ADIRONDACK PHANTOMS
(5-2-1) vs. Connecticut Whale (4-1-2)
Phantoms- 1st Northeast Division, T-1st Eastern
Conference
Whale-2nd Northeast Division, T-5th Eastern Conference
Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, NY
Friday, October 28, 7:00 p.m.
Promotion: $2 draft beers (6:00 - 7:30)
Tonight's Game
By virtue of coming from behind to tie the score
on Denis Hamel’s dramatic late goal on Wednesday
against Norfolk, the Phantoms were able to move
into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference,
and into sole possession of first place in the Northeast
Division. The team which Adirondack was able to
pass in the division standings was the Connecticut
Whale, who make their second and final Glens Falls
Civic Center visit of the season Friday at 7:00
p.m.
Connecticut is the AHL affiliate of the New York
Rangers. In the Whale’s prior visit to the
GFCC, on Opening Night, Connecticut stormed out
to a 3-1 lead, only to have Adirondack score five-straight
goals and win 6-3. That game remains Connecticut's
lone regular season loss of 2011-12.
Famed NHL bad-boy Sean Avery is on the Connecticut
Whale roster after being waived by the New York
Rangers in the preseason. But Avery has yet to play
a game with New York's AHL affiliate while he is
continuing to recover from a shoulder-injury. Connecticut
Head Coach Ken Gernander said that Avery is a game-day
decision whether he will play or not.
Northeast Division Standings (As of 10/28/11)
1. Adirondack Phantoms (11 points)
2. Connecticut Whale (10 points)
3. Springfield Falcons (8 points)
4. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (6 points)
5. Albany Devils (6 points)
Denis Hamel Countdown – 3 Goals to
Catch Merkosky
Although the Phantoms lost in a shootout on Wednesday,
fans are still talking about Denis Hamel’s
highlight-reel goal which tied the game with 27
seconds left in the third period. With Adirondack’s
goalie pulled for an extra attacker just seconds
after Norfolk had taken a 4-3 lead, Hamel came flying
down the left-wing side and with two hands, batted
a feed by Harry Zolnierczyk from midair, and past
Jaroslav Janus.
Despite tying the game in grand fashion and helping
the Phantoms earn the standings point which has
them leading their division, Hamel’s goal
was also the 322nd of his AHL career. Hamel is now
by himself in 13th place on the AHL’s all-time
goal-scoring list, just three goals behind former
Adirondack Red Wing great Glenn Merkosky for 12th
place.
With 618 points, Hamel is 41st in the 76-year history
of the AHL, while his 784 games played are 34th
most and seven ahead of teammate Dan Jancevski,
who wears an assistant captain’s “A”
along with Hamel on the 2011-12 Phantoms.
Phantoms Tidbits
The Phantoms are in a four-way tie with the Hershey
Bears, Norfolk Admirals and St. John’s IceCaps
for the most points (11) in the Eastern Conference.
The Toronto Marlies are the only Western Conference
team with 11 points so far.
Adirondack’s 31 goals scored are the second-highest
total in the league. Only Wednesday’s opponent,
the Norfolk Admirals (36 goals), has more.
The Phantoms’ power-play goal on Wednesday
gives them PP markers in seven of the first eight
games. Overall, Adirondack is 11-of-49 (22.4%) on
the man advantage. Only the Texas Stars and Hershey
Bears have scored more power-play goals.
Denis Hamel leads the Phantoms with seven goals
and 10 points. Hamel’s seven goals trail Kyle
Palmieri of the Syracuse by one for the AHL’s
lead in goals. Hamel led the Phantoms with 25 goals
and 50 points last season.
With an assist on Wednesday, Garrett Roe extended
his AHL rookie lead in assists, and leads the Phantoms
with seven assists. With eight points (1g, 7a),
Roe trails only Norfolk’s Carter Ashton and
Cory Conacher in overall rookie scoring.
Roe had 10 goals and 26 assists in 38 games for
St. Cloud State (NCAA) last season.
Michael Leighton is tied for the AHL’s league
lead among goalies with four wins (Leland Irving,
Abbotsford Heat). Leighton had 14 wins last season,
and has 179 professional wins in 10 seasons.
On Wednesday, Tye McGinn scored his first professional
goal. McGinn became the fourth Phantom to score
his first professional goal this season, joining
Jason Akeson (10/16) Garrett Roe (10/23) and Tyler
Brown (10/23)
In Adirondack’s Opening Night win over the
Whale, six-different Phantoms scored goals. It was
only the second time (4/1/11 against Albany) that
six-different Adirondack Phantoms have ever scored
goals in the same game.
Scouting the Connecticut Whale (New York
Rangers)
Since losing to the Phantoms on Opening Night,
the Whale have been red hot, going 4-0-2 in six
games.
One of the most-dangerous scorers on the Whale
is Mats Zuccarello, who started the season with
the New York Rangers. In two games for Connecticut,
the 5-foot-7, 174-pound product of Oslo, Norway
has three goals and an assist. Zuccarello had 23
points (6g, 17a) in 42 games for the Rangers last
season, and 29 points (13g, 16a) in 36 games for
Connecticut. Zuccarello started his pro career playing
for MODO in the Swedish Elite League. MODO is known
for having produced NHL greats Peter Forsberg, Markus
Naslund, Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin and more.
Other Whale players to watch are Carl Hagelin,
who is among the AHL’s rookie leaders in scoring
with six points (3g, 3a); defenseman Wade Redden,
who has played in 994 NHL games between the Ottawa
Senators and New York Rangers; and forward Sean
Avery. Although Avery has yet to suit up for the
Whale this season, the ornery agitator has a chance
to make his season debut against the Phantoms on
Friday.
The Whale which did the most damage against the
Phantoms on Opening Night was Kris Newbury, who
scored all three of Connecticut’s goals. Newbury
is not currently with the Whale, having been called
up to the New York Rangers.
The losing Connecticut goalie on Opening Night
was Cam Talbot, who allowed five goals on 23 shots.
Talbot is 2-0-0 since Opening Night and has a 2.01
goals-against average and .925 save percentage.
The Whale’s other goalie, Chad Johnson, is
2-0-2, with a 1.65 goals-against average and .944
save percentage.
Overall, the Whale has only allowed 10 goals in
six games since their visit to the Glens Falls Civic
Center, when they allowed six goals in 60 minutes.
Upcoming Events
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 |
