Glens Falls, NY- In a night featuring 130 combined
penalty minutes, the Albany Devils prevailed 2-1
at the Glens Falls Civic Center Friday night to
take a five games to four lead in the season series
battle for the Time Warner Cable Cup with just
three games remaining.
Tim Sestito of the Albany Devils stole the limelight
from his younger brother Tom Sestito making his
Phantoms debut. The older of the Sestito brothers
broke a 1-1 deadlock early in the 3rd period for
just his fourth of the year.
Eric Wellwood's shorthanded goal late in the first
period that tied the game at 1-1 was the lone
Phantoms tally. It was Wellwood's 14th of the
season assisted smartly by Rob Bordson picking
it off in the Albany zone. Chad Wiseman's 11th
of the season had gotten the scoring started early
in the first period for the Devils.
Mike Testwuide hit the post on the backdoor in
the second period. And Michael Ryan found the
iron midway through the third from the left-wing
just missing his chance to equalize the score.
Later in the third a puck from the left-wing would
squirt through McKenna and lay dead center in
the blue paint with Ben Holmstrom trying to fight
his way through to tap it in. But Albany was just
able to clear it out of harms way in the nick
of time.
But the penalties might have been the bigger story
of the night in the emotionally charged battle.
Three players received game misconducts in the
game including Jon Kalinski and Zac Rinaldo for
the Phantoms and Darcy Zajac of Albany.
The biggest melee of the night happened late
in the second period when Adirondack's Andrew
Rowe ran into Albany goalie Mike McKenna. It is
unclear whether Albany's Darcy Zajac might have
pushed Rowe on the play. After the collision,
McKenna went after Rowe but backed off when he
saw Zajac jump in. Then various players paired
off including Kalinski stepping up for Rowe to
go at Zajac. Kevin Marshall was engaged with Pierre-Luc
Letourneau-Leblond while Andrew Rowe was tangled
for a bit with Albany's Louis Robitaille.
By the end of the night, Adirondack had taken
73 total penalty minutes while Albany was charged
with 57.
The emotions and intensity were not much of a
surprise to many fans paying attention to the
season series which has been getting more and
more heated with each meeting. This was the third
game of the week between the two teams.
There are still three games remaining in the Time
Warner Cable Cup Series including a March 29 match-up
in Albany followed by two games back in Glens
Falls on April 1 and April 6.
The loss ends the Phantoms two game win streak.
Adirondack is 3-2 in their last five. It is only
the third regulation loss for the Phantoms in
their last 13 games (6-3-4). The Phantoms are
now 15-10-7 under Head Coach Joe Paterson. They
are 17-10-7 since December 17.
Newcomer Harry Zolnierczyk made his pro debut.
The Ivy League Player of the Year out of Brown
University wore number 24 and had a couple close
calls for assists or goals. Tom Sestito looked
sharp in his Phantoms debut and created several
scoring chances and delivered a number of aggressive
forechecks. Marc-Andre Bourdon played his first
game for the Phantoms since an injury on January
1. He had played all three games last weekend
with Greenville (SC) of the ECHL on a conditioning
stint.
The Phantoms return to action Saturday night at
7:00 against the Hershey Bears on Adirondack Hockey
Hall of Fame Night. Inductees Hugo Belanger, Jody
Gage and Hugo Belanger will be honored in a pregame
ceremony. Adirondack concludes their weekend of
action Sunday at 3:00 with an away game at the
Springfield Falcons.
Phantoms Notes: Scratches for the game included
Matt Walker, Stefan Legein, Matt Clackson, Luke
Pither and Logan Stephenson.
UPCOMING HOME GAMES
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.
Wednesday, March 16, 7:00 p.m. - Binghamton Senators
at Adirondack Phantoms - Check it Out Night. Ticket
Discounts with your library card.
Friday, March 25, 7:30 p.m. - Hershey Bears at
Adirondack Phantoms - The return of SuperFan Cameron
Hughes firing up the crowd. Make some noise and
get some T-Shirts!
Saturday, March 26, 7:00 p.m. - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Penguins at Adirondack Phantoms - The return of
SuperFan Cameron Hughes firing up the crowd. Make
some noise and get some T-Shirts! Post-game concert
with Isaiah 6.
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 2 at Adirondack Phantoms 1 - Status:
Final
Friday, March 11, 2011 - Glens Falls Civic Center
Albany 1 0 1 - 2
Adirondack 1 0 0 - 1
1st Period-1, Albany, Wiseman 11 (Leach, Zalewski),
4:22. 2, Adirondack, Wellwood 14 (Bordson), 18:52
(SH). Penalties-Murray Alb (roughing), 5:06; Zalewski
Alb (tripping), 7:24; Rinaldo Adk (interference),
7:24; Anderson Alb (tripping), 9:16; Rinaldo Adk
(roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:05; Letourneau-Leblond
Alb (fighting), 16:16; Sestito Adk (fighting),
16:16; Robitaille Alb (misconduct), 16:35; Bourdon
Adk (misconduct), 16:35; Rinaldo Adk (tripping,
misconduct - abuse of officials, game misconduct
- abuse of officials), 17:19.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Zalewski Alb
(hooking), 9:52; Zalewski Alb (tripping), 12:30;
Letourneau-Leblond Alb (misconduct - unsportsmanlike
conduct), 15:45; McKenna Alb (roughing), 15:45;
Robitaille Alb (fighting), 15:45; Zajac Alb (fighting,
game misconduct - secondary altercation), 15:45;
Kalinski Adk (fighting, game misconduct - secondary
altercation), 15:45; Marshall Adk (misconduct
- unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:45; Rowe Adk (fighting),
15:45.
3rd Period-3, Albany, Sestito 4 (Robitaille),
4:21. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Albany 6-6-8-20. Adirondack 7-11-8-26.
Power Play Opportunities-Albany 0 / 3; Adirondack
0 / 5.
Goalies-Albany, McKenna 11-16-0 (26 shots-25 saves).
Adirondack, Backlund 8-15-3 (20 shots-18 saves).
A-3,271
Referees-Ian Croft (87).
Linesmen-Mike Emanatian (69), Frank Murphy (29).
