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Charlotte, NC-Nic Riopel's
24 saves was good enough for second Star of the
Game honors in Charlotte, NC but it wasn't good
enough for the win as the Adirondack Phantoms dropped
a 2-1 decision to the Checkers to open their three
game southern swing.
Riopel had been called up from Greenville of the
ECHL to make his first AHL start of the 2010-11
campaign. The 21 year old made several dazzling
saves and was able to cover up on a handful of close
calls along the goal-line to keep the Phantoms within
striking distance. Riopel's work helped lead a Phantoms
penalty kill that held the Checkers to 0-for-7 on
the power play through the latter half of the game.
The Charlotte Checkers are the AHL affiliate of
the Carolina Hurricanes and have many of the same
players of the Albany River Rats from last year's
rivalry series. This was the second of six games
on the regular season between the East Division
foes with Charlotte now leading the series two games
to zero.
Andrew Rowe gave Adirondack the initial lead midway
through the first period when he pounced on a rebound
from a shot by Cullen Eddy. Rowe's fifth of the
year places him second on the team in goals behind
Denis Hamel. The play started with David Laliberte
digging the puck away in the right-wing corner and
giving to Eddy on the right point where he pulled
his big slapshot. It was Eddy's first AHL point.
The Mercyhurst College product had also been called
up Greenville just in time for the game.
The Phantoms' lead would be a short-lived one as
Bobby Sanguinetti would tie the game just 90 seconds
later. Zach Boychuk would steal the puck in the
Phantoms zone and fire it out in front to Drayson
Bowman chipping it past Riopel on the left-wing
side of the cage for the game winner with five minutes
let in the second period.
The Phantoms would pressure Checkers goalie Justin
Pogge on a few occasions in the third period but
were unable to obtain the equalizer. Adirondack
appeared to have all the momentum and energy through
the first half of the game as they outshot the Checker
12-3 in the opening period and kept the pressure
on into the second. But after Adirondack took the
lead on the Andrew Rowe goal it would be the Checkers
who would storm back with some intensity and momentum
of their own.
The game featured a few bouts including Matt Clackson
dropping the gloves with Nick Blanchard in the first
period and then Mike Testwuide going at it with
Zack Fitzgerald late in the second period in an
energetic fight with both participants energetically
swinging away.
Adirondack went 0-for-4 on the power play. All
of their advantages came in the first period with
the last one carrying over into the second period.
After that the Charlotte Checkers would get the
next seven advantages but were unable to convert
thanks to solid work by several penalty killers
including Ben Holmstrom and Dan Jancevski among
others as well as Riopel.
Charlotte outshot the Phantoms 26-24. Adirondack
had outshot the Checkers 11-3 in the opening period.
Charlotte is one of the hottest teams in the AHL
with a three game win streak and just one regulation
loss in their last 11 games (7-1-3). The win vaults
them all alone into second place in the east division
having leapfrogged past every team except first
place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton following a 1-5-0 start.
The southern swing continues for the Phantoms Friday
night at Charlotte at 7 p.m. and Saturday night
at the Norfolk Admirals at 7:15 p.m. Adirondack
returns home on Wednesday, November 24 to face-off
against the Hamilton Bulldogs at 7 p.m. on Check
it Out Night with great discounts available for
fans showing their library card when they purchase
tickets. It is also Blades for Grades Night at the
Glens Falls Civic Center. Call the Phantoms office
for more information. The Thanksgiving homestand
concludes on Friday, November 26 against the Norfolk
Admirals.
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.
Adirondack Phantoms 1 at Charlotte Checkers 2 -
Status: Final
Wednesday, November 17, 2010 - Time Warner Cable
Arena
Adirondack 0 1 0 - 1
Charlotte 0 2 0 - 2
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Clackson Adk (fighting),
2:41; Blanchard Cha (fighting), 2:41; Dalpe Cha
(hooking), 12:57; Sanguinetti Cha (tripping), 17:05;
FitzGerald Cha (hooking), 17:26; Rodney Cha (hooking),
19:30.
2nd Period-1, Adirondack, Rowe 5 (Eddy, Laliberte),
9:23. 2, Charlotte, Sanguinetti 1 (Chaput), 10:53.
3, Charlotte, Bowman 2 (Boychuk), 14:59. Penalties-Lehtivuori
Adk (interference), 11:25; Testwuide Adk (roughing,
fighting), 15:33; FitzGerald Cha (fighting), 15:33;
Laliberte Adk (hooking), 17:14.
3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Lehtivuori Adk
(tripping), 2:00; Rinaldo Adk (elbowing, roughing),
6:48; Eddy Adk (fighting), 11:27; Herauf Cha (fighting),
11:27; Legein Adk (boarding), 16:29; Marshall Adk
(roughing), 17:42; Samson Cha (roughing), 17:42.
Shots on Goal-Adirondack 11-5-8-24. Charlotte 3-13-10-26.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 0 / 4; Charlotte
0 / 7.
Goalies-Adirondack, Riopel 0-1-0 (26 shots-24 saves).
Charlotte, Pogge 5-4-0 (24 shots-23 saves).
A-3,718
Referees-Ian Croft (87).
Linesmen-Mike Sheehan (90), Paul Carnathan (93).
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