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Michael Ryan scored with 1:30 left in regulation
breaking a 2-2 tie and the Adirondack Phantoms went
on to defeat the top in the AHL, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Penguins, 4-2 Friday night in front of a jam-packed
crowd at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
18,056 crammed into the home of the Flyers for the
10th largest regular season crowd in AHL history.
Six of the top ten regular season crowds in AHL
history have all come in the regular season home
of the Philadelphia Flyers.
Michael Leighton thrived on the big stage in his
first meaningful game in the Wells Fargo Center
since backstopping the Flyers all the way to the
Stanley Cup Finals last year. He made 38 saves on
40 shots including saves on all 17 Penguins shots
in the 3rd period. He kicked out his left leg for
several show-stoppers that delighted the large turnout
and reminded many of his amazing play through much
of the most recent NHL post-season
Eric Wellwood also had a fine game for the Phantoms
including the team's first goal in the opening period
and a nice assist on a Greg Moore shorthanded goal
in the second.
Geoff Walker started the scoring for the Pens picking
off a puck at center and racing up the right wing
appearing to blast one in short-side on Leighton.
The Phantoms got it back a couple minute later
as Mike Testwuide drove to the slot and fired a
shot off Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goalie John Curry
whose rebound was gobbled up and deposited home
by Wellwood in the right-wing circle. It was Wellwood's
9th of the year and first since December 29th and
tied the game at 1-1.
Shots on goal in the opening period was only 5-3.
The Penguins opened things up some in the second
and got more pucks to Leighton but the Phantoms
would strike first and take their first lead of
the night. Eric Wellwood raced up the right-wing
on a short-handed rush and hesitated before firing
the biscuit across to Greg Moore on top of the left-wing
circle for a big one-timer top-shelf for his 8th
goal of the year. The tally 4:04 into the 2nd gave
the Phantoms a 2-1 lead.
The Penguins got it back later in the 2nd as Kevin
Veilleux was left open in the high slot to blaze
a shot past Leighton's blocker.
The 2-2 deadlock would remain through most of the
third as the Penguins blasted away on Leighton time-and-time
again. Nick Johnson had several great opportunities
but he was denied by the Flyers' Stanley Cup goaltender
every time.
Finally, the Phantoms would surge back to the Penguins
end and get some pressure thanks to Stefan Legein's
play-making. His wrap-around try had Curry off-balance
and the long rebound went all the way out to Erik
Gustafsson at the point who blasted a low slapper
that Michael Ryan was able to re-direct for the
game-winner.
It was another dramatic goal for Ryan who tied
the score in Abbotsford on January 7th with 23 seconds
left and also tied the game at Rochester with 7:45
left. This time Ryan netted the game-winner as Gustafsson
picked up his team leading 24th assist and 28th
point.
The Phantoms were outshot in the game 40-15 for
their lowest shots on goal total of the season and
also, by far, their greatest shots on goal disparity
of the year.
It was Adirondack's first win against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
this season.
The Phantoms have won two straight and look to
make it three in a row Saturday night at the Glens
Falls Civic Center against the North Division front-running
Hamilton Bulldogs, the affiliate of the Montreal
Canadiens.
Notes: Scratches for the game included Marc-Andre
Bourdon, J.P. Testwuide and Zac Rinaldo. Rinaldo
was serving the first of his recent two game suspension
which stemmed from his hit on Keith Aucoin of Hershey
last Friday.
Saturday, January 22 7:00 - Hamilton Bulldogs at
Adirondack Phantoms - Double H Ranch Benefit Night
and Special Jerseys
Sunday, January 23 5:00 - Adirondack Phantoms at
Hershey Bears
Wednesday, January 26 7:00 - Binghamton Senators
at Adirondack Phantoms
Friday, January 28 7:30 - Charlotte Checkers at
Adirondack Phantoms
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.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2 at Adirondack
Phantoms 4 - Status: Final
Friday, January 21, 2011 - Wells Fargo Center
W-B/Scranton 1 1 0 - 2
Adirondack 1 1 2 - 4
1st Period-1, W-B/Scranton, Walker 4 6:51. 2, Adirondack,
Wellwood 9 (Testwuide), 8:21. Penalties-Schnell
Wbs (roughing), 3:00; Clackson Adk (roughing), 3:00;
Marshall Adk (tripping), 3:32; Ryan Adk (goaltender
interference), 9:55; Mormina Wbs (charging), 18:00.
2nd Period-3, Adirondack, Moore 6 (Wellwood), 4:04
(SH). 4, W-B/Scranton, Veilleux 5 (Sneep, Lerg),
13:27. Penalties-Mormina Wbs (tripping), 0:51; Ryan
Adk (holding), 3:15; Vitale Wbs (fighting), 7:02;
Eddy Adk (slashing, fighting), 7:02; Holmstrom Adk
(boarding), 7:51; Schnell Wbs (roughing), 11:17;
Tangradi Wbs (interference), 15:06.
3rd Period-5, Adirondack, Ryan 10 (Gustafsson,
Legein), 18:30. 6, Adirondack, Hamel 13 (Gustafsson,
Marshall), 19:46 (EN). Penalties-Stephenson Adk
(boarding), 2:19; Lerg Wbs (fighting), 4:47; Walker
Wbs (roughing), 4:47; Moore Adk (roughing), 4:47;
Pither Adk (fighting), 4:47; Vitale Wbs (tripping),
8:38; Tangradi Wbs (roughing), 13:19; Wellwood Adk
(cross-checking), 13:19.
Shots on Goal-W-B/Scranton 5-18-17-40. Adirondack
3-8-5-16.
Power Play Opportunities-W-B/Scranton 0 / 6; Adirondack
0 / 5.
Goalies-W-B/Scranton, Curry 15-6-0 (15 shots-12
saves). Adirondack, Leighton 2-5-1 (40 shots-38
saves).
A-18,056
Referees-David Banfield (44).
Linesmen-Leo Boylan (97), Scott Adams (20).
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