| |
|
Manchester, NH-Adirondack's
four game win streak came to a halt in a 4-1 setback
at the Manchester Monarchs Friday night. The Phantoms
were beginning a three game road trip entirely against
playoff-bound teams to conclude the 2010-11 regular
season. Adirondack had their chances but couldn't
solve Manchester goalie Martin Jones who made 32
saves on 33 shots to preserve the win.
Brandon Kozun led the way for Manchester with a
pair of goals. Adirondack's lone tally came off
the stick of Mike Testwuide for his 18th of the
year. Johan Backlund made several dazzling saves
in net but a Monarchs surge late in the third period
made the difference for the insurance goal.
Manchester raced out to a 2-0 lead with goals three
minutes apart midway through the first period. Kozun
was rushing up the middle and chipped a centering
feed past Backlund for the first goal of the night
and his 22d of the year. Patrick Mullen would carry
the puck beyond the goal-line and his attempt to
center in across went off the back of Backlund's
leg and into the cage for a 2-0 advantage.
It was at that point that Adirondack would press
the issue and mostly dominate the play in the Manchester
zone. Erik Gustafsson's drive from the left circle
was blocked down by Jones but Testwuide was in the
slot to knock in the rebound to get the Phantoms
on the board at 2-1.
Adirondack outshot the Monarchs 12-7 in the first
period and then would blast away with a 16-8 shots
advantage in a scoreless second period.
Backlund and the Phantoms would kill off back-to-back
power plays midway through the third to keep the
Phantoms alive in the game.
Then Rob Bordson would connect cross-ice with Denis
Hamel sneaking in behind the Monarchs defense but
his breakaway opportunity was steered away by Jones.
A few second later Backlund would make his best
stop of the night with a spectacular lunge to his
left grabbing a Kozun drive in his glove that appeared
to be a sure-thing goal.
But a minute later Kozun would pounce on a turnover
in the Phantoms end and shoot one home from the
right circle with 5:24 remaining. Adirondack had
a late power play and pulled Backlund to set up
a 6-on-4 opportunity but John Zeiler was able to
race past the Phantoms D and walk it into the empty
net for the final score of the evening.
The Phantoms are now 8-5 in their last 13 games
after having their four game win streak stopped.
Adirondack's record under Head Coach Joe Paterson
is 24-15-8.
The season-ending road trip heads down to Binghamton
on Saturday against the Senators. The last game
of the year is Sunday at 3:00 against the AHL leading
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins whom the Phantoms
have defeated three consecutive times.
Phantoms notes:
Scratches for the Phantoms included Stefan Legein,
Garrett Klotz and Zac Rinaldo as well as Matt Walker,
Oliver Lauridsen,Tom Sestito and Logan Stephenson.
Rinaldo is finished for the season after the AHL
handed down a three-game suspension earlier ni the
day for his altercation in Wednesday's game with
Albany's Darcy Zajac.
The game featured the pro debut of defenseman Tyler
Hostetter who played the last four years under former
Albany River Rats and New Jersey Devils Head Coach
Robbie Ftorek with Erie (Penn.) of the OHL.
Marc-Andre Bourdon was sent to Greenville of the
ECHL for their playoff run.
UPCOMING GAMES
Saturday, April 9, 7:05 p.m. - Adirondack Phantoms
at Binghamton Senators
Sunday, April 10, 3:05 p.m. - Adirondack Phantoms
at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
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. Call
(518) 480-3355 or log on at phantomshockey.com
Adirondack Phantoms 1 at Manchester Monarchs 4
- Status: Final
Friday, April 8, 2011 - Verizon Wireless Arena
Adirondack 1 0 0 - 1
Manchester 2 0 2 - 4
1st Period-1, Manchester, Kozun 22 (Elkins, Holloway),
9:45. 2, Manchester, Mullen 3 (Johnson), 12:43.
3, Adirondack, Testwuide 18 (Gustafsson, Hamel),
16:44. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Muzzin Mch (interference),
3:36; Zolnierczyk Adk (charging), 9:49; Zeiler Mch
(high-sticking), 18:43.
3rd Period-4, Manchester, Kozun 23 14:36. 5, Manchester,
Zeiler 9 (Muzzin), 18:15 (SH EN). Penalties-Bordson
Adk (tripping), 7:08; Gustafsson Adk (tripping),
9:23; Campbell Mch (high-sticking), 16:39; Azevedo
Mch (holding), 19:13.
Shots on Goal-Adirondack 12-16-5-33. Manchester
7-8-19-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 0 / 4; Manchester
0 / 3.
Goalies-Adirondack, Backlund 9-18-3 (33 shots-30
saves). Manchester, Jones 23-12-1 (33 shots-32 saves).
A-8,163
Referees-Chris Cozzan (18), Tim Mayer (19).
Linesmen-Scott Whittemore (96), Jeremy Lovett (78).
|
