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On an unusual snowy October night in Glens Falls,
Michael Leighton put the Bears' offense into hibernation
for the first 59 minutes, and the Phantoms defeated
one of the league's best teams 2-1 at the Glens
Falls Civic Center.
Adirondack had been held off the scoreboard through
the first two periods, but Denis Hamel broke the
deadlock with his team-leading eighth of the year
early in the third period. Harry Zolnierczyk added
a late goal which proved to be the game-winner.
Head Coach Joe Paterson said the defensive success
was a team effort. "(The defense) was good
at clearing in front of the net and letting (Leighton)
see shots. They were staying in the zone together.
If the puck came off the wall and there was a battle
they stayed there."
For Hamel, the goal was his 323rd in 14 years in
the AHL. He is now just two behind Adirondack Red
Wing legend Glenn Merkosky for 12th all-time. Merkosky
scored 325 times in an 11-year career which ended
with the Adirondack Red Wings in 1991. The goal
was also the eighth of the season for Hamel who
leads the team and is among the AHL leaders.
Improving to 6-3-1(13 points), the Phantoms stay
within one point of Northeast Division leading Connecticut
who also won. The Phantoms will next be in action
when they visit the Springfield Falcons next Friday.
Meanwhile, Adirondack improved to 14-2-5 at home
since last February and 3-1-1 this season. They
bounced back for the victory one day after having
their 11 game unbeaten-in-regulation streak snapped.
The Phantoms are 10-1-2 in their last 13 home contests.
Leighton finished the night with 23 saves on 24
shots and improved his record to 5-2-0. Leighton's
fifth win pulls him into a tie for the AHL's lead
in goalie wins. He came within 39 seconds of his
36th career shutout but fell just short in his bid.
It was the first game this season in which the Phantoms
outshot their opponents. "(We) didn't leave
the zone early. And when you do that and you have
better support you're able to win those areas when
you outnumber people."
Adirondack poured on the pressure in the second
period as the game remained 0-0 throughout. A 17
shot barrage on Dany Sabourin wasn't enough to get
Adirondack on the board as they peppered away for
a monster 17-3 shot advantage. Eric Wellwood, Ben
Holmstrom and Tye McGinn among others had tremendous
opportunities on net but Sabourin made a series
of fabulous stops in his highlight-reel frame.
Early in the third period the Phantoms sustained
pressure in the Hershey zone leading to the game's
first goal. Denis Hamel followed up on a rebound
of his own shot and carried it to the right-wing
corner where he banked it in off the leg of Sabourin
from a near-impossible angle for the 1-0 advantage.
Shane Harper and Ben Holmstrom assisted on the play.
Eight minutes later, Harry Zolnierczyk stretched
the lead to 2-0 when he parked himself just back
of the left goalpost and stuffed home his fifth
goal of the season after an impressive cross-ice
feed from Marc-Andre Bourdon. Luke Pither also assisted
on the power-play tally.
Having gone 15-of-67 on the power play for the season,
Adirondack has scored on the man advantage in 9-of-10
games.
Dmitri Orlov's slapper from the right point was
the Bears' only goal and busted Michael Leighton's
shutout attempt with 39 seconds left. The AHL's
leader in assists, Keith Aucoin, as well as former
Philadelphia Phantom Boyd Kane earned helpers.
Despite making 29 saves on 31 shots, Dany Sabourin
was the losing goalie for the Bears, who fell to
5-2-2.
With the win, Adirondack takes a 1-0 lead in the
season series with Hershey. The Phantoms and Bears
next play each other in the Outdoor Classic at Citizens
Bank Park in Philadelphia on January 6. The clubs
also play two more times this season at Giant Center
in Hershey.
The Phantoms were 1-of-6 on the power play. The
Bears were 0-of-2.
The game also featured two fights, with both Ben
Holmstrom and Tom Sestito dropping the gloves with
Hershey's Andrew Carroll.
The shots were 31-24 in favor of Adirondack.
The Phantoms now run into a lull in the schedule
in which they play only one game in the next 13
days. Adirondack travels to Springfield for a Northeast
Division showdown against the Falcons on Friday,
November 4. Adirondack's next home games are November
11 and 12 against Syracuse and Toronto back-to-back.
The Phantoms scratches were Mike Testwuide and Jon
Kalinski. After missing the first nine games of
the season due to injury, Garrett Klotz made his
season debut.
Upcoming Events
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.
Friday, November 4, 7:00 - Phantoms at Springfield
Falcons
Friday, November 11, 7:00 - Phantoms vs. Syracuse
Crunch. $2 draft-beer specials Bud Light and Labatt
Blue Light.
Saturday, November 12, 7:00 - Phantoms vs. Toronto
Marlies. Youth Jersey giveaway for first 1,000 kids
(age 14 and younger) presented by Glens Falls Hospital.
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 last 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
Hershey Bears 1 at Adirondack Phantoms 2 - Status:
Final
Saturday, October 29, 2011 - Glens Falls Civic Center
Hershey 0 0 1 - 1
Adirondack 0 0 2 - 2
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Orlov Her (hooking),
11:53; Carroll Her (fighting), 16:56; Holmstrom
Adk (fighting), 16:56.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Harper Adk (slashing),
1:14; Micflikier Her (slashing), 7:33; McNeill Her
(roughing), 15:26; McGinn Adk (roughing), 15:26;
Orlov Her (tripping), 17:25.
3rd Period-1, Adirondack, Hamel 8 (Harper, Holmstrom),
5:41. 2, Adirondack, Zolnierczyk 5 (Bourdon, Pither),
13:57 (PP). 3, Hershey, Orlov 2 (Aucoin, Kane),
19:21. Penalties-Carroll Her (fighting), 2:02; Sestito
Adk (fighting, misconduct), 2:02; Lauridsen Adk
(hooking), 2:17; Hanson Her (slashing), 8:11; Miskovic
Her (closing hand on puck), 12:22; Micflikier Her
(interference), 19:58.
Shots on Goal-Hershey 10-3-11-24. Adirondack 4-17-10-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 0 / 2; Adirondack
1 / 6.
Goalies-Hershey, Sabourin 3-1-0 (31 shots-29 saves).
Adirondack, Leighton 5-2-0 (24 shots-23 saves).
A-3,196
Referees-Darcy Burchell (42).
Linesmen-Frank Murphy (29), Mike Emanatian (69).
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