March 17, 2010

GLENS FALLS, NY – The Adirondack Phantoms could not hold a 5-2 third period lead, but did extend their point streak to four games as they fell to the Hamilton Bulldogs 6-5 in a shootout Wednesday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Not having led in the first three meetings this season, the Phantoms wanted to jump out early to put the Western Conference’s first place team on its heels. They did just that 1:13 into the game when defenseman Denis Bodrov’s centering pass from the left wing redirected off a Bulldogs skate an into the net. It was Bodrov’s first career AHL and North American goal, assisted by Jon Matsumoto and Kevin Marshall. Eight minutes later Hamilton tied the game as a Yannick Weber slap shot from the right point beat a screened Michael-Lee Teslak to the far post at 9:03. However, Matsumoto would strike again, this time using his shooting instead of his passing, as he sent a beautiful wrist shot from the slot into the top right corner of the net, over the glove of Cedrick Desjardins at 14:33, assisted by Joonas Lehtivuori, giving the Phantoms a 2-1 lead.

Thirty seconds into the second period Jared Ross scored a power play goal, prompting Hamilton to pulls Desjardin, replacing him with backup goalie Curtis Sanford. Adirondack opened up a 4-1 lead at 12:40 when Mika Pyorala combined with Marc-Andre Bourdon for a beautiful give-and-go counter attack that ended with Pyorala slamming home his seventh goal of the season; it was his third straight game with a goal.

Hamilton began their comeback early in the third period as P.K. Subban scored at 6:07 to make it 4-2, but the Phantoms answered right back at 8:19 with a stunning passing sequence on the power play. Stefan Legein swept the puck from the left wing corner back to the point and Bodrov quickly sent a cross-ice pass to Matsumoto at the far post for a simple tap-in. It was his second goal of the night and his 24th of the season, putting Adirondack up 5-2. But the Bulldogs kept coming, scoring their third goal at 10:14 as Brock Trotter tipped a Yannick Weber shot from the blue line into the roof of the net. Hamilton pulled within one goal at 14:58 on Subban’s second goal of the game, but the tying goal mimicked the first of the game. Aaron Palushaj took a shot from the right circle that was partially blocked, but came across the low slot and ricocheted off the shoulder of defenseman Kevin Marshall and into the net at 17:05, a horribly unlucky bounce that sent the game into overtime.

After a wild four-on-four session where both teams came inches away from scoring, the game went into a shootout. Matsumoto scored in round one and Legein scored in round five to force sudden death. Hamilton had goals from Subban and Ryan Russell and then won the game with the last shot of the seventh round when Ryan White beat Teslak to end the contest.

Curtis Sanford came on in relief to record the victory, stopping 13-of-15 shots in 44:30 of action and then 5-of-7 in the shootout, helping Hamilton improve to 45-15-3-5. Michael-Lee Teslak took the shootout loss in his second start of the season, making 25 saves on 30 shots in regulation and overtime and then stopping 4-of-7 in the shootout as Adirondack earns a point, going to 30-32-3-2 on the year. The Bulldogs out-shot the Phantoms 31-22 in the game and went 0-for-6 on the power play; Adirondack was 2-for-5 on the man-advantage.

The Phantoms will now hit the road for a three-game weekend trip down in Virginia and Pennsylvania, beginning with a 7:15 pm game on Friday, March 19th against the Norfolk Admirals at Norfolk Scope Arena. Adirondack’s next home game comes on Wednesday, March 24th as they host the Albany River Rats for a 7:00 pm face off at the Civic Center for Round Ten of the Time Warner Cable Cup Series.

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

Hamilton Bulldogs 6 (SO) At Adirondack Phantoms 5 - Status: Final SO
Mar 17, 2010 - Glens Falls Civic Center

Hamilton 1 0 4 0 - 6
Adirondack 2 2 1 0 - 5

1st Period-1, Adirondack, Bodrov 1 (Matsumoto, Marshall), 1:13. 2, Hamilton, Weber 4 (Wyman, White), 9:03. 3, Adirondack, Matsumoto 23 (Lehtivuori, Klotz), 14:33. Penalties-Matsumoto Adk (high-sticking), 3:41; Henry Ham (fighting), 6:04; Clackson Adk (fighting), 6:04; Subban Ham (roughing), 7:15; Maroon Adk (major - spearing, game misconduct - spearing), 7:15; Weber Ham (delay of game, unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:48.

2nd Period-4, Adirondack, Ross 9 (Nodl, Pyorala), 0:30 (pp). 5, Adirondack, Pyorala 7 (Bourdon, Ross), 12:40. Penalties-Legein Adk (unsportsmanlike conduct), 5:03; Stephenson Adk (cross-checking), 10:35; Vernace Ham (hooking), 14:05; Mormina Adk (tripping), 17:48; Stephenson Adk (slashing), 19:38.

3rd Period-6, Hamilton, Subban 15 (Palushaj), 6:07. 7, Adirondack, Matsumoto 24 (Bodrov, Legein), 8:19 (pp). 8, Hamilton, Trotter 29 (Weber, Desharnais), 10:14. 9, Hamilton, Subban 16 (Desharnais), 14:58. 10, Hamilton, Palushaj 6 (Subban, Desharnais), 17:05. Penalties-White Ham (boarding, fighting), 6:53; Stephenson Adk (fighting), 6:53; Vernace Ham (interference), 11:59.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Hamilton 3 (Subban G, Trotter NG, Russell G, Palushaj NG, Belle NG, Masse NG, White G), Adirondack 2 (Matsumoto G, Nodl NG, Kalinski NG, Ross NG, Legein G, Pyorala NG, Mormina NG).

Shots on Goal-Hamilton 10-8-11-1-1-31. Adirondack 6-7-8-1-0-22.

Power Play Opportunities-Hamilton 0 of 6; Adirondack 2 of 5.

Goalies-Hamilton, Desjardins 24-8-2 (7 shots-4 saves); Sanford 21-10-3 (15 shots-13 saves). Adirondack, Teslak 1-0-1 (30 shots-25 saves).

A-2,500

Referees-Francis Charron (46).
Linesmen-Steeve Lemay (64), Mike Emanatian (69).