Glens Falls, NY-What a weekend! The Phantoms
capped an amazing weekend sweeping perhaps the
best two teams in the AHL back-to-back in front
of a couple of rockin' crowds at the Glens Falls
Civic Center. It was a dream debut-weekend for
newcomer Matt Read who scored the game-winner
with 5:05 remaining breaking a 2-2 tie in just
his second game as a pro. The 3-2 triumph over
the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins came in front
of the largest crowd of the year for the Phantoms
with 4,365 screaming their lungs out willing the
Phantoms to the exciting win.
Adirondack had knocked off the two-time defending
Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears 2-1 the previous
night.
Read joined the Flyers organization out of Bemidji
State (Minn.) having scored 22 goals in 37 games
in college hockey. He appeared to pick up right
where he left off when he grabbed the rebound
of a Cullen Eddy shot that appeared to bounce
off the helmet of Penguins goalie John Curry.
Read's first ever goal as a pro could not have
come at a better time.
Ben Holmstrom had scored the first two goals
for the Phantoms, his 15th and 16th of the year.
It was Holmstrom's second multi-goal game of the
season and of his career on his way to earning
number one Star of the Game honors.
The Phantoms had to scramble and kill off a 6-on-4
attack for the Penguins in a heart-stopping final
two minutes.
Adirondack has won three straight from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
this year and improved to 3-4 against the team
with the best record in the league (51-20-1).
Wilkes-Barre opened the scoring on the power
play 14:03 into the first period on Brian Lerg’s
19th goal of the season. On a shot from the left
point, Lerg beat Phantoms netminder Michael Leighton
five-hole giving the Penguins a 1-0 lead.
Less than 3 minutes later, Ben Holmstrom scored
the first of his two 5-on-3 power play goals on
the night sending one top shelf over the sprawling
John Curry on a sharp angle from the left-wing
goal-line. Danny Syvret and Erik Gustafsson assisted
on Holmstrom’s 15th of the year to tie the
game at 1-1.
Each team went 1-for-4 on the power play in a
penalty-filled opening frame.
The Penguins regained the lead at 2-1 4:23 into
the second period on the power play. Ben Street
scored his 11th of the season from the right point
slapping one past the right skate of Michael Leighton.
Less than five minutes later, Ben Holmstrom scored
his second 5-on-3 goal of the game to tie the
score at 2-2. Michael Ryan sent a back-door pass
to Holmstrom who again buried it from the left-wing
goal-line but this time keeping it along the ice.
He now leads all rookies with 16 goals.
In the third period, Michael Leighton made a
show-stopping save as he kept the game tied at
2-2 robbing Geoff Walker. Leighton followed along
with Walker who was moving left to right but the
Phantoms netminder went down and somehow was able
to reach up to snag it for one of his best saves
of the year.
Later in the third, Leighton preserved the lead
after Robert Bortuzzo blasted one off the post.
Leighton dove backwards after the puck bounced
off his back and laid inches from the goal-line.
He was able to get the cover just in time to keep
the Phantoms on top as Bortuzzo celebrated what
he thought was a game-tying goal.
SuperFan Cameron Hughes was in the house again
getting the crowd all riled up and making a ton
of noise. The atmosphere was undeniably electric
and rocking in the Civic Center.
Many of the fans still had enough energy after
the edge-of-your-seat contest to enjoy the impressive
post-game concert with Isaiah 6.
Michael Leighton finished the game with 24 saves
to earn his 11th win of the season while counterpart
John Curry stopped 14 to fall to 3-2 against the
Phantoms this season.
Adirondack went 3-for-9 on the power play and
7-for-9 on the penalty kill. All the goals in
the game came on the special teams.
The Phantoms improved to 5-2 in their last 7
games and are 11-5-5 in their last 21 games dating
back to February 5. Joe Paterson's record as head
coach of the Phantoms improved to 20-12-8.
Adirondack finishes their 3-game weekend Sunday
afternoon at the Worcester Sharks. The Phantoms
return home next Friday night against the Albany
Devils as the battle for the Time Warner Cable
Cup continues.
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.
UPCOMING GAMES
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 – Military Appreciation
Night- Tickets: $10 for Adults and $5 for Kids
courtesy of Time Warner Cable
Saturday, April 2, 7:00 p.m. – Syracuse
Crunch 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.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2 at Adirondack
Phantoms 3 - Status: Final
Saturday, March 26, 2011 - Glens Falls Civic Center
W-B/Scranton 1 1 0 - 2
Adirondack 1 1 1 - 3
1st Period-1, W-B/Scranton, Lerg 12 (Hutchinson,
Street), 14:03 (PP). 2, Adirondack, Holmstrom
15 (Gustafsson, Syvret), 16:13 (PP). Penalties-Testwuide
Adk (hooking), 9:17; Ryan Adk (interference),
12:58; Bortuzzo Wbs (tripping), 14:39; Hutchinson
Wbs (delay of game), 15:30; Gustafsson Adk (holding),
17:33; Wellwood Adk (high-sticking), 18:16; Sterling
Wbs (tripping), 18:38; Craig Wbs (holding), 19:45.
2nd Period-3, W-B/Scranton, Street 11 (Lerg,
Hutchinson), 4:23 (PP). 4, Adirondack, Holmstrom
16 (Ryan, Syvret), 8:59 (PP). Penalties-Eddy Adk
(tripping), 3:09; Petersen Wbs (holding), 7:09;
Strait Wbs (boarding), 8:10; Ryan Adk (slashing),
16:17; served by Petersen Wbs (bench minor - too
many men), 17:35.
3rd Period-5, Adirondack, Read 1 (Eddy, Pither),
14:55 (PP). Penalties-Bordson Adk (holding), 3:21;
Bourdon Adk (holding), 8:25; Sill Wbs (delay of
game), 13:36; Zolnierczyk Adk (delay of game),
17:54.
Shots on Goal-W-B/Scranton 10-9-7-26. Adirondack
5-7-5-17.
Power Play Opportunities-W-B/Scranton 2 / 9; Adirondack
3 / 8.
Goalies-W-B/Scranton, Curry 19-12-0 (17 shots-14
saves). Adirondack,
Leighton 11-11-3 (26 shots-24 saves).
A-4,365
Referees-Tim Mayer (19).
Linesmen-Steeve Lemay (64), Rich Patry (52).
