Toronto, ONT-Adirondack may be out of realistic
contention for a playoff spot but they are playing
some of their best hockey of the season in the
closing games of the year and are helping potentially
knock other teams out of the postseason in the
process.
Another stellar performance by goalie Michael
Leighton led the way as the Phantoms began a three
game road-trip with a 3-1 victory at the Toronto
Marlies. Leighton made 38 saves on 39 shots as
the Phantoms won their third straight and ran
their point streak to four games.
It was Head Coach Joe Paterson's first game back
in Toronto as a coach since he served as an assistant
coach with the Marlies for four seasons ending
in 2008-09.
Rob Bordson (6th), Harry Zolnierczyk (2nd) and
Eric Wellwood (15th) were the goal scorers for
the Phantoms. Adirondack improved to 9-3-5 in
their last 17 games (since February 5th). Their
record since Joe Paterson accepted the coaching
reigns in late December improved to 18-10-8.
.
All three of the Phantoms victories on their win
streak have done significant damage to teams fighting
for their playoff lives down the stretch run.
Adirondack has made things more difficult on Springfield,
Binghamton and Toronto this week.
Leighton improved to 9-10-3 with the victory while
lowering his goals against average this season
to 2.24 and upping his save percentage to .924.
In his last three games he has allowed just three
goals while turning aside 87 of 90 shots for a
sparking .967 percentage.
Rob Bordson started the scoring for Adirondack
less than three minutes into the game. Zac Rinaldo
picked off a clearing try in the neutral zone
and fed it to Luke Pither up the left-wing whose
centering give to Bordson up the middle would
be slammed past Marlies goalie Ben Scrivens. Bordson's
6th of the season staked the Phantoms to a 1-0
lead that they would hold until late in the second
period.
Michael Leighton continued his typical ways of
making one fine stop after another to preserve
the advantage. Then it would be Rob Bordson from
his own end firing it forward to Harry Zolnierczyk
on the Toronto line for a quick 2-on-1 rush. Zolnierczyk
took the shot himself from the right dot and rifled
it five-hole on Scrivens for the 2-0 lead.
For Zolnierczyk it would be his second goal in
his last two games. The former captain of the
Brown University Bears was playing just his fifth
game as a pro and was doing so in front of several
friends and family in his hometown of Toronto.
Leighton's bid for his 33rd career shutout would
cease midway through the third when Korbinian
Holzer would cut his way from the right-point
to the high slot and burn one through for just
his second of the year.
Adirondack would hold onto the 2-1 lead until
the closing minute when Eric Wellwood would speed
up the left-wing wall and bury one into the open
net for his 15th tally of the season to seal the
victory.
The three game road swing now turns south for
the Phantoms. They will play Tuesday night at
the Charlotte Checkers and Wednesday night at
the Norfolk Admirals.
That begins a busy stretch of five games in six
days for the Phantoms who will be at home next
Friday and Saturday against the top two teams
in the league, Hershey and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Adirondack will play at the Worcester Sharks next
Sunday.
Phantoms Notes:
The Phantoms are 20-10-8 since December 17.
Michael Leighton made his fourth start in a row
for the Phantoms and won his third straight. Scratches
for the game included Matt Clackson, Oliver Lauridsen,
Matt Walker and Logan Stephenson.
Erik Gustafsson has been up with the Philadelphia
Flyers this week and played in his second ever
NHL game Thursday night at Atlanta.
Andrew Rowe is down with the Greenville (SC)
Road Warriors of the ECHL this week. He scored
his second goal of the season with Greenville
a couple nights ago. With his fifth game there
he will be eligible to join them for the playoffs
to get even more playing time after the Phantoms
season is concluded. Rowe is expected to rejoin
the Phantoms on Tuesday upon their arrival to
nearby Charlotte.
UPCOMING GAMES
Tuesday. March 22nd, 7:00 p.m. - Adirondack Phantoms
at Charlotte Checkers
Wednesday, March 23rd, 7:15 p.m. - Adirondack
Phantoms at Norfolk Admirals
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.
Phantoms Season Tickets for 2011-12 are on sale
now! Full season ticket holders get an Adirondack
Phantoms stadium blanket while supplies last and
also will be in the Phantoms mug club for $1 sodas
and coffees in Heritage Hall all season long.
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 3 at Toronto Marlies 1 -
Status: In Progress (0:00 remaining in 3rd)
Saturday, March 19, 2011 - Ricoh Coliseum
Adirondack 1 1 1 - 3
Toronto 0 0 1 - 1
1st Period-1, Adirondack, Bordson 6 (Pither,
Rinaldo), 2:42. Penalties-Zolnierczyk Adk (hooking),
7:00; Zolnierczyk Adk (high-sticking), 18:51.
2nd Period-2, Adirondack, Zolnierczyk 2 (Bordson,
Marshall), 16:34. Penalties-Testwuide Adk (fighting),
3:38; Brennan Tor (fighting), 3:38; Hanson Tor
(holding), 13:39.
3rd Period-3, Toronto, Holzer 2 (Scott, Brunnstrom),
9:09. 4, Adirondack, Wellwood 15 (Holmstrom, Syvret),
19:31 (EN). Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Adirondack 9-9-6-24. Toronto 16-15-8-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 0 / 1; Toronto
0 / 2.
Goalies-Adirondack, Leighton 8-10-3 (39 shots-38
saves). Toronto, Scrivens 11-8-4 (23 shots-21
saves).
A-6,832
Referees-Jeff Smith (49).
Linesmen-Kevin Ferguson (31), Jesse Wilmot (19).
