March 14, 2010

GLENS FALLS, NY – Johan Backlund made 35 saves on 36 shots and Joey Mormina scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Adirondack Phantoms beat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2-1 won Sunday afternoon at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

It was a playoff type atmosphere on the ice as both teams came out playing very physically in spite of the fact that both were playing their third game in three days. The Penguins out-shot Adirondack 13-6 in the first period, even though the scoring chances were relatively even.

The first blow was struck by Mika Pyorala in the first minute of the second period. Wilkes-Barre defenseman Ben Lovejoy was whistled for cross-checking 28 seconds in the period and on the ensuing power play the Phantoms executed a marvelous passing sequence to grab the lead. Joonas Lehtivuori, Jared Ross and Andreas Nodl all combined on a one-touch passing sequence around the back of the net and then find Pyorala at the top of the crease for a quick shot passed goalie Brad Thiessen just 56 seconds into the frame. Eight minutes later the Penguins tied the score at 1-1 when Marc Letestu scored on a five-on-three power play, beating a screened Johan Backlund at 8:28 on a shot from the high slot into the top right corner of the net; that would be the only puck that would elude the Swedish netminder in the entire game.

After a scoreless third period, where both teams protected their own zones, looking for the other to make a mistake, the game went into overtime. Twenty seconds in Logan Stephenson was called for holding, giving the Penguins a tense four-on-three power play. Backlund came up with five incredible saves to keep the visitors at bay. Thirty seconds, after an enormous penalty kill, Jon Matsumoto drove hard to the net with the puck and drew a cross-checking penalty on Wilkes-Barre forward Konstantin Pushkarev. Forty seconds later defenseman Joey Mormina unleashed a fierce one-timer from the right point that blazed into the net at 3:37, bringing the home fans roaring to their feet and giving the Phantoms an important 2-1 win.

Johan Backlund turned in another outstanding performance in goal as he stopped 35-of-36 shots to record his 21st win of the season, helping Adirondack improve to 30-32-3-2 on the year. Brad Thiessen finished the game with 22 saves on 24 shots as the Penguins fell to 33-29-2-3. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton out-shot the Phantoms 36-24 in the game and went 1-for-5 on the power play; Adirondack was 2-for-7 with the man-advantage. Mormina’s goal gave him a new single-season career high (5), came against his former team and it was his third game-winning goal of the year; he has already set career highs for assists (16) and points (21).

Adirondack is back in action on Wednesday, March 17th as they host the Hamilton Bulldogs for a 7:00 pm St. Patrick’s Day face off at the Glens Falls Civic Center. During Wednesday’s game fans can purchase green beer at the concession stands and take advantage of two-dollar draft beer downstairs in the Labatt Blue Zone before the game and during the intermissions.

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

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 1 At Adirondack Phantoms 2 (OT) - Status: Final OT
Mar 14, 2010 - Glens Falls Civic Center

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

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Marshall Adk (holding the stick), 5:19; Brookbank Wbs (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:07; Marshall Adk (unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:07; Strait Wbs (tripping), 15:40.

2nd Period-1, Adirondack, Pyorala 6 (Nodl, Ross), 0:56 (pp). 2, W-B/Scranton, Letestu 20 (Jeffrey, Conner), 8:28 (pp). Penalties-Lovejoy Wbs (cross-checking), 0:28; Curry Adk (slashing), 6:57; Ross Adk (tripping), 7:42; Engelland Wbs (cross-checking), 10:50; Conner Wbs (holding), 15:22; Lovejoy Wbs (cross-checking), 17:05.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Vitale Wbs (holding), 13:19; Pyorala Adk (interference), 13:42.

OT Period-3, Adirondack, Mormina 5 (Legein, Maroon), 3:37 (pp). Penalties-Stephenson Adk (holding), 0:20; Pushkarev Wbs (cross-checking), 2:57.

Shots on Goal-W-B/Scranton 13-11-7-5-36. Adirondack 6-9-6-3-24.

Power Play Opportunities-W-B/Scranton 1 of 5; Adirondack 2 of 7.

Goalies-W-B/Scranton, Thiessen 7-11-1 (24 shots-22 saves). Adirondack, Backlund 21-17-2 (36 shots-35 saves).

A-3,272

Referees-Chris Brown (86).
Linesmen-Steeve Lemay (64), Jim Harper (59).