Glens Falls, NY-Denis Hamel and Ben Holmstrom
scored two goals apiece as Adirondack rallied
from behind in the 3rd period for another exciting
win for the Phantoms. The 4-3 victory for Adirondack
evened up the season series with the Albany Devils
at four games each in the battle for the Time
Warner Cable Cup. Michael Ryan picked up three
assists on the night. It was the first career
multi-goal game for Holmstrom.
Trailing 3-2 in the third period, Hamel would
score back-to-back power play goals three minutes
apart to turn the tables on Albany. It is Hamel's
ninth season with 20 or more goals in the AHL
and his fourth in a row.
The penalty-filled game featured a lot of testiness
on both sides as the local rivals appear to be
developing a greater distaste for each other each
time they play. There are four more games remaining
in the season series including this Friday night
in Glens Falls.
The Phantoms have won three of their last four.
And they have only two regulation losses in their
last 12 games sporting a 6-2-4 mark in the stretch
dating back to February 5. Johan Backlund recorded
his eighth win of the year with a solid performance
in net including several impressive stops among
his 26 total saves. The team benefited from nine
power plays on the night and capitalized on three
of them equaling their season high for PPG's in
a single game.
Adirondack scored their quickest goal of the season
just 16 seconds into the game. Ben Holmstrom struck
from the slot after Mike Testwuide and Michael
Ryan helped intercept it.
Former Adirondack Frostbite Pierre-Luc Letorneau-Leblond
benefited from a J.S. Berube steal in the corner
and beat Backlund short-side to tie the game at
1-1. It was Leblond's 4th of the season and 2nd
against Adirondack.
Devils rookie Adam Henrique rifled a shot from
the right-wing wall off the top of Backlund's
glove that then bounced off the underside of the
cross-bar, straight down to the goal-line, and
then into the net to give the visitors a 2-1 lead
with three minutes remaining in the second.
Holmstrom's second goal would come in the opening
minute of the third on the power play as he held
the puck at the top of the left-wing circle and
then snapped it across Albany netminder Jeff Frazee
to the high, far corner for his 12th of the season
tying the game at 2-2.
Stephen Gionta picked off a pass in the Adirondack
zone three minutes later and drove to the net
to stuff in his 10th giving the Devils the lead
again at 3-2.
That lead would last only 71 seconds. Denis Hamel
would rifle a slapshot from the right-wing wall
keeping it low on Frazee. As the Albany netminder
stood tall he got beaten between the skates as
Adirondack had again tied the score, this time
at 3-3.
Three minutes later, Jon Kalinski had a puck hit
him high on the body as he was able to keep the
Devils from getting it out. Kalinski collected
the puck and quickly fed an open Hamel in the
slot who was able to score his 20th of the season.
The game-winner for the 4-3 advantage came at
7:51 of the third.
The game-winning goal came on a power play that
was hotly disputed by Albany's Alexander Urbom.
Called for a holding penalty that led to the Phantoms
man-advantage, Urbom continued to give it to referee
Jaime Koharski until he was called for another
unsportsmanlike conduct. If the Devils were trying
to get under the skin of the Phantoms the strategy
appeared to have potentially backfired. As Adirondack
had nine power plays on the game but were able
to remain composed and only surrender four man
advantages to the Devils.
The Phantoms outshot the Devils 32-29. Adirondack
was 3-for-9 on the power play while Albany went
0-for-4.
Denis Hamel has 310 career goals placing him 17th
all-time in AHL history. He is six goals behind
Bruce Boudreau for 15th and is 15 goals behind
Adirondack Red Wing great Glenn Merkosky for 11th.
Adirondack returns to action Friday night again
tangling with the Albany Devils game nine of the
Time-Warner Cable Cup rivalry. Saturday night
the Phantoms host the Hershey Bears on Adirondack
Hockey Hall of Fame Night presented by Glens Falls
National Bank featuring Hugo Belanger, Jody Gage
and Barry Melrose.
Phantoms Notes: Scratches for the game included
Luke Pither, Tom Sestito and Matt Walker. Sestito
is on bereavement leave after a death in his family.
He is expected to make his Phantoms debut next
Friday after being acquired in a trade last week
from Springfield (Columbus Blue Jackets) for Greg
Moore. 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. Holmstrom is the only Phantom
to have played in all 62 games this season
UPCOMING GAMES
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.
Sunday, March 13, 3:00 p.m. - Adirondack Phantoms
at Springfield Falcons
Wednesday, March 16, 7:00 p.m. - Binghamton Senators
at Adirondack Phantoms - Check it Out Night. Ticket
Discounts with your library card.
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.
Albany Devils 3 at Adirondack Phantoms 4 - Status:
Unofficial Final
Sunday, March 6, 2011 - Glens Falls Civic Center
Albany 1 1 1 - 3
Adirondack 1 0 3 - 4
1st Period-1, Adirondack, Holmstrom 11 (Testwuide,
Ryan), 0:16. 2, Albany, Letourneau-Leblond 4 (Berube),
13:40. Penalties-Letourneau-Leblond Alb (unsportsmanlike
conduct), 6:01; Clackson Adk (unsportsmanlike
conduct), 6:01; Wiseman Alb (hooking), 8:03; Syvret
Adk (interference), 11:37; Letourneau-Leblond
Alb (misconduct), 15:55; Perkovich Alb (roughing),
15:55; Leach Alb (roughing), 18:57; Rinaldo Adk
(boarding, roughing), 18:57.
2nd Period-3, Albany, Henrique 21 (Davison, Anderson),
17:00. Penalties-Urbom Alb (boarding), 7:23; Henrique
Alb (roughing), 12:41; Marshall Adk (roughing),
12:41; Zalewski Alb (cross-checking), 13:09; Urbom
Alb (roughing), 16:22; Rinaldo Adk (roughing),
16:22; Letourneau-Leblond Alb (roughing), 19:48.
3rd Period-4, Adirondack, Holmstrom 12 (Syvret,
Ryan), 0:55 (PP). 5, Albany, Gionta 10 3:45. 6,
Adirondack, Hamel 19 (Gustafsson, Ryan), 4:56
(PP). 7, Adirondack, Hamel 20 (Kalinski, Syvret),
7:51 (PP). Penalties-McIntyre Alb (tripping),
4:43; Eddy Adk (high-sticking), 5:29; Urbom Alb
(holding), 7:03; Urbom Alb (unsportsmanlike conduct,
misconduct), 7:51; Wiseman Alb (cross-checking),
9:07; Holmstrom Adk (interference), 9:11.
Shots on Goal-Albany 7-13-9-29. Adirondack 11-12-9-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Albany 0 / 4; Adirondack
3 / 8.
Goalies-Albany, Frazee 10-12-3 (32 shots-28 saves).
Adirondack, Backlund 7-14-3 (29 shots-26 saves).
A-3,174
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Frank Murphy (29), Steeve Lemay
