March 2, 2012

Andrew Rowe kept his recent scoring surge going as he broke a 1-1 tie with a backhander on a penalty-shot with just 9:45 remaining to lead the Phantoms to a crucial 3-1 road victory at the Providence Bruins on Friday night.

Mike Testwuide (9th) and Erik Gustafsson (1st) also scored for Adirondack while Michael Leighton earned #1 Star of the Game honors with a 30-save performance in the Phantoms' cage.

Rowe has been the hottest of the Phantoms' scorers of late. With two goals last Sunday and one more in this game, the second-year pro out of Michigan State has doubled his season goal total to six in just the past two games.

Adirondack extended their win-streak to three games and the Phantoms now have points in six of their last eight games as well as wins in five of their last seven. Perhaps more importantly, the Phantoms appear to have solved their previous road-woes as they have now triumphed in three of their last four away games.

The win pushes the Phantoms back over the .500 mark again at 27-26-3.

The Phantoms shaved another point off their distance from the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference standings in the increasingly tightening and exciting race. Albany won to move past idle Manchester in the 7th and 8th race. The Phantoms now trail 8th place Manchester by four points for the last spot. Adirondack is in a virtual five-way tie with other hopeful playoff contenders in the extremely tight race. Worcester, Portland, Springfield and Providence all have 58 points while the Phantoms are not at 57 points but also with games-in-hand on most of the teams they are chasing.

Adirondack still has 20 games remaining in the regular season while many of the teams one or more points ahead of them only have 18 or 19 games left.

Mike Testwuide returned to the lineup for his first game back in three weeks, and lit the lamp late in the first period on a seemingly innocent wrister from the right-wing wall that eluded Bruins goalie Adam Courchaine on the far post side. The Providence netminder had just been called up from Alaska of the ECHL as both of the Providence regular goalies were out with injury in a situation eerily familiar to Phantoms fans from just a few days prior.

The Phantoms carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission on the timely Testwuide tally and the resulting victory improves the team's record to 17-2-1 when leading after one.

Early in the second period, a turnover in the Adirondack zone would set up Calle Ridderwall for a steal and tying goal rifled blocker-side on Michael Leighton.

Providence had the better of the chances for much of the second and third periods including a shot off the post from the point by Colby Cohen in the second and another pipe-shot in the third.

Providence had a great opportunity early in the third period when Rob Bordson of the Phantoms was called for a double-minor for high sticking. But the Adirondack penalty-kill crew came up big again and kept the game even.

A stretch pass midway through the third hit Andrew Rowe on the tape as he rushed in and split the Bruins' defenders. A slash from behind prevented him from getting the shot off. But Rowe would move the puck over to his backhand and stuff it past the left skate of the Providence goalie on his penalty shot to give the Phantoms the lead.

Adirondack is now 2-for-4 on penalty shots on the year. Ben Holmstrom also scored on a third period penalty shot at Syracuse in December. Both Phantoms penalty-shot goals this year have held up as game-winners.

With Providence trying to push forward late, Adirondack was able to cruise into the zone and drop the puck to Gustafsson at the center-point who snapped on his drive past the stick of Courscahine for the clincher with 1:35 remaining. It was Gustafsson's first goal of the year for the Phantoms but his second goal overall this season. He had scored his first career NHL goal just a couple weeks earlier with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The clincher with still 95 seconds remaining allowed the Phantoms to breathe a bit easier the rest of the way to the final horn as the win was now comfortably in their hands.

The Phantoms were outshot in the third period 13-5 but scored on two of their shots while Leighton made a number of fine saves on his end as the more experienced goalie earned the victory ahead of the Providence newcomer.

Ben Holmstrom missed the game with an injury. Mike Testwuide and Eric Wellwood both returned to the lineup after missing the past couple weeks. Testwuide was out with injury while Wellwood was up with the Philadelphia Flyers where he played in four games including scoring his first NHL goal against Pittsburgh a couple weeks ago. Garrett Roe and Michael Leighton were also both welcome returns to the lineup after missing some time battling the flu-bug that has invaded the team.

Scratches for the Phantoms included Blake Kessel, Marc-Andre Bourdon, Garrett Klotz, Luke Pither, Ben Holmstrom and Oskars Bartulis.

Adirondack and Providence finished the season series even at one game each, with both teams winning on the opposing teams' home-ice.

The Phantoms conclude a long stretch of playing nine of 11 games on the road when they face-off against Albany on Saturday night at 5:00 at the Times Union Center. It's important game in the standings for both teams as well as a tie-breaking game in the Time Warner Cable Cup rivalry series. Right now, the Devils and Phantoms are even at three games each with still four games remaining between the Northway rivals. But Albany holds the advantage currently on total points 8-6.

Adirondack returns home on Sunday afternoon for the first of three straight at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Sunday's 3:00 contest against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is Dax's Kids Club Day featuring an appearance by Scooby Doo. Fans can take advantage of the tremendous value offered in the Sunday Family 3-Pack for only $39; 3 tickets, 3 hot dogs, 3 sodas, 1 large popcorn and 1 program. Call the Phantoms to purchase yours at 518-480-3355.

Upcoming Events

Saturday, March 3, 5:00 - Adirondack Phantoms at Albany Devils

Sunday, March 4, 3:00 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Adirondack Phantoms. Scooby Doo appearing at Dax's Kids Club game and post-game open-skate with the Phantoms players presented by Glens Falls Hospital. Sunday Family 3-Pack for only $39: 3 tickets, 3 hot dogs, 3 sodas, 1 large popcorn and 1 program.

Friday, March 9, 7:00 - Norfolk Admirals at Adirondack Phantoms. $2 draft beer specials. Live post-game auction for Phantoms' game-worn white jerseys.

Saturday, March 10, 7:00 - Albany Devils at Adirondack Phantoms. Time Warner Cable Cup rivalry. Faith and Family Night. Post-game concert with Isaiah 6.

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.

Get your Adirondack O'Phantoms T-Shirts! Two tickets for any game in March plus a St. Patrick's Day O'Phantoms logo T-Shirt all for only $30.

The Northway 2-Pack is on sale now. Get 2 tickets for 2 games between the Phantoms and the Albany Devils on March 10 and April 6 PLUS a player autograph stick all for only $65. Call the Phantoms to order yours! (518) 480-3355

Follow the Phantoms at facebook.com/ADKhockey and on twitter @phantomshockey

Adirondack Phantoms 3 at Providence Bruins 1 - Status: Final
Friday, March 2, 2012 - Dunkin' Donuts Center

Adirondack 1 0 2 - 3
Providence 0 1 0 - 1

1st Period-1, Adirondack, Testwuide 9 (Roe), 15:40. Penalties-Eddy Adk (boarding), 7:14; Whitfield Pro (tripping), 13:18.

2nd Period-2, Providence, Ridderwall 8 (Camper, Hamill), 4:05. Penalties-Warsofsky Pro (holding), 17:16; Ford Adk (roughing), 18:14; Hamel Adk (roughing), 18:14; McIver Pro (roughing), 18:14; McKelvie Pro (roughing), 18:14.

3rd Period-3, Adirondack, Rowe 6 8:55 (TXT_PS). 4, Adirondack, Gustafsson 1 (McGinn, Akeson), 18:34. Penalties-Bordson Adk (double minor - high-sticking), 0:56; Wellwood Adk (hooking), 12:07.

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 9-9-5-23. Providence 6-12-13-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 0 / 2; Providence 0 / 4.
Goalies-Adirondack, Leighton 18-20-0 (31 shots-30 saves). Providence, Courchaine 0-1-0 (23 shots-20 saves).
A-8,214
Referees-Tim Mayer (19), Francis Charron (46).
Linesmen-Todd Whittemore (70), Brian MacDonald (72).