January 22, 2011

Mike McKenna of Binghamton held off a furious Adirondack blitz in the third period and the Senators escaped with a 4-3 victory on Sunday evening at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

The Phantoms blasted away for 17 shots in the third period in their continued push to notch the tying goal but McKenna made one tremendous save after another for another victory against the Phantoms.

Jason Akeson wheeled at center-point with just one second remaining in the game and shot it just a few inches wide of the net past a frozen McKenna who was screened from the puck and didn't move. It was the last of the many close-calls for Adirondack in the final period.

Adirondack looked in good shape to break the McKenna curse and tally their first win of the year against Binghamton when they raced out to a 3-1 lead in the first period. But Binghamton was able to storm back and the Phantoms were unable to score after the taking that advantage midway through the first.

It was a gritty effort for a Phantoms team that was playing with a bit of a make-shift lineup and some new lines after two key players, Ben Holmstrom and Tom Sestito, were called up to Philadelphia prior to the game vs. Bridgeport the night before. Eric Wellwood was again inserted at center and Oliver Lauridsen took some turns as a fourth-line winger. It was also Adirondack's third game in three days while Binghamton was much fresher following a day off for them on Saturday.

The Phantoms stand at 21-18-2 for 44 points and remain in the thick of tight races in the division and the conference.

Pat Cannone opened the scoring in the game's first minute when he chipped in a rebound behind Adirondack goalie Jason Bacashihua for the 1-0 advantage.

But the Phantoms would get rolling after that. Denis Hamel picked up a loose puck in the crease and backhanded in his team-leading 15th goal of the season at 2:22 into the game to tie the score at 1-1.

At 9:30 and 10:12 the Phantoms would score back-to-back goals just 42 seconds apart in taking a 3-1 lead. Tyler Brown's shot from the slot was blocked off a defenseman and came out to Jon Kalinski in the right circle who rifled in his seventh of the season. Kalinski scored a goal in all three games played on the weekend.

Then it was Mike Testwuide who was last to touch a puck just before it crossed the goal-line after Brandon Manning's slapper handcuffed McKenna. Brown had shot the rebound from the right of the crease but Testwuide was waving his stick in there too and upon video review, it was determined that Testwuide was the last to touch it after Brown's shot went in.

Binghamton rallied at the end of the first with back-to-back power play goals to tie the score at 3-3 after the first period. Jim O'Brien received a feed from Mike Hoffman at 15:34 pulling the B-Sens to within one.

Then, on the their second straight man-advantage, Stephane da Costa's pass from the left circle took an unfortunate deflection off the skate of Matt Walker and in past the reach of Bacashihua for a flukey goal that tied the score at 3-3.

Jason Bacashihua held the Senators off through a consistent attack in the second period. Binghamton was unable to convert all three of their middle-frame power plays and Bacashihua made saves on all 16 shots he faced to keep the Phantoms tied at 3-3.

But Binghamton would capitalize on a quick rush to open the third with carry-over power play time as Jim O-Brien would score his second of the game just 17 seconds in.

Adirondack blasted away for 17 shots in the third and had several close calls but somehow McKenna was able to do his thing against the Phantoms yet again.

The Phantoms were pressuring extremely hard in the closing minutes of the game but got called for a penalty in the offensive zone with a couple minutes remaining providing significant help to Binghamton as they were just trying to hang on to the finish. Adirondack pulled Bacashihua for an extra-attacker while they were short-handed for a 5-on-5 situation with an empty-net and right up to the final seconds and last faceoff in the B-Sens zone were able to blast a couple more shots towards the net. But the Senators were able to pull it out in what for them was a hugely successful home weekend that included victories over Hershey on Friday and Adirondack on Sunday.

The Phantoms have now lost back-to-back one-goal heart-breakers in which they very easily could have earned a different outcome. Adirondack remains two points behind first place Connecticut in the tight Northeast Division race and the Phantoms are in a three-way tie for second which also includes Albany and Bridgeport.

The Phantoms were outshot for the first time in eight games, 40-35. Binghamton scored three of their four goals on the power going 3-for-7 while Adirondack went 1-for-3.

The Phantoms travel to Manchester, NH on Wednesday night to face the Monarchs before returning home next Friday, January 27 against Bridgeport. Call the Phantoms for ticket information at 518-480-3355.



Upcoming Events

Monday, January 23, 7:00 - Phantoms Power Hour LIVE at McGinny's on Glen Street and on Q101.7. Special guests, Mike Testwuide and Andrew Rowe. Also with Tim McManus of the Post-Star.

Wednesday, January 25, 7:00 - Adirondack Phantoms at Manchester Monarchs

Friday, January 27, 7:00 - Bridgeport Sound Tigers at Adirondack Phantoms. $2 draft beer specials through the first intermission.

Saturday, January 28, 5:00 - Adirondack Phantoms at Albany Devils

Monday, January 30, 7:00 - AHL All-Star Classic in Atlantic City, NJ. Michael Leighton representing the Phantoms on the Eastern Conference team.

Friday, February 4, 7:00 - Norfolk Admirals at Adirondack Phantoms

Saturday, February 5, 7:00 - Providence Bruins at Adirondack Phantoms. Jimmer Fredette Bobbleheads (first 3,000 fans)

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.

Check out the Half-Price Discount Outlet at phantomshockey.com for great savings from some of our awesome Phantoms corporate partners. Get half-off cards to local restaurants and other stores!

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

Adirondack Phantoms 3 at Binghamton Senators 4 - Status: Final
Sunday, January 22, 2012 - Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

Adirondack 3 0 0 - 3
Binghamton 3 0 1 - 4

1st Period-1, Binghamton, Cannone 11 (Dziurzynski, Henningson), 0:37. 2, Adirondack, Hamel 15 (Bartulis, Harper), 2:22 (PP). 3, Adirondack, Kalinski 8 (Brown, Testwuide), 9:30. 4, Adirondack, Testwuide 7 (Brown, Manning), 10:12. 5, Binghamton, O'Brien 5 (Hoffman, Locke), 15:34 (PP). 6, Binghamton, Da Costa 10 (O'Brien, Hoffman), 17:47 (PP). Penalties-Hoffman Bng (slashing), 1:56; Testwuide Adk (holding), 15:23; Testwuide Adk (interference), 17:27.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Hamel Adk (tripping), 0:32; Roe Adk (interference), 5:07; Cannone Bng (slashing), 8:08; Bartulis Adk (interference), 19:18.

3rd Period-7, Binghamton, O'Brien 6 (Hoffman, Locke), 0:17 (PP). Penalties-Cowick Bng (tripping), 5:19; Brown Adk (delay of game), 11:59; Roe Adk (hooking), 18:33.

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 10-8-17-35. Binghamton 12-16-12-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 1 / 3; Binghamton 3 / 7.
Goalies-Adirondack, Bacashihua 7-5-1 (40 shots-36 saves). Binghamton, McKenna 11-12-0 (35 shots-32 saves).
A-2,624
Referees-Ryan Hersey (46), Graham Skilliter (48).
Linesmen-John Everett (82), Fraser McIntyre (94).