| Albany, NY - The Adirondack
Phantoms and Albany Devils again got into a number
of skirmishes as the two teams continued to show
their distaste for each other. Albany struck early
an often however en route to a 6-2 victory over
their Time Warner Cable Cup rivals to the north.
Johan Backlund went the distance for the Phantoms
in taking the loss. Two of the Phantoms newer players
scored the goals as Matt Read picked up his second
in just four games as a pro and Harry Zolnierczyk
scored his third of the year in just 11 games.
Brad Mills notched a pair of goals for Albany in
leading their six goal attack. It was the most goals
the Phantoms had allowed since Joe Paterson's first
game as a Head Coach at Binghamton on December 26.
The Albany victory gives the Devils a 6-4 lead
in the Time Warner Cable Cup season series. The
Phantoms would need to win the last two meetings
of the year on Friday and next Wednesday to force
the decision to tiebreakers.
Tom Sestito for Adirondack and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond
continued to show their animosity. Leblond tried
to spark a fight in the 2nd period with his counterpart
but Sestito would not reciprocate and Leblond went
to the box for four minutes on a pair of roughing
minors and a ten minute misconduct. Later in the
period, Sestito would get at Darcy Zajac of Albany
with several connections leading to Sestito's game
misconduct.
The rivalry seems to be picking up intensity with
each and every meeting thus setting the stage for
some potential fireworks Friday night in Glens Falls.
Albany had the early jump in the game with three
quick goals in the opening five minutes. Ryan Ginand's
second goal in just his second game being called
up from the ECHL staked Albany to a 1-0 lead just
29 seconds in. Brad Mills chipped in a Ginand centering
feed about four minutes in to make it 2-0.
It was at that point that Head Coach Joe Paterson
called timeout to try to reorganize his troops.
But Zolnierczyk got called for a high sticking infraction
shortly upon the resumption of play and Adam Henrique
would slam home his team leading 24th of the year
on a cross-ice feed on the power play to make it
3-0.
Adirondack turned it on after that but Devils goalie
Jeff Frazee made a number of fine saves to keep
the Phantoms out of the net. That was until Zolnierczyk
stole the puck away in the Devils zone and connected
past the glove of Frazee with about three minutes
left in the period to get the Phantoms on the board.
Less than two minutes into the second period Albany
would strike again, this time on a Joe Sova power
play slapshot from center-point for his first career
pro goal.
The Phantoms got it back less than three minutes
later to cut the margin to 4-2. Danny Syvret hit
Zolnierczyk on a long stretch pass. While Zolnierczyk
was being slashed and a delayed penalty was in effect
he was able to make it a moot point by chipping
home his breakaway attempt on the backhand past
Frazee.
Albany would get another early period strike to
begin the third period. On a 3-on-2 rush, Ryan Ginand's
shot would be deflected in by Brad Mills for his
second goal of the game just 25 seconds in the final
frame pushing the Devils advantage to 5-2. Nathan
Perkovich would chip upstairs a power play slapshot
from the point by Urbom on a shot in which Backlund
had no chance. That goal with 7:32 remaining would
complete the scoring.
Adirondack outshot Albany 35-34. The Devils were
boosted by their 3-for-5 performance on the power
play while the Phantoms were 0-for-3. It was Adirondack's
second straight loss following an impressive 5-2
stretch.
It was just the team's 12th regulation loss since
December 17 which remains the lowest total in the
East Division.
Adirondack will get their chance to avenge the
setback fairly quickly as they have a rematch with
Albany on Friday night in Glens Falls. The Pack
the House Night special presented by Time Warner
Cable features $10 tickets for adults and just $5
for kids.
The Friday night game opens the last homestand
of the season for the Phantoms who also play at
home on Saturday, Monday and next Wednesday. Adirondack
has just seven games total remaining in the regular
season which concludes Sunday, April 10 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Phantoms Notes: Scratches for the game included
Andrew Rowe, Stefan Legein, Luke Pither and Zac
Rinaldo as well as Matt Walker, Oliver Lauridsen
and Logan Stephenson.
UPCOMING GAMES
Friday, April 1, 7:30 p.m. - Albany Devils at Adirondack
Phantoms - Military Appreciation Night and Pack
the House 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 - Post-game auction live
on the ice for the Phantoms special Time Warner
Cable Cup Rivalry jerseys
Monday, April 4, 7:00 p.m. - Rochester Americans
at Adirondack Phantoms
Wednesday, April 6, 7:00 p.m. - Albany Devils at
Adirondack Phantoms - Fan Appreciation Night - Last
home game of the year featuring many great giveaways
including autographed Phantoms memorabilia.
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.
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