December 27, 2011

Upcoming Games

Wednesday, December 28, 7:00 - Binghamton Senators at Adirondack Phantoms
Friday, December 30, 7:00 - Portland Pirates at Adirondack Phantoms
Saturday, December 31, 7:00 - Albany Devils at Adirondack Phantoms
Wednesday, January 4, 7:00 - Binghamton Senators at Adirondack Phantoms


Phantoms Results

Wednesday, December 21 - Connecticut Whale 3 - Adirondack Phantoms 2

Coming Up

The Phantoms have their longest homestand of the season as they resume play following the holiday break. Adirondack is at home for four straight to close out 2011 and welcome in 2012. The Phantoms will open and close the homestand against the Binghamton Senators, and in-between they will play Portland and Albany over New Year's weekend.

Lots of great promotions are on tap including Pucks and Paws night on Wednesday, December 28 in which fans get to bring their pets to the game. Friday, December 30 is $2 draft-beer specials through the first intermission. Saturday, December 31 is the traditional New Year's Eve game when Adirondack takes on Albany in the renewal of the Time Warner Cable Cup Rivalry. Wednesday, January 4 is the first home game of 2012 and features $1 hot dogs all night long.

Don't miss out! Call the Phantoms for tickets at 518-480-3355.

Roster Moves

Kevin Marshall returned to the Phantoms last Wednesday after a ten-game stint with the Flyers, his first stretch of games in the NHL. Jean Bourdeau was called up from Elmira (ECHL) on a professional tryout and played in one game for the Phantoms but was returned back to Elmira when Adirondack received other players back from Philadelphia.

Ben Holmstrom and Tom Sestito both received brief call-ups to the Philadelphia Flyers over the past couple of weeks and both have been returned to the Adirondack Phantoms and are eligible to return to the lineup on Wednesday night against Binghamton.

Holmstrom played in one game with Philadelphia last Monday in his home-state of Colorado when the Flyers traveled to the Avalanche. It was his second Flyers game of the season and the fourth of his career. The 24-year-old captain of the Phantoms was the team's MVP in 2010-11 and carries a three-game goal scoring streak into his next AHL game on Wednesday.

Sestito played in three games in his Flyers debut. The Rome, NY native played nine games in the NHL last season, and 13 in his career, with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The fifth-year pro is in his first full season with Adirondack after being acquired in a trade-deadline deal on February 27 from the Columbus organization.

The Week That Was

The Adirondack Phantoms lost a heart-breaker in their lone game before the holiday break as they fell at Connecticut 3-2. After the game, players were allowed to travel home for a few days before returning to Glens Falls for practice last Monday night.

The game at Connecticut was a great opportunity for the Phantoms to close ground on the first-place Whale. But Pavel Valentenko's shot from center-point with 16.2 seconds remaining took an unlucky deflection on its way to the goal and snuck in for the game-winner.

Mike Testwuide and Tye McGinn scored the goals for the Phantoms while Jason Bacashihua played well but was pinned with the tough-luck loss. Jean Bourdeau made his Phantoms debut after being called up on a Professional Tryout from Elmira (ECHL) and Kevin Marshall returned to the Adirondack lineup after playing 10 games with the Flyers.

Adirondack is right in the middle of the Northeast Division in third place out of five teams with a record of 15-12-2 for 32 points. The Phantoms are one point behind the second place Albany Devils but also have two games-in-hand on Albany. Adirondack is six points behind first place Connecticut. In the conference race, Adirondack's 32 points puts the team in a tie for eighth place. The top eight teams out of 15 will advance to the Calder Cup Playoffs in April.

Northeast Division Standings

1. Connecticut Whale (38 pts)
2. Albany Devils (33 pts)
3. Adirondack Phantoms (32 pts)
4. Springfield Falcons (29 pts)
5. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (26 pts)

Phantoms Breakdown

-- Denis Hamel has played in 997 professional games on his career including 192 in the NHL and 805 in the AHL. He is slated to play in his historic 1,000th game of his career on New Year's Eve against the Albany Devils.

--The Phantoms penalty kill has been especially strong this season and rates 5th in the AHL at 84.2%. Adirondack has held the opponents to 5-for-48 for a 89.6% proficiency rating in the last 13 games since November 24 including a streak of 34 consecutive power play extinguished.

--Adirondack's power play rates 16th (out of 30) in the AHL at 17.7%

--Michael Leighton is second in the AHL in total saves with 608 and also second in total minutes with 1293:29. He is tied for fifth in wins with 11.

--Denis Hamel leads the Phantoms with 11 goals and 23 points. He is third in the league in total shots with 116. Four of his goals have come on the power play as well as seven of his assists. Hamel's 326 career goals place him 11th all-time in AHL history, one ahead of former Adirondack Red Wing great Glenn Merkosky.

--Adirondack is 4rd in the Eastern Conference and 12th in the AHL (out of 30) in total defense allowing just 2.69 goals per game. Adirondack is 14th in total offense at 2.9 goals per game.

--The Phantoms are 11-1-1 when leading after two periods and are 4-4-1 when tied after two.

--The Phantoms are 13-5-1 when they score first. The Phantoms are 7-4-2 in one-goal decisions.

--Adirondack is 8-4-1 at home this year and now stands at an amazing 15-4-1 since mid-March of last season. The Phantoms have just three regulation losses in their last 29 home games going an impressive 19-5-5 since last February.

Phantoms Leaders (Goals - Assists - Points):

Denis Hamel - 11-12-13
Jason Akeson - 7-13-20
Ben Holmstrom - 8-8-16
Garrett Roe - 3-13-16
Tom Sestito - 8-6-14
Mike Testwuide - 3-10-13

Michael Leighton - 11-10-0, 2.37, .923
Jason Bacashihua - 4-3-1, 3.26, .907

Upcoming Opponents

Binghamton Seantors (Ottawa Senators) - Adirondack ran into red-hot goalie Mike McKenna on Deceber 16 and again on December 18 in a couple of recent encounters with the Senators.

McKenna played with the Albany Devils last year and has area ties stemming to his engagement with a woman from Queensbury. McKenna turned in 33 and 39 save performances in his wins against the Phantoms allowing just two total goals on 74 shots.

Overall, Binghamton has struggled to a 12-19-2 start. However, they have been playing much better of recent having won three of their last four games including an 8-3 thrashing of the Albany Devils on December 26 lead by Stephan Da Costa's hat trick.

Goalie Robin Lehner has missed some games with injury paving the way for McKenna to step into the limelight. Binghamton's backup goalie is a familiar name to Phantoms fans. Brian Stewart has been called up by the Senators from Elmira. He played for Adirondack last season and also at the very end of the 2009-10 campaign. He won AHL Player of the Week honors at this exact time last year when he put together a three-game win streak over New Year's weekend with some impressive shootout victories.

Binghamton are the defending Calder Cup Champions but many of the players responsible for the title are no longer with the team. Former Buffalo Sabre Mark Parrish is the captain of the Sens and the team's leading scorer with 10 goals and 17 points. Last year's AHL Most Valuable Player, Corey Locke, missed 20 games since October due to injury but returned to action last weekend. #84 for the B-Sens racked up 86 points to lead the league last year.


Portland Pirates (Phoenix Coyotes) - This will be the fourth and last meeting between the Phantoms and the Pirates with Portland currently leading the season series two games to one.

The Pirates are 13-12-3 for 29 points which is tied for last in the Atlantic Division with the Providence Bruins. The former Buffalo Sabres farm-club switched affiliations to the Phoenix Coyotes this year.

2011 Hobey Baker winner Andy Miele is tops among Pirates scorers with seven goals and 22 points. The speedy center out of Miami (Ohio) University has already received one callup to Phoenix to make his NHL debut. Nathan Oystrick is second on Portland with 17 points including six goals and 11 assists.

Former Anaheim Ducks goalie, Curtis McElhinney, gets the bulk of the playing time in net for Portland. The Colorado College product also has NHL experience with the OIttawa Senators and Calgary Flames. With Portland this year he is 9-11-0, .875, .910. Justin Pogge of the Charlotte Checkers last year serves as their backup.

Rookie Ethan Werek stunned the Phantoms on December 9 at the Glens Falls Civic Center when his shorthanded goal with 19.2 seconds left broke a late tie and gave the Pirates a stunning victory.


Albany Devils (New Jersey Devils) - The last time the Phantoms saw the Albany Devils, about a month ago on November 26, Jon Kalinski put the finishing touches on a great night at the Glens Falls Civic Center with his overtime game-winner in front of a jammed and deafening crowd of 4,733 fans.

Albany started the year weakly, with a record of 1-5. But they have come alive since then and with 33 standings points at 15-13-2 currently sit one point ahead of Adirondack in the divisional standings. The Phantoms have played two fewer games than the Devils.

The Time Warner Cable Cup Series between the two teams is even at one game apiece although the Devils hold the overall lead on total points 3-2. This is the third of ten total games between the Phantoms and the Devils. Last year, the Phantoms clinched the Time Warner Cable Cup on the last home game of the regular season.

Rookie goalie Keith Kinkaid out of Union College has impressed in the Devils net including a 3-0 shutout win over Binghamton last week to earn AHL Player of the Week honors. Former Worcester Shark, Steve Zalewski, leads the Devils with eight goals and 17 points. Matt Anderson returns to the team and is tied with Zalewski with 17 points and leads the team with 12 assists.

Transactions

December 18 - Ben Holmstrom called up to Philadelphia (NHL)
December 18 - Andy Bohmbach called up from Trenton (ECHL)
December 21 - Kevin Marshall returned on loan from Philadelphia (NHL)
December 21 - Jean Bourbeau signed to PTO from Elmira (ECHL)
December 24 - Ben Holmstrom returned on loan from Philadelphia (NHL)
December 24 - Tom Sestito returned on loan from Philadelphia (NHL)

Phantoms Day-by-Day

Tuesday, December 27 - Practice at GFCC (10:00am)
Wednesday, December 28 - Practice at GFCC (10:00am). Phantoms vs. Senators (7:00pm)
Thursday, December 29 - Practice at GFCC (10:00am)
Friday, December 30 - Practice at GFCC (10:00am). Phantoms vs. Pirates (7:00pm)
Saturday, December 31 - Practice at GFCC (10:00am). Phantoms vs. Devis (7:00pm)
Sunday, January 1 - Off
Monday, January 2 - Practice at GFCC (10:00am)

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

Wednesday, December 28, 7:00 - Binghamton Senators at Phantoms. Pucks and Paws! Bring your leashed pet to the game. $1 hot dogs.

Friday, December 30, 7:00 - Portland Pirates at Phantoms. $2 draft beer specials through first intermission

Saturday, December 31, 7:00 - Albany Devils at Phantoms. Big New Year's Eve game! Time Warner Cable Cup Rivalry game.

Wednesday, January 4, 7:00 - Binghamton Senators at Phantoms. $1 hot dogs.

Friday, January 6, 7:00 - Outdoor Classic! Hershey Bears vs. Adirondack Phantoms at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

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.. Be sure to follow the Phantoms on twitter @phantomshockey and on facebook.com/adkhockey