Abbotsford, BC-Johan Backlund returned to action for the first time since November 28th and was stellar in his return in saving 28 of 30 Abbotsford shots while the Phantoms extended their point streak to six games in a 3-2 shootout loss at the Heat.

Adirondack has gone 4-0-2 in their last six games and now stands at 7-2-2 in their last 11.

Michael Ryan stretched his goal scoring streak to five games with a power play lamplighter, the longest such streak for a Phantom this year. Ryan's goal came as he split the defense on a nice tip forward by Ben Holmstrom. Ryan converted on the breakaway for his 9th of year, his 8th since joining the Adirondack Phantoms. Erik Gustafsson started the rush and earned his team leading 27th point of the season on his 23rd assist.

Mike Testwuide scored his second of the season a few minutes later on a blast from the right wing beating Leland Irving to the far post. The Colorado College product gave the Phantoms a 2-0 lead at the 6:30 mark of the 2nd. But the Heat surged back after replacing goalie Leland Irving with recent ECHL call-up J.P. Lamoureux right after Testwuide had staked the Phantoms to the 2-0 advantage at 6:30 into the second period.

Ryan Stone got the Heat on the board late in the 2nd period with his 2nd goal of the year and Matt Keith knocked in his team leading 13th goal of the season early in the 3rd period to tie the game at 2-2.

Abbotsford kept charging at Backlund throughout the third with a 15-5 shots advantage through the frame but Backlund somehow found ways to keep them out of the net earning the Phantoms the standings point.

Backlund went down after some contact in the crease in the middle of the third period and appeared to be hurt in his right leg but eventually was able to shake it off and stay in the game.

Matt Keith scored the lone goal in the shootout for either side and Abbotsford won 3-2 in a shootout final for the second game in a row.

Abbotsford outshot the Phantoms 31-21. Adirondack went 1-for-4 on the power play while the Heat were 0-for-4.

The Phantoms finished the regular season series with a record of 1-1-2 against the Heat while Abbotsford went 3-1-0.

Adirondack has a long travel day in store for them on Sunday and likely a day off from practice on Monday.

Notes: Adirondack scratches for the Friday game at Abbotsford included Marc-Andre Bourdon, Stefan Legein, Denis Hamel and Shane Harper.

Upcoming Games:

Friday, January 14, 7:30pm - Hershey Bears at Adirondack Phantoms

Saturday, January 15, 7:00pm - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Adirondack Phantoms

Sunday, January 16, 4:00pm - Adirondack Phantoms at Syracuse Crunch

Friday, January 21 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Adirondack Phantoms (at Philadelphia)

Upcoming Promotions:

Friday, January 14 - $1 Hot Dogs

Saturday, January 15 - Phlex Retirement Party. Unifirst Youth Backpacks for first 1,000 kids age 14 and younger.

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 2 at Abbotsford Heat 3 (SO) - Status: Final SO
Saturday, January 8, 2011 - Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre

Adirondack 0 2 0 0 - 2
Abbotsford 0 1 1 0 - 3

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Holmstrom Adk (double minor - high-sticking), 11:26; Marshall Adk (roughing), 19:23; Mikkelson Abb (roughing), 19:23.

2nd Period-1, Adirondack, Ryan 9 (Holmstrom, Gustafsson), 1:58 (PP). 2, Adirondack, Testwuide 2 6:30. 3, Abbotsford, Stone 2 (Rheault, Mikkelson), 15:15. Penalties-Pelech Abb (interference), 1:38; Bouma Abb (hooking), 3:49; Eddy Adk (hooking), 7:23; Marshall Adk (fighting), 9:33; Meyer Abb (fighting), 9:33; Testwuide Adk (unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting), 10:17; Pelech Abb (fighting), 10:17; Bouma Abb (holding), 10:39; Clackson Adk (fighting), 13:47; MacMillan Abb (fighting), 13:47; Testwuide Adk (tripping), 17:40.

3rd Period-4, Abbotsford, Keith 13 (Cunning), 1:29. Penalties-Wellwood Adk (high-sticking), 1:09; Pelech Abb (slashing), 1:09; Rheault Abb (boarding), 15:57.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Adirondack 0 (Ryan NG, Moore NG, Pither NG, Wellwood NG, Holmstrom NG), Abbotsford 1 (Cameron NG, Keith G, Nemisz NG, Rheault NG, Cunning NG).
Shots on Goal-Adirondack 6-7-5-3-0-21. Abbotsford 3-10-15-2-1-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 1 / 4; Abbotsford 0 / 4.
Goalies-Adirondack, Backlund 3-12-1 (30 shots-28 saves). Abbotsford, Irving 16-13-1 (9 shots-7 saves); Lamoureux 2-0-1 (12 shots-12 saves).
A-2,190
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Kiel Murchison (35), Trent Knorr (91).