December 6, 2011

Phantoms Results

Wednesday, Nov. 30 (Glens Falls): Adirondack Phantoms 4 - Syracuse Crunch 3
Friday, Dec. 2 (Norfolk): Adirondack Phantoms 5 - Norfolk Admirals 1
Saturday, Dec. 3 (Norfolk): Norfolk Admirals 2 - Adirondack Phantoms 1

Phantoms Upcoming Games

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 7:30 - Adirondack Phantoms at Hamilton Bulldogs
Friday, Dec. 9, 7:00 - Portland Pirates at Adirondack Phantoms
Saturday, Dec. 10, 7:00 - Rochester Americans at Adirondack Phantoms

Weekend Promos

The Phantoms return home this weekend for a pair of games at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Friday night's game is a $2 draft-beer night on another Frosty Friday. Bud Light and Labatt Blue Light only $2 through the first intermission. Saturday night, the first 2,500 fans in attendance will receive a Phantoms T-Shirt courtesy of Papa John's. And don't forget to bring your teddy bears for the team's annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans get to throw their bears onto the ice after the Phantoms score their first goal Saturday with all the bears being donated to the area Salvation Army.

Phantoms Holiday Socks

The very popular Phantoms Holiday Socks are again available for purchase for your favorite Phantoms fan. $49 package for 4 tickets to a premium Phantoms game, an autographed puck, a program; all in a game-worn Phantoms hockey sock. $59 for an autographed stick with the 4 premium game tickets, program and game-worn Phantoms hockey sock. These holiday socks have been hot items the past couple of seasons. Only available while supplies last.

Northeast Division Standings

1. Connecticut Whale (31 pts)
2. Adirondack Phantoms (27 pts)
3. Albany Devils (27 pts)
4. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (26 pts)
5. Springfield Falcons (23 pts)

Coming Up

The Phantoms try to get another win streak started as they conclude their three-game road swing with a Tuesday night encounter at the Hamilton Bulldogs at Copps Coliseum. It will be only visit to the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens and the first meeting of the season between the two teams. Adirondack returns to the Glens Falls Civic Center for a weekend homestand against the Portland Pirates and Rochester Americans back-to-back. The Phantoms had their four-game win streak ended on Saturday night at Norfolk in heartbreaking fashion when the Admirals scored two late third-period goals. Adirondack is 13-8-1 this year including 7-2-1 at home. The team sits in second place in the tight Northeast Division race.

Wednesday, November 30 (ADK 4 - SYR 3) - Akeson Scores Game-Winner

The Syracuse Crunch kept coming back to tie the score, and the Phantoms responded each and every time with a quick response goal to retake the lead. The last of the tallies came with over five minutes remaining when rookie Jason Akeson sizzled one from the top of the left circle past Crunch goalie Iiro Tarkki for the 4-3 win.

It was Akeson's 6th of the year. Ben Holmstrom (4th), Tom Sestito (8th) and Tye McGinn (2nd) also found the back of the net for the Phantoms. Michael Leighton recorded the win with 24 saves on 27 shots.

The win completed a perfect 3-0 homestand for the Phantoms. It was also Joe Paterson's 100 career head coaching victory. The Phantoms evened their record to 2-2 against the Crunch this season. Adirondack and Syracuse face each other six more times in 2011-12.

Friday, December 2 (ADK 5, NOR 1) - McGinn's Two Goals Runs Win Streak to Four

Rookie Tye McGinn doubled his season goal-scoring output with his third and fourth of the year to lead the Phantoms to an impressive 5-1 win on the road at the Norfolk Admirals Friday night. The game ended Norfolk's three-game win streak and knocked the Admirals out of first place in the East Division.

Denis Hamel blasted a long line-drive into an empty-net with over five minutes left to secure the 5-1 win. It was Hamel's 325th career AHL goal tying him for 12th all-time with Glenn Merkosky on the league's leader board. Ben Holmstrom scored his fifth of the season and Dan Jancevski his second.

Michael Leighton repelled 28 of 29 Norfolk drives in an impressive win at his original professional home. Leighton starred for the Norfolk Admirals from 2001-05 and holds franchise records with 75 career wins and 18 shutouts. The win extended Adirondack's season-long win streak to four straight.

Saturday, December 3 (ADK 1, NOR 2) - Late Admirals Comeback Ends Win Streak

Michael Leighton made one incredible save after another throughout the night but it turned out to not be enough as Norfolk scored two third-period goals for a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Scope Arena.

Jason Akeson had given the Phantoms the lead with a perfectly placed laser off the underside of the upper-far corner for a 1-0 lead early in the second period. But talented rookie Tyler Johnson banked one off a Phantoms defenseman with eight minutes remaining to break Leighton's shutout bid and then notched the game-winner with just 29.4 seconds left.

The game was also marred by several skirmishes including a big line-brawl in the corner after the final horn had sounded.

Adirondack's four-game win streak came to a close as they split the weekend series in southeastern Virginia. Adirondack is 1-1-1 against Norfolk this year with five more games remaining in what is quickly becoming a heated rivalry.

Phantoms Breakdown

--Johan Backlund was assigned to Trenton this past weekend so he could get some game-action in his ECHL debut. Interestingly, his start there on Sunday featured a Phantoms goaltenders reunion as he went up against Brian Stewart of the Elmira Jackals. Backlund played well and carried a shutout into the third period but he allowed one goal on 26 shots and eventually lost the 2-1 contest in a shootout.

--The Phantoms penalty kill has now killed off an amazing 26 consecutive opposition power plays. Adirondack has gone perfect on the PK in each of the last five games. The last power play goal they allowed was on Thanksgiving, November 24 at Binghamton. Adirondack has vaulted up to fifth in the league (out of 30) on the penalty kill at 84.8%.

--Adirondack's power play rates 9th in the AHL at 20.2%. The team has PPG's in six of the last seven games going 6-for-32 in that stretch.

--Denis Hamel leads the Phantoms with 10 goals and 20 points. He is fourth in the league in total shots with 85. Four of his goals have come on the power play as well as six of his assists.

--A pair of rookies are second and third on the team in scoring: Jason Akeson led the OHL last year with 84 assists and 108 points with the Kitchener Rangers. This year, the 21-year-old from Orleans, Ontario has 7 goals and 12 assists with the Phantoms. Akeson is on a three game point streak with two goals and two assists. In his last 10 games he has six goals and five points. Garrett Roe comes to the Phantoms from St. Cloud State (Minn.) and has racked up two goals and 12 assists for 14 points.

--Adirondack is 6th in the AHL in offense at 3.3 goals per game. They are 8th in total defense allowing 2.7 goals per game.

--Adirondack is 4-0-0 in games in which they outshoot the opponent.

--The Phantoms are 10-1-1 when leading after two period. Their lone regulation loss was last Saturday at Norfolk when they carried a 1-0 into the third but lost the game 2-1.

--The Phantoms are 11-3-1 when they score first. They are 2-5-0 when they do not.

--Adirondack is 7-2-1 at home this year and now stands at an amazing 14-2-1 since mid-March of last season. The Phantoms have just three regulation losses in their last 26 home games going an impressive 18-3-5 since last February.

Phantoms Leaders:

Goals: Denis Hamel (10)
Assists: Garrett Roe, Jason Akeson (12)
Points: Denis Hamel (20)
Penalty Minutes: Tom Sestito (93)
Plus/Minus: Garrett Roe, Blake Kessl (+6)
Wins: Michael Leighton (9)
Goals-Against Average: Michael Leighton (2.42)
Save Percentage: Michael Leighton (.921)
Shutouts: Michael Leighton (1)

Upcoming Opponents

Hamitlon Bulldogs (Montreal Canadiens) - The Phantoms cross the border for the first time this season for a game at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario on Tuesday night.

Hamilton is struggling out of the gate at 7-12-2 for the worst record in the Western Conference and the second worst in the AHL. It's unfamiliar territory for the Bulldogs who typically compete near the top of the North Division. Brian Willsie's paltry 13 point total on three goals and 10 assists is the most on the Bulldogs. Rookie Phil DeSimone has five goals which is their team high. Nathan Lawson has received the majority of the goaltending duties as Robert Meyer has struggled to a 1-6-1 start with a 3.99 goals against average.

Hamilton is dead-last in the league in offense at 2.1 goals per game and they are 29th out of 30 in defense allowing 3.5 goals per game.

The game is the only trip to Hamilton this year for the Phantoms and is the first of two meetings between the two teams.

Phantoms defenseman Dan Jancevski has fond memories of his time at Copps Coliseum where he scored seven goals as a member of the Calder Cup Championship team of 2007. The Bulldogs beat the Hershey Bears to take the crown. Several Phantoms players hail from the region or played Major Juniors in the area. Joe Paterson was an assistant coach with the Bulldogs in 2002-03.

Portland Pirates (Phoenix Coyotes) - It's a new affiliate in Portland, Maine this year as the Pirates switched parent-clubs from Buffalo to Phoenix. Portland is 10-10-2 for fourth place in the Atlantic Division.

The Phantoms are already 1-1-0 against Portland this season with both previous encounters taking place at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Michael Leighton was terrific in a 35 save shutout performance on October 21 in a 3-0 Phantoms win. Adirondack looked in good shape in Portland on November 15 with a 2-0 lead in the first period but the Pirates rallied for the last four goals to take a 4-2 win.

Portland features 2011 Hobey Baker Award Winner Andy Miele out of Miami (Ohio) University. The speedy center leads the Pirates in scoring with seven goals and 13 assists. Ryan Duncan has five goals and 12 points.

Former Edmonton Oiler Curtis McElhinney (6-9-0, 3.08) has seen the most time in net although was knocked out of the game in the first period by Adirondack in their last matchup. Former Charlotte Checker and also Toronto Marlie Justin Pogge has only played in six games and has been hampered by injury.

The game is Portland's fourth of a six-game road trip that has not started favorably. The Pirates have lost their last three games by a combined 13-3 including a 7-1 thrashing to the hands of the Hershey Bears last Saturday.


Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres) - The Amerks also switched parent-clubs from last year. Out are the Florida Panthers and in (again) are the Buffalo Sabres just 74 miles away. The team features many of the same players who led the Portland Pirates, last year's Buffalo affiliate, to the Atlantic Division crown.

Rochester is currently on a three-game losing streak dropping consecutive one-goal decisions. The Amerks' overall mark of 10-10-3 places them third in the North Division of the Western Conference.

Adirondack is already 1-0-0 against Rochester with a 3-1 win at the Americans on October 23. All three Phantoms goals came from players who are not currently active with the team; Eric Wellwood (injured), Harry Zolnierczyk (Philadelphia) and Zac Rinaldo (Philadelphia).

Derek Whitmore paces the club with 11 goals and 17 points while Colin Stuart has eight goals and 17points. Drew McIntyre (3-6-1, 2.80) and David Leggio (7-6-0, 2.97) have split the goaltending duties.

Rochester's offense is not bad at 2.8 goals per game for 18th in the league but they mostly get it done 5-on-5. The Amerks power play is an anemic 13.1% for 27th in the AHL.

Transactions

November 29 - Kevin Marshall recalled by Philadelphia (NHL)
November 29 - Brayden Schenn recalled by Philadelphia (NHL)
November 29 - Andy Thomas signed to Professional Tryout from Trenton (ECHL)
December 2 - Brandon Manning cleared to play and assigned to Adirondack
December 3 - Johan Backlund loaned to Trenton (ECHL)

Phantoms Day-by-Day

Tuesday, Dec. 6 - Practice at Copps Coliseum (11:00am). Game at Hamilton Bulldogs (7:30pm).
Wednesday, Dec. 7 - Bus arrives early morning. No practice
Thursday, Dec. 8 - Practice at Glens Falls Civic Center (10:00am)
Friday, Dec. 9 - Practice at GFCC (10:00am). Game vs. Portland Pirates (7:00pm)
Saturday, Dec. 10 - Practice at GFCC (10:00am). Game vs. Rochester Americans (7:00pm)
Sunday, Dec. 11 - No practice
Monday, December 12 - Practice at GFCC (10:00am)

Hometown Hearts Coat Drive Successful Again

The Adirondack Phantoms are proud to announce that they have received over 150 coat donations from our generous fans. Every fan who donated a lightly used coat to benefit area residents in need received two free tickets for the Phantoms game on November 30 against Syracuse. That's over 300 free tickets the Phantoms gave away!

The coats will be delivered to Major Dean and the Salvation Army by a couple of our Phantoms players to thank them for their continued hard work in our community. Thanks as well to the Downtown Glens Falls Business Improvement District for their assistance and promotion of this wonderful project.

Outdoor Game Ticket Pickup and Bus Trip Info Announced

Phantoms Season Ticket Holders can now pick up their tickets for the team's upcoming outdoor game at the Phantoms office. Adirondack will take on the Hershey Bears at Citizens Bank Ballpark in Philadelphia on Friday, January 6 at 7:00pm. Be a part of history!

Upstate Transit is arranging a day trip to Philadelphia for the game as well. Get bus transportation only ($45 adult, $40 child) OR bus transportation and a game ticket ($70 adult, $65 child)

It will be a ton of fun as you travel with excited Phantoms fans ready to make noise in the huge outdoor venue. Pick up your order forms at the Adirondack Phantoms office located downstairs at the Glens Falls Civic Center during the week and also at upcoming Adirondack Phantoms home games. For more information, call Upstate Transit at 518-584-5252.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, December 6, 7:30 - Phantoms at Hamilton Bulldogs

Friday, December 9, 7:00 - Portland Pirates at Adirondack Phantoms. $2 draft beer specials through first intermission; Bud Light and Labatt Blue Light.

Saturday, December 10, 7:00 - Rochester Americans at Adirondack Phantoms. Phantoms T-Shirts for the first 2,500 fans courtesy of Papa John's. First Goal Teddy Bear Toss to benefit the Salvation Army and needy children in the North Country.

Monday, December 12, 7:00 - Phantoms Power Hour LIVE from McGinny's Tavern in Glens Falls and on Q101.7 Special guests, Tom Sestito and Cullen Eddy.

Phantoms Holiday Socks are on sale now. $49 package for 4 tickets to a premium Phantoms game, an autographed puck, a program, all in a game-worn Phantoms hockey sock. $59 for an autographed stick with the 4 premium game tickets and game-worn Phantoms hockey sock.

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.

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