Glens Falls, NY- The Phantoms
extended their point streak to five games (3-0-2)
but fell in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Connecticut
Whale Friday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
The loudest and most boisterous crowd of the season
saw Mike Testwuide score his 7th goal of the year
to give Adirondack a 1-0 lead but the Phantoms
couldn't hold it as the Whale
came up with the second point late.
The game featured six power plays for each side
several scuffles including a lengthy bout between
Adirondack's Zac Rinaldo and Connecticut's Devin
Didomete in the first period. Both picked up their
25th major penalty of the season to tie for the
AHL lead. Rinaldo would acquire his 26th major
later in the night to take sole possession.
Mike Testwuide picked up a rebound on the left-wing
side of the crease and fired it home for his 5th
goal in his last 7 games to give the Phantoms
a 1-0 lead about seven minutes into the second
period. Ben Holmstrom set up the play winning
the puck behind the Whale goal. Michael Ryan's
blast in the slot was saved by Connecticut goalie
Dov Grumet-Morris but Testwuide was there to flip
in the lamplighter.
The Phantoms came close to making the narrow
lead hold up for the rest of the night. But Connecticut
picked things up in the third period and generated
more chances on Johan Backlund. With less than
three minutes left, Kris Newbury would pick up
a rebound off the end-boards after a long drive
by defenseman Stu Bickel. Newbury was able to
score his 9th of the year behind the scrambling
Backlund an tie the game at 1-1. Zac Rinaldo didn't
care for Newbury's trash-talk after the goal was
scored
and immediately challenged him for his second
fighting major of the game.
Just before the tying goal was scored, the Phantoms
had rushed in for a 2-on-1 chance. Eric Wellwood's
centering attempt for Denis Hamel was broken up
by Connecticut's Jared Nightengale. If the pass
had gone through it appeared Hamel would have
a very good opportunity to give the Phantoms a
2-0 lead.
Adirondack did a terrific job late in the third
to preserve the one standings point by killing
off a Whale 5-on-3 power play in the final minute
of regulation. With Walker sitting out for holding
and later Kalinski getting called for tripping,
the Phantoms P.K. came through large again.
The Whale continued on the 4-on-3 power play
in overtime. Their top scorer, Jeremy Williams,
hit the post but play would continue and Adirondack
would find themselves on the power play in the
topsy-turvy extra stanza. The Phantoms weren't
able to seal the deal on their extra-man chance
either and the game went to a shootout.
Connecticut's Kris Newbury and Tim Kennedy both
scored in the shootout while Adirondack went 0-for-4
against Grumet-Morris for the 2-1 final.
The result moves the Phantoms one point ahead
of Syracuse in the East Division standings as
the Crunch lost their game in regulation. Adirondack
is 12-7-5 under Head Coach Joe Paterson and are
14-7-5 since December 17.
Adirondack and Connecticut finished 0-for-6 on
the power play. Johan Backlund made 22 saves as
he recorded his third shootout loss this season
while counterpart Dov Grumet-Morris stopped 28
shots in regulation and all four in the shootout
to earn the win.
Adirondack concludes their 4-game homestand on
Saturday night against the Charlotte Checkers
who travel to Glens Falls following their 6-2
loss in Binghamton tonight.
The Phantoms conclude their four game homestand
Saturday night against the Charlotte Checkers
who are the former Albany River Rats and have
many of their players as well as former Phantoms
Jon Matsumoto. Saturday's game is Papa John's
T-Shirt Giveaway Night for the first 2500 fans
in attendance. The Phantoms wrap up weekend play
Sunday at 4 in Albany against the Devils in game
6 of the Time Warner Cable Cup rivalry.
Notes: Marc-Andre Bourdon, Matt Clackson and
Danny Syvret were the scratches for Adirondack.
Before the game, forward Stefan Legein was loaned
to Greenville of the ECHL. The roster move is
expected to be just a loan for the weekend to
help with Greenville's depleted roster.
Saturday, February 19, 7:00 - Charlotte Checkers
at Adirondack Phantoms - Papa John's T-Shirts
(First 2500 Fans)
Sunday, February 20, 4:00 - Adirondack Phantoms
at Albany Devils
Friday, February 25, 7:00 - Adirondack Phantoms
vs. Hamilton Bulldogs (at Montreal)
Saturday, February 26, 7:00 - Worcester Sharks
at Adirondack Phantoms- Youth Jersey Giveaway
(first 1000 youths) courtesy of Glens Falls Hospital
Sunday, February 27, 3:00 - Binghamton Senators
at Adirondack Phantoms- Family Fun Pack ($39),
3 tickets, 3 sodas, 3 hot dogs, 1 popcorn, 1 program
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.
Connecticut Whale 2 (SO) at Adirondack Phantoms
1 - Status: Final SO
Friday, February 18, 2011 - Glens Falls Civic
Center
Connecticut 0 0 1 0 - 2
Adirondack 0 1 0 0 - 1
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Gustafsson Adk
(delay of game), 0:35;Garlock Ct (slashing), 7:42;
Rinaldo Adk (interference), 10:57; DiDiomete Ct
(fighting), 13:04; Rinaldo Adk (fighting), 13:04;
Soryal Ct (tripping), 15:59; Bordson Adk (hooking),
17:59; Niemi Ct (roughing), 20:00; Holmstrom Adk
(roughing), 20:00.
2nd Period-1, Adirondack, Testwuide 7 (Holmstrom,
Ryan), 6:43. Penalties-Rinaldo Adk (high-sticking),
8:14; Tessier Ct (hooking),14:46.
3rd Period-2, Connecticut, Newbury 9 (Bickel),
17:11. Penalties-Niemi Ct (tripping), 2:59; Grachev
Ct (delay of game), 6:16; Newbury Ct (fighting),
17:11; Rinaldo Adk (fighting), 17:11; Walker Adk
(roughing), 18:07; Kalinski Adk (tripping), 19:11.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Weise Ct (unsportsmanlike
conduct), 1:50.
Shootout - Connecticut 2 (Kennedy G, Williams
NG, Newbury G), Adirondack 0 (Ryan NG, Hamel NG,
Moore NG, Pither NG).
Shots on Goal-Connecticut 6-5-11-1-1-24. Adirondack
9-10-9-1-0-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 0 / 6; Adirondack
0 / 6.Goalies-Connecticut, Grumet-Morris 4-2-0
(29 shots-28 saves).Adirondack, Backlund 7-13-3
(23 shots-22 saves).
A-3,012
Referees-Mark Lemelin (84).
Linesmen-Robert St. Lawrence (10), Steeve Lemay
(64).
