| Glens Falls, NY-In front
of an energetic crowd of more than 4,000 at the
Glens Falls Civic Center, Denis Hamel's and Erik
Gustafsson's power play goals were not enough as
the Abbotsford Heat extended their winning streak
to five in an Adirondack 4-2 loss on Saturday night.
The Phantoms closed a 3-1 deficit to 3-2 in the
third period and were appearing to set the stage
for their second late and dramatic comeback in a
row but Abbotsford goalie Leland Irving withstood
the charge to preserve the win and the Heat sealed
the victory with an empty-net goal with 8.9 seconds
left.
The rookie defenseman Gustafsson appeared to score
his second goal this season blasting one home from
center point in the first period but the goal was
later credited to Denis Hamel who deflected it on
its way in. It was Hamel's 6th goal in five games
since joining Adirondack a couple weeks ago. Later
Gustaffson accepted a cross-ice feed from Eric Wellwood
in the third period and scored what turned out to
be his first of the evening.
The Kvissleby, Sweden native comes to the Flyers
organization by way of Northern Michigan University
where he was teammates with Phantoms goalie Brian
Stewart.
Denis Hamel and Stefan Legein both had quality
chances to try to tie the game in the closing minute
but were denied. The Phantoms concluded their homestand
with a record of 1-2-0 to begin John Paddock's tenure
as interim Head Coach.
It was the Phantoms third multiple power-play goal
night in their last six games. Adirondack has gone
10-for-40 (25%) in that stretch. The game was the
first ever between the Phantoms and the Heat. Abbotsford
is the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames and are
located near Vancouver in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
Heat forward Quintin Lang took a minor for hooking
allowing the Phantoms to take advantage of the power
play. Erik Gustaffson blasted a shot from the point
tipped by Hamel past goaltender Leland Irving tying
the score at 1-1.
In a fast moving first period, Abbotsford scored
the lone goal on a shot by Jon Rheault, his third
of the season, in between the circles that beat
Johan Backlund blocker-side to give the Heat a 1-0
lead. The Phantoms were outshot in the opening frame
12-3 but Johan Backlund held strong making 11 saves.
In the middle frame, J.D. Watt gave the Abbotsford
Heat a 2-1 lead on his first goal of the season
on a shot from in the slot that squeaked through
Johan Backlund's pads.
After the goal, Paddock pulled Johan Backlund in
favor of Brian Stewart. Backlund left the game after
allowing 2 goals on 18 Abbottsford shots.
The Heat tacked on a 5-on-3 goal with Kalinski
sitting a double-minor for high sticking and Legein
taking a delay of game penalty for clearing the
puck over the glass in an attempt to clear from
the defensive zone. Brian Cameron's goal at 18:59
gave the Heat a 3-1 advantage at the second intermission.
The Phantoms gained intensity and generated more
scoring chances in the third period. On the power
play again, Gustaffson accepted a feed from Wellwood
from the right-wing corner to close the score to
3-2.
Lance Bouma closed the scoring firing in the empty-netter
from the right wing in the closing seconds.
Abbotsford outshot the Phantoms 29-21. Adirondack
went 2-for-5 on the power play while the Heat went
2-for-7.
Abbotsford returns to the Glens Falls Civic Center
on December 18. The teams close out the season series
when the Phantoms travel out west to Abbotsford
on January 7 and 8. The attendance of 4,046 was
the Phantoms' largest crowd of the year.
Before the game, the area Guns n' Hoses representatives
took on the NYPD team in the annual 9/11 Memorial
Fund game. In front of a nice turnout of area fans
and some traveling up from New York City, the NYPD
came away with an 11-6 victory as both sides displayed
some impressive skills.
The event was a big success raising thousands of
dollars for the Glens Falls 9/11 Memorial project
and also for the scholarship fund of the children
of the victims of our 9/11 heroes. Special thanks
to the many businesses and individuals who again
helped make this feel-good event with the Phantoms
so great!
Up next, the Phantoms hit the road for 3 games
that starts in Charlotte on Wednesday night at 7
pm. Adirondack returns home on Wednesday, November
24 to face-off against the Hamilton Bulldogs at
7 p.m. It is Blades for Grades Night at the Glens
Falls Civic Center. Call the Phantoms office for
more information.
Don't be left out! Tickets for all Phantoms games
are on sale now. Discount rates are available for
groups of 15 or more. Save off the individual ticket
price by asking the Phantoms about their great group
rate packages.
The AHL is celebrating their 75th anniversary season
and is the top development league for the NHL. More
than 85 percent of today's NHL players are American
Hockey League graduates and more than 6 million
fans attend AHL games every year.
Come watch future NHL stars and up-and-coming Flyers
prospects with exciting Adirondack Phantoms hockey!
A variety of ticket packages for all the fast-paced
action are on sale now. The Phantoms selection of
discount ticket packages includes 3-packs, 6-packs,
12 and 22 Select Plans, full season plans and Flex
Packs. Choose the plan that works best for you!
Get your tickets at the Phantoms office inside the
Glens Falls Civic Center, online at ticketmaster.com,
or by calling the Phantoms at 518-480-3355.
Abbotsford Heat 4 at Adirondack Phantoms 2 - Status:
Final
Saturday, November 13, 2010 - Glens Falls Civic
Center
Abbotsford 1 2 1 - 4
Adirondack 0 1 1 - 2
1st Period-1, Abbotsford, Rheault 3 (Baldwin, MacMillan),
6:23. Penalties-Piskula Abb (tripping), 0:28; Testwuide
Adk (hooking), 13:47.
2nd Period-2, Adirondack, Hamel 6 (Gustafsson,
Legein), 4:48 (PP). 3, Abbotsford, Watt 1 (Cameron),
13:12. 4, Abbotsford, Cameron 2 (Rheault, Brodie),
18:59 (PP). Penalties-Laing Abb (interference),
4:12; Armstrong Abb (interference, misconduct),
13:55; Baldwin Abb (roughing), 13:55; Bourdon Adk
(roughing), 13:55; Rinaldo Adk (boarding), 13:55;
Testwuide Adk (roughing), 13:55; Kalinski Adk (double
minor - high-sticking), 16:10; Legein Adk (delay
of game), 17:15.
3rd Period-5, Adirondack, Gustafsson 2 (Wellwood),
11:19 (PP). 6, Abbotsford, Bouma 4 (Laing), 19:51
(EN). Penalties-served by MacMillan Abb (bench minor
- too many men), 9:59; Carroll Abb (hooking), 11:39;
Meyers Abb (hooking), 12:14; Wellwood Adk (slashing),
12:29.
Shots on Goal-Abbotsford 12-11-6-29. Adirondack
3-7-11-21.
Power Play Opportunities-Abbotsford 1 / 6; Adirondack
2 / 5.
Goalies-Abbotsford, Irving 9-3-0 (21 shots-19 saves).
Adirondack, Backlund 3-9-0 (18 shots-16 saves);
Stewart 0-3-0 (10 shots-9 saves).
A-4,046
Referees-Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Frank Murphy (29), Jim Harper (59).
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