January 4, 2011

The Adirondack Phantoms staged an impressive comeback late in the third period with back-to-back goals pulling them even with Binghamton, but the Senators were able to score the game-winner with 1:08 remaining in a 4-3 victory at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Wednesday night. Former Albany River Rat Tim Conboy scored from the center-point after Adirondack had otherwise dominated the third period outshooting the B-Sens 16-4. Adirondack outshot Binghamton in the opening game of 2012 by a dominating 38-23 margin.

Garrett Roe and Eric Wellwood had scored goals less than two minutes apart for the Phantoms who overcame a 3-1 deficit to pull even while appearing to take over all momentum in the contest. But Conboy's goal turned that around an then the Senators were able to withstand a late Phantoms 6-on-5 charge that became a 6-on-4 when Binghamton took a late penalty.

Adirondack finished their homestand at 2-2 as they were beaten by St. Lawrence University product Mike McKenna. The former Albany Devils and Norfolk Admirals goalie is engaged to a woman from Queensbury and always has his own contingent of fans whenever he plays in Glens Falls.

The Phantoms record moves to 17-14-2 with the result as they missed on their opportunity to gain ground on the first place Connecticut Whale in the Northeast Divisional race. The Phantoms are 10-6-1 on home-ice this season with half of those losses coming to the hands of McKenna and the Senators.

Rob Klinkhammer scored a pair of goals to pace the Binghamton attack, his 10th and 11th of the year.

Klinkhammer scored from the right-wing side of the crease past a diving Jason Bacashihua to give Binghamton the initial 1-0 advantage midway through the first period.

Rookie Tyler Brown took advantage of his opportunity on the Phantoms first-unit power play by scoring on a rebound from the right side of the crease. Jason Akeson had taken the shot from center-point that handcuffed McKenna and Denis Hamel had a piece of it down low before Brown would jam it in behind the goalie for his second goal of the year.

Brown is a 21-year-old rookie out of Plymouth of the OHL who had 25 goals last year. His previous goal at the professional level was on October 21 on the road at Portland so this was his first regulation goal at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Brown had also scored the game-winner in the 12th round of a marathon shootout on December 30 against Portland but that does not count as a goal for him in the statistics.

Corey Cowick redirected a drive from Eric Gryba on the point and chipped it past the right skate of Bacashihua early in the next period allowing the Senators to carry a 2-1 lead into the second intermission. The Phantoms had a terrific opportunity to equalize late in the second after consecutive penalties by the B-Sens gave Adirondack a 5-on-3 power play for 1:41. Adirondack's best chances in that stretch came from Eric Wellwood in the right circle who appeared to hit the post on one cross-ice feed from Ben Holmstrom and missed on a big swing at a skipping puck later on.

Adirondack had the better of the play for the vast majority of the third but after looking like they were in good shape to come up with the tying goal, they allowed Binghamton to race back on a 2-on-1 rush and reigning league MVP Corey Locke found Klinkhammer in the slot to slam home his second goal of the game. The critical goal with 8:54 remaining gave Binghamton a little breathing room at 3-1.

The Senators lead would quickly evaporate though as the Phantoms continued their strength in the Binghamton end. Garrett Roe blasted a drive from the left circle five-home on McKenna with 7:34 remaining to make it a one-goal game.

Then Eric Wellwood deflected a Dan Jancevski slapper from the point and chipped in the tying tally with 5:57 left.

Binghamton regrouped after calling their timeout and returned to the ice with better pressure in the Adirondack zone. After a scramble and a loose puck in front of the net, Tim Conboy found himself with a shooting opportunity from center-point to beat a partly screened Bacashihua for the game-winner.

The Phantoms will travel to Binghamton on January 22. The Senators' final visit to Glens Falls happens on March 25.

The team departed immediately after the game for Philadelphia in preparation for their big Outdoor Classic matchup with the Hershey Bears on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The game is expected to potentially draw 40,000 fans which would shatter the current AHL attendance record of 21,673 established at last year's outdoor game hosted by the Connecticut Whale.

The Phantoms next games at the Glens Falls Civic Center take place on January 13 and 14 on Fun in the Sun Weekend.

Scratches for the Phantoms included Garrett Klotz, Tom Sestito, Tye McGinn, Brandon Manning, Oskars Bartulis and Johan Backlund.
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Upcoming Phantoms Events

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

Saturday, January 7, 7:00 - Adirondack Phantom at Hershey Bears

Monday, January 9, 7:00 - Phantoms Power Hour LIVE at McGinny's Tavern. Player guests Ben Holmstrom and Eric Wellwood. Also with Tim McManus of the Post-Star.

Friday, January 13, 7:00 - Hamilton Bulldogs at Adirondack Phantoms. Fun in the Sun Weekend! $2 draft-beer specials

Saturday, January 14, 7:00 - Manchester Monarchs at Adirondack Phantoms. Fun in the Sun Weekend! Post-game Pics with Players on the Ice.

Get great savings with the Phantoms when you bring your group of 15 friends or co-workers to a game. Group-rates available as low as $13 per person. Call the Phantoms to find out more at 518-480-3355.

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