Albany, NY-The Adirondack Phantoms had pulled
to within one goal of Albany with less than eight
minutes remaining but the Devils capitalized with
two late third period goals putting the game away
for a 5-2 decision Saturday evening at the Times
Union Center.
Michael Leighton was spectacular in the first
period for 19 saves in preserving a 1-0 lead but
ended up taking the loss allowing all five goals.
Eric Wellwood (13th) and Mike Testwuide (9th)
scored for the Phantoms who now trail in the Time
Warner Cable Cup Series four games to three with
a rematch coming Sunday at 3:00 at the Glens Falls
Civic Center.
It was just the second loss in regulation in the
last 11 games for the Phantoms.
Leighton made several dazzling saves to keep the
Devils out of the net and allowed Adirondack to
rush back the other way with Danny Syvret up the
left wing feeding Wellwood on the backdoor to
slam it in to a mostly open net. The Phantoms
carried a 1-0 lead after one period.
Albany would finally break Leighton with less
than five minutes remaining in the second period.
Alexander Urbom's long shot from the left point
got past Leighton who might have been screened
on the play to tie the game at 1-1. With less
than a minute left in the period, Steve Zalewski
took a feed from across the crease by Adam Henrique
and slammed it in to give Albany the lead at 2-1.
The Devils scored early in the third on the power
play with Alexander Vasyunov picking up a rebound
off a Brad Mills shot and flinging it past a diving
Leighton to extend their advantage to 3-1.
The Phantoms got back into it with some of their
best continued attack of the night later in the
third. Moments after Ben Holmstrom had almost
scored diving across the slot, Danny Syvret would
call for the puck and the rebound of his slapshot
would be buried by Mike Testwuide on the backhand.
It was a very similar back rebound goal to the
one Testwuide scored last Sunday with 1:30 left
against Binghamton. This one got the Phantoms
to within a goal at 3-2 with just under eight
minutes remaining.
Adirondack appeared to have the momentum shifting
their way but Albany would race out of there with
a 2-on-1 after a faceoff win in their zone. Matt
Anderson's 20th of the year carrying it up the
right-wing would beat Leighton five-hole for a
4-2 lead with less than five minutes left. And
about two minutes later Vasyunov would score his
second of the game on a similar 2-on-1 rush going
top shelf.
Mike McKenna earned the win in goal for the Devils.
It was his first game against the Phantoms since
October 16 in Glens Falls when he was knocked
out less than five minutes into the first period
after allowing three quick goals.
Adirondack was 0-for-4 on the power play while
Albany went 2-for-5.
The two teams have a Sunday rematch scheduled
for 3pm in Glens Falls.
Phantoms Notes: Ben Holmstrom was returned to
the Phantoms earlier in the morning after making
his NHL debut with Philadelphia Thursday night.
Holmstrom kept his streak alive as the only Phantoms
to have played in every game this season. Scratches
for the game included Stefan Legein and Tom Sestito.
Earlier in the week, Marc-Andre Bourdon was sent
to Greenville (SC) of the ECHL on a weekend rehab
stint. They are Bourdon's first games in over
two months. This is the first of three games in
a row for the Phantoms against the Devils.
UPCOMING GAMES
Sunday, March 6, 3:00 p.m. - Albany Devils at
Adirondack Phantoms - Family Fun Pack ($39), 3
tickets, 3 sodas, 3 hot dogs, 1 popcorn, 1 program
- Continuation of the Time Warner Cable Cup Series
- Post-Game Skate with the Phantoms sponsored
by Glens Falls Hospital
Friday, March 11, 7:30 p.m. - Albany Devils at
Adirondack Phantoms -$2 Pizza Slices - Time Warner
Cable Cup continues...
Saturday, March 12, 4:30 p.m. - Adirondack Hockey
Hall of Fame Reception, Dinner and Induction ceremony
at Heritage Hall. Appearing will be Adirondack
hockey greats Hugo Belanger, Jody Gage and Barry
Melrose. Tickets for the dinner are $30 or get
a table of 10 for $250.
Saturday, March 12, 7:00 p.m. - Hershey Bears
at Adirondack Phantoms - Adirondack Hockey Hall
of Fame Night sponsored by Glens Falls National
Bank and Trust Company. Honoring Hugo Belanger,
Jody Gage and Barry Melrose. All three will be
attending on a very special night. Phantoms wearing
special AHL 75th Anniversary commemorative jerseys.
Join us at the Glens Falls Civic Center for exciting
Adirondack Phantoms hockey, the top affiliate
of the Philadelphia Flyers.
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 and flex-packs.
Come watch future NHL stars and up-and-coming
Flyers prospects. 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 Albany Devils 5 - Status:
Final
Saturday, March 5, 2011 - Times Union Center
Adirondack 1 0 1 - 2
Albany 0 2 3 - 5
1st Period-1, Adirondack, Wellwood 13 (Syvret,
Pither), 12:28. Penalties-Testwuide Adk (hooking),
8:37; Letourneau-Leblond Alb (roughing), 14:53;
Bordson Adk (holding), 19:30.
2nd Period-2, Albany, Urbom 2 (Anderson, Vasyunov),
15:22. 3, Albany, Zalewski 11 (Henrique, Urbom),
19:34 (PP). Penalties-Vasyunov Alb (boarding),
5:48; Eddy Adk (fighting), 8:37; Robitaille Alb
(fighting), 8:37; Robitaille Alb (charging), 17:01;
Pither Adk (hooking), 17:43.
3rd Period-4, Albany, Vasyunov 5 (Mills, Zalewski),
4:55 (PP). 5, Adirondack, Testwuide 9 (Syvret,
Holmstrom), 12:10. 6, Albany, Anderson 20 (McIntyre),
13:24. 7, Albany, Vasyunov 6 (Prough, Magnan),
15:11. Penalties-Magnan Alb (hooking), 3:48; Pither
Adk (tripping), 3:52; Marshall Adk (slashing),
4:33.
Shots on Goal-Adirondack 7-7-8-22. Albany 19-10-11-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 0 / 4; Albany
2 / 5.
Goalies-Adirondack, Leighton 6-9-3 (40 shots-35
saves). Albany, McKenna 9-16-0 (22 shots-20 saves).
A-3,730
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Robert St. Lawrence (10), Jim Harper
(59).
