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Zac Rinaldo and Mike Testwuide are a couple of the Adirondack Phantoms players
who shined brightly in Philadelphia's preseason
opener at the Toronto Maple Leafs Tuesday night.
Both of the players are fresh off their professional
rookie season and both scored impressive goals in
the Flyers 4-0 win. The game was seen by many Adirondack
Phantoms fans and nationwide on NHL Network.
The Flyers and Maple Leafs will play a rematch
Wednesday night in Philadelphia in a game that will
be televised nationally on Versus.
Wayne Simmonds and Sean Couturier scored the other
goals in the Flyers win. Matt Read had an assist
and also hit a post in the first period on a shorthanded
run. Rinaldo added one of his famous monster hits
in addition to the goal.
But it wwas Rinaldo's lamplighter early in the
second period that caught everyone's attention.
Dashing in from the left circle and bruning past
a defenseman, Rinaldo went wide around Toronto goalie
James Reimer and falling head-first across the slot
was able to impressively slide the backhander wide
of the netminder and into the cage. It was a fine
highlight caliber goal for a player who only had
three goals with the Phantoms last year.
Rinaldo made his NHL debut with the Flyers in Game
5 of their opening round playoff series against
the Buffalo Sabres. It is already a rare feat for
a player to make their NHL debut in the postseason,
but do so at only 20 years old as was the case with
Rinaldo is even more unusual.
Testwuide's goal later in the second period extended
Philadelphia's lead to 3-0. He ripped a shot from
the left circle beating Reimer short side. The Colorado
College product led all Adirondack Phantoms rookies
last year with 18 goals. But he started out slowly
with only two goals in the first half of the season.
He went off after that lighting it up for 16 goals
in the second half including the first ever Phantoms
hat trick at the Glens Falls Civic Center on April
1 in a 9-5 rout of the Albany Devils. Testwuide
has yet to make his NHL debut but he is certainly
knocking on the door.
Both Rinaldo and Testwuide are among several Phantoms
players who have every intention of making the decision
process difficult for Flyers Head Coach Peter Laviolette
and General Manager Paul Holmgren. Both have emphasized
that the camp is wide-open and that there are many
possibilites as to who can crack the team's opening
night roster. With performances such as Tuesday's
display they undoubtedly caught some attention.
Philadelphia's preseason continues at the Wells
Fargo Center Wednesay night against Toronto. The
game will be televised nationall on Versus.
The Adirondack Phantoms training camp begins on
Sunday, September 25 with players arriving to Glens
Falls and then Monday, September 26 at 1:00 PM with
the team's first practice. All practices are free
and open to the public.
Mark your calendars! Adirondack Phantoms Opening
Night is Saturday, October 8. The Phantoms take
on the Connecticut Whale to begin the third season
of exciting Phantoms hockey in Glens Falls. Get
great savings and have fun with your friends, family
or co-workers by bringing your group of 15 or more
fans to enjoy fast-paced, hard-hitting Phantoms
hockey. Call the Phantoms to find out more at 518-480-3355
and check the team's website at phantomshockey.com
Don't forget the preseason games on Wednesday, September
28 in Saratoga Springs, NY and Saturday, October
1 at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Follow the Phantoms
on twitter @phantomshockey and on facebook.com/adkhockey
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