Glens Falls, NY-SuperFan Cameron Hughes got the
fans going and the Phantoms players responded
with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the two-time
defending AHL Champion Hershey Bears. The thrilling
Friday night victory in front of 3,653 at the
Glens Falls Civic Center was the opener of a two
game weekend homestand for Adirondack.
The fast-paced game saw lots of chances on both
ends of the ice with both teams moving the puck
quickly on the attack. Michael Leighton and Nolan
Schaefer put on a show on each end for the Phantoms
and Bears respectively. Leighton made 33 saves
on 34 shots for the win as he just missed recording
his 33rd career shutout.
Adirondack opened the scoring 14:25 into the
first period on Ben Holmstrom’s 14th of
the season. Rob Bordson started the play on the
fore-check behind the Bears net. He then sent
a pass to the front of the net where Ben Holmstrom
beat Bears goaltender Nolan Schaefer top shelf
to give Adirondack the 1-0 lead.
The Phantoms outshot the Bears 12-10 in the opening
frame.
Michael Leighton made 13 of his 33 saves in the
middle frame including a glove save on Maxime
Lacroix point blank to keep the Bears off the
scoreboard. Adirondack had opportunities to extend
their lead including an Eric Wellwood shot that
rang off the post but both teams could not find
the back of the net.
Less than 2 minutes into the third period, Adirondack
extended their lead to 2-0 on a Cullen Eddy blast
from the right point beating Nolan Schaefer five-hole.
It was Eddy’s 2nd goal of the season assisted
by Tom Sestito.
Hershey cut the Adirondack lead to 2-1 at the
10:14 mark of the period. Brian Willsie scored
his team-leading 29th goal of the season on a
shot from the blue-line that snuck past the right
skate of Michael Leighton.
Matt Read made his pro debut tonight against the
Bears after he signed an entry-level contract
with the Philadelphia Flyers on March 23 and then
an Amateur Tryout (ATO) with the Phantoms for
the rest of the 2010-11 season.. The forward out
of Bemidji State scored a team-high 22 goals and
was second on the team in points (35).
Adirondack's record since December 17 is 21-12-8.
Under Head Coach Joe Paterson the Phantoms are
19-12-8. In the Phantoms' last 20 games (since
February 5) they are 10-5-5.
Adirondack finished 0-for-4 on the power play
and went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
It marked the last time that the Hershey Bears
travel to Adirondack this season. The Phantoms
finished 2-1-1 against the Bears at the Glens
Falls Civic Center.
The Phantoms return home tomorrow night against
the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as SuperFan
Cameron Hughes comes back for the second time
this weekend to fire up the crowd.
Phantoms Notes: Forwards Andrew Rowe, Stefan Legein
& Zac Rinaldo along with D-men Matt Walker,
Olivier Lauridsen, J.P. Testwuide and Logan Stephenson
were scratches for Adirondack tonight. Defenseman
Marc-Andre Bourdon was returned from loan with
the Greenville Road Warriors (ECHL) before the
game. Today, the AHL suspended Zac Rinaldo three
games and Olivier Lauridsen for two games for
their actions in the game on Tuesday night in
Charlotte. Fox29 in Philadelphia did a story on
Phantoms netminder Michael Leighton and Assistant
Coach Riley Cote when they were in town a few
weeks back. Here is the link for the story: http://tinyurl.com/4gxslvo
UPCOMING GAMES
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.
Sunday, March 27, 3:00 p.m. - Adirondack Phantoms
at Worcester Sharks
Tuesday, March 29, 7:00 p.m. - Adirondack Phantoms
at Albany Devils
Friday, April 1, 7:30 p.m. - Albany Devils at
Adirondack Phantoms
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.
Hershey Bears 1 at Adirondack Phantoms 2 - Status:
Unofficial Final
Friday, March 25, 2011 - Glens Falls Civic Center
Hershey 0 0 1 - 1
Adirondack 1 0 1 - 2
1st Period-1, Adirondack, Holmstrom 14 (Ryan,
Bordson), 14:25. Penalties-Kozek Her (tripping),
6:25; Kane Her (high-sticking), 17:42.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Carroll Her
(fighting), 4:48; Bourdon Adk (fighting), 4:48;
Marshall Adk (hooking), 9:05; Hamel Adk (cross-checking),
14:37; Fahey Her (slashing), 16:30; Pinizzotto
Her (roughing), 19:23.
3rd Period-2, Adirondack, Eddy 2 (Sestito), 1:35.
3, Hershey, Willsie 29 (McNeill, Collins), 10:14.
Penalties-Zolnierczyk Adk (interference), 14:15.
Shots on Goal-Hershey 10-13-11-34. Adirondack
12-11-8-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 0 / 3; Adirondack
0 / 4.
Goalies-Hershey, Schaefer 12-18-3 (31 shots-29
saves). Adirondack, Leighton 9-11-3 (34 shots-33
saves).
A-3,653
Referees-Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Frank Murphy (29), Robert St. Lawrence
(10).
