boyd Kane took a pass from Chris Bourque in the slot and buried his shot into the far side of the net for a 1-0 Hershey lead at 16:10. Adirondack responded well and with 1:36 left in the frame Patrick Maroon made a beautiful pass to send Nodl off on a breakaway. Nodl got the puck, held off the back-check of defenseman Karl Alzner and fired his shot through Neuvirth’s legs for his ninth goal of the year, assisted by Maroon and Logan Stephenson, tying the game at 1-1.

In the second period right wing Rob Bellamy made a great individual play to give Adirondack its first lead of the game. Skating hard on the fore-check, Bellamy poked the puck off the stick of Neuvirth, tracked it down in the right wing corner and quickly snapped it back toward the goal. The Hershey goalie thought he had it lined up with his catching glove, but missed the puck and watched it hit off the back of his shoulder and roll into the net at 6:11. The goal was Bellamy’s second of the season and was unassisted, putting the Phantoms ahead 2-1.

In the third period Hershey got back in the game with a power play goal from Zach Miskovic at 1:55 and then took the lead at 6:25 with another power play goal, this time from leading scorer Keith Aucoin. Adirondack pressed to try to tie the game, but with Backlund pulled and the team shorthanded, Kane scored an empty net power play goal for his second tally of the game.

Michal Neuvirth finished the game with 20 saves on 22 shots to record the win as Hershey improved to 49-12-0-2 this season. Johan Backlund turned in another solid performance, stopping 26-of-29 shots as Adirondack dropped to 28-32-2-2. The Bears out-shot the Phantoms 30-22 and went 3-for-5 on the power play; Adirondack was 0-for-3 with the man-advantage. The win was Hershey’s 23rd consecutive home victory, which set an AHL and professional hockey record; it was the Phantoms fourth straight loss, which is a season high.

The Phantoms next game is on Friday, March 12th at 7:30 pm against Hershey at the Glens Falls Civic Center, beginning Hall of Fame Weekend with Johan Backlund Bobblehead Night; the first 3,000 fans will receive a free bobblehead doll courtesy of Associates of Glens Falls.

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. Don’t miss a minute of the exciting action of the Adirondack Phantoms 2009-2010 Season presented by Bud Light.

FINAL BOX SCORE

Adirondack Phantoms 2 At Hershey Bears 4 - Status: Final
Mar 7, 2010 - Giant Center

Adirondack 1 1 0 - 2
Hershey 1 0 3 - 4

1st Period-1, Hershey, Kane 20 (Bourque, Alzner), 16:10. 2, Adirondack, Nodl 9 (Stephenson, Maroon), 18:24. Penalties-Stephenson Adk (slashing), 11:57; Clackson Adk (fighting), 16:33; Wellar Her (fighting), 16:33.

2nd Period-3, Adirondack, Bellamy 2 6:11. Penalties-Bellamy Adk (roughing), 9:33; Amadio Her (roughing, cross-checking), 9:33; Mormina Adk (interference, unsportsmanlike conduct - disputing decision), 18:53.

3rd Period-4, Hershey, Miskovic 3 (Bouchard, Perreault), 1:55 (pp). 5, Hershey, Aucoin 31 (Bourque, Giroux), 6:25 (pp). 6, Hershey, Kane 21 (Joudrey, Helmer), 19:40 (pp en). Penalties-Kane Her (interference), 2:33; Clackson Adk (charging, roughing), 5:40; Maroon Adk (roughing), 5:40; Gordon Her (roughing), 5:40; Wellar Her (roughing), 5:40; Marshall Adk (fighting), 9:48; Dubuc Her (fighting), 9:48; Joudrey Her (high-sticking), 12:36; Mormina Adk (delay of game), 17:43.

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 6-10-6-22. Hershey 11-11-8-30.

Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 0 of 3; Hershey 3 of 5.

Goalies-Adirondack, Backlund 20-16-2 (29 shots-26 saves). Hershey, Neuvirth 13-5-0 (22 shots-20 saves).

A-10,645

Referees-Francis Charron (46).
Linesmen-Bob Goodman (90), Matt MacPherson (94).