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Denis Hamel scored a spectacular, highlight-reel
goal to tie the game with 27 seconds left in the
third period for the Phantoms. Adirondack lost in
the shootout 5-4 earning a standings point to move
all alone into first place in the Northeast Division
and into a first place time in the Eastern Conference.
For the veteran Hamel, his regulation-time goal
was the 322nd of his standout career, which is just
three behind Adirondack Red Wing legend Glenn Merkosky
for 12th place in AHL history.
With goalie Jason Bacashihua pulled for an extra-attacker,
Hamel moved up the left-wing and shook away from
a Norfolk defender grabbing at his stick. Adirondack's
leading scorer then made a highlight-reel two-handed
chop on a mid-air line-drive from the side of the
crease for the exciting equalizer. Harry Zolnierczyk's
slapper from the point found Hamel on the short-side
as he was stationed to the side of Admirals goalie
Jaroslav Janus.
With seven goals and three assists, Hamel leads
the Phantoms in goals and points, and he sits one
behind Syrcause's Kyle Palmieri for the AHL's lead
in goals. Hamel led the Phantoms with 25 goals and
50 points last season.
Hamel's goal secured one standings points for the
Phantoms, who took over sole possession of first
place in the Northeast Division. With a record of
5-2-1 (11 points), Adirondack has a one-point edge
on the Connecticut Whale, who visit the Glens Falls
Civic Center for a first-place showdown on Friday
night at 7:00 p.m.
The result ends Adirondack's nine-game home winning
streak dating back to last year. But with the standings
point, the Phantoms extend their unbeaten-in-regulation
streak to 11 with a mark of 9-0-2. In Adirondack's
last 19 home games they have only one regulation
loss (13-1-5) dating back to mid-February.
Adirondack also received goals from Eric Wellwood,
Tom Sestito and Tye McGinn, whose goal was the first
of his professional career. With 37 saves, Jason
Bacashihua took the shootout loss for the Phantoms
to move his record to 1-1-1.
Denis Hamel gave the Phantoms a 1-0 advantage in
the shootout's third round but Norfolk rallied with
goals of their own in the third and fourth rounds
from Cory Conacher and James Wright for the second
standings point.
Norfolk's top offensive player was former Pittsburgh
Penguin and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Michel Ouellet,
who scored two goals and was the game's first star.
Carter Ashton and Tyler Johnson also scored for
the Admirals. Jaroslav Janus secured the win by
making 24 saves, while he stopped 4-of-5 Phantoms
in the shootout.
The Admirals' win improved their record to 5-2-1,
which ties them with Adirondack, Hershey and St.
John's for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Eric Wellwood scored the game's first goal and gave
the Phantoms a 1-0 lead 11 minutes into the game.
The AHL's leader in rookie assists, Garrett Roe,
carried the puck through the neutral zone and sent
a cross-ice pace to Wellwood, who skated down the
left-wing side and fired over Janus' glove hand
while on a semi-breakaway. Roe's assist was his
team-best seventh of the season.
The Phantoms' lead lasted six minutes until Michel
Ouellet scored for the first time on the night,
by stuffing in the rebound of a shot by Mark Barberio.
With three assists in the game, Barberio extended
his lead in scoring amongst AHL defensemen (1g,
9a).
Adirondack regained its one-goal lead in the first
period's final minute, when Tom Sestito tallied
on the power play. The goal came when the powerful
Sestito won a battle for a rebound of an Erik Gustafsson
slapper just outside the crease, and turned and
roofed the puck into the upper portion of the net.
Gustafsson and Jason Akeson received assists.
The AHL's rookie leader in goals and points, Carter
Ashton, knotted the score for the Admirals at 2-2
in the second period. Ashton's goal was his seventh
goal and 11th point of the season, and came on a
wrist shot from the bottom of the right-wing circle
which hit Bacashihua and trickled just over the
goal line.
Tye McGinn scored his first-professional goal, with
four minutes left in the second period, to give
the Phantoms a 3-2 lead. Assisted by Luke Pither
and Tyler Brown, McGinn's marker came when the big
rookie forward kicked a pass from his skate to his
stick, and shot through Janus' legs from point-blank
range in the slot. McGinn comes to the Phantoms
from Gatineau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey
League where he racked up 31 goals a season ago.
He is the younger sibling of Jamie McGinn of the
San Jose Sharks.
Norfolk battled back from a one-goal deficit for
the third time, when a minute into the third period,
rookie Tyler Johnson sent a long-range shot which
took an odd bounce that found its way through Bacashihua's
legs.
The Admirals went ahead for the first time when
Michel Ouellet scored for the second time in the
game, over Bacashihua's shoulder and just under
the crossbar, with 1:19 left in the third period.
However, it took Adirondack just 52 seconds with
the pulled goalie to come back with Hamel's tying
tally.
Harry Zolnierczyk, Tom Sestito, Garrett Roe and
Jason Akeson were stopped by Jaroslav Janus in the
shootout. Jason Bacashihua stopped Michel Ouellet
and Mark Baberio.
The Phantoms were 1-of-8 on the power play. The
Admirals were 1-of-4.
Norfolk outshot Adirondack by a clip of 41-28.
The game was the beginning of a tough three-game
homestand against some of the best competition in
the Eastern Conference. Following the divisional
first-place showdown with Connecticut on Friday,
the Phantoms host the Hershey Bears on Saturday
in a potential dual for top honors in the conference.
This was the first of eight meetings this season
between Adirondack and the Admirals. The Phantoms
will visit Norfolk for a two game series in early
December. The Admirals do not return to Glens Falls
until February.
The Phantoms' scratches were Shane Harper, Oliver
Lauridsen, Garrett Klotz and Jon Kalinski.
Upcoming Events
Friday, October 28, 7:00 - Phantoms vs. Connecticut.
Sean Avery playing on the Connecticut Whale now.
$2 draft Bud Light and Labatt Blue through first
intermission.
Saturday, October 29, 7:00 - Phantoms vs. Hershey
at the GFCC. Kids Halloween Costume Parade. Postgame
open-skate with the Phantoms players presented by
Glens Falls Hospital.
Sunday, October 30, 1:30-4:00 - Cruise with the
Phantoms presented by the Glens Falls Civic Center
Foundation. All Phantoms players appearing! Hor
d'oeuvres and cash bar. Tickets $25 for adults,
$15 for kids: Available at GFCC Box Office and Achenbach
Jewelers.
Monday, October 31, 7:00 - Phantoms Power Hour LIVE
from McGinny's Tavern in Glens Falls (193 Glen Street).
Player guests: #13 Garrett Roe, #24 Harry Zolnierczyk.
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.
Catch all the action of Phantoms hockey all season
long on the team's flagship station, Classic Hits
Q101.7 and on phantomshockey.com. Bob Rotruck has
the broadcast coverage 30 minutes prior to game-time
with Countdown to Faceoff.
Reaching 4,000 Twitter followers during Sunday's
game in Rochester, the Adirondack Phantoms are now
over 10,000 members strong on their social media
networks. Be sure to follow us on twitter @phantomshockey
and on facebook.com/adkhockey
Norfolk Admirals 5 (SO) at Adirondack Phantoms 4
- Status: Final SO
Wednesday, October 26, 2011 - Glens Falls Civic
Center
Norfolk 1 1 2 0 - 5
Adirondack 2 1 1 0 - 4
1st Period-1, Adirondack, Wellwood 3 (Roe), 10:28.
2, Norfolk, Ouellet 3 (Barberio, Labrie), 14:36.
3, Adirondack, Sestito 4 (Gustafsson, Akeson), 19:33
(PP). Penalties-Fornataro Nor (hooking), 7:57; Wyman
Nor (holding), 9:42; Holmstrom Adk (illegal stick),
9:42; Dimmen Nor (slashing, roughing), 12:07; Zolnierczyk
Adk (roughing), 12:07; Gudas Nor (interference),
18:44; Smith Nor (high-sticking), 19:48; Roe Adk
(holding the stick), 19:52.
2nd Period-4, Norfolk, Ashton 7 (Conacher, Barberio),
8:11. 5, Adirondack, McGinn 1 (Pither, Brown), 15:43.
Penalties-Holmstrom Adk (slashing), 19:56.
3rd Period-6, Norfolk, Johnson 4 (Dimmen, Barberio),
1:01 (PP). 7, Norfolk, Ouellet 4 (Smith, Gudas),
18:41. 8, Adirondack, Hamel 7 (Zolnierczyk), 19:32.
Penalties-Wright Nor (hooking), 2:57; Picard Nor
(fighting), 5:25; Rinaldo Adk (charging, fighting),
5:25; Conacher Nor (slashing), 9:11; Brown Adk (tripping),
12:01; Fornataro Nor (hooking), 13:10.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Dimmen Nor (high-sticking),
3:46.
Shootout - Norfolk 2 (Ouellet NG, Barberio NG,
Conacher G, Wright G), Adirondack 1 (Akeson NG,
Roe NG, Hamel G, Sestito NG, Zolnierczyk NG).
Shots on Goal-Norfolk 14-15-9-3-1-42. Adirondack
11-11-6-0-0-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 1 / 4; Adirondack
1 / 8.
Goalies-Norfolk, Janus 3-0-1 (28 shots-24 saves).
Adirondack, Bacashihua 1-1-1 (41 shots-37 saves).
A-2,200
Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Darcy Burchell (42).
Linesmen-Jim Harper (59), Frank Murphy (29).
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