October 13, 2012

The long off-season officially came to a close and hockey returned to the North Country with a raucous and fast-paced debut back in Glens Falls. Brayden Schenn capped off a big win with back-to-back goals as the Adirondack Phantoms thrilled a jam-packed Civic Center crowd with a 6-3 victory over the Portland Pirates on Opening Night presented by Nemer Ford.

A sellout turnout of 4,801 cranked it up for the first game of the season and saw Adirondack overcome a 3-2 deficit and blast away for 47 shots for the win. It is the second consecutive Opening Night in which the Phantoms won by a 6-3 score. Adirondack won by the same margin on October 8, 2011 over the Connecticut Whale. Brayden Schenn scored in both of those openers.

In both of those games, the Phantoms overcame second-period deficits. Last year against Connecticut, the Phantoms trailed 3-1 in the second period and rallied to score the game's last five in a row. This year's Opening Night saw Adirondack down 3-2 and then the Phantoms scored four straight.

Other goals were scored by Sean Couturier, Harry Zolnierczyk, Garrett Roe and Tye McGinn. Couturier's goal was the first power-play goal of his career after scoring 12 goals last season for Philadelphia in the NHL. Schenn's goal late in the third to seal the victory was the first shorthanded tally of his professional career.

Tye McGinn broke a 3-3 tie early in the third period on a fine centering feed from the right-wing corner by captain Ben Holmstrom for the game-winner.

Scott Munroe was stellar in net with 30 saves on 33 shots in his first game for the Phantoms since 2008-09 when the team was still the Philadelphia Phantoms.

Special teams was a big key in this one. Sean Couturier capitalized with a nice 5-on-3 goal on a scramble in front to tie the score at 3-3 at 13:51 in the second. And the Phantoms had to kill a lengthy 5-on-3 Portland advantage at the end of the second period and beginning of the third just to maintain the 3-3 deadlock.

The penalty-kill not only came up big in that spot but they held the Pirates to 0-for-5 in the game while adding their own shorthanded goal on a fantastic move by Schenn late in the third. The Phantoms went 2-for-8 on the man-advantage with Tye McGinn's game-winner also coming on the power play.

Portland received goals from Ethan Werek, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Andy Miele.

Schenn's shorty was a great move deking around a Pirates defenseman in the left circle, cutting to the slot, and sliding it around the moving Portlan goalie, Chad Johnson, and slipping it into the back of the net. It came as Adirondack was clinging to a 4-3 lead with 6:00 left in the third and Portland was ready to pounce on their power play chance to tie the game. But it was Schenn who turned that on its ear with the back-breaking goal to seal the victory.

Then he further put the game on ice with 51 seconds left with his perfect wrister from the left-point into the far-side of the empty-net for his second of the game.

Harry Zolnierczyk scored the team's first goal of the season, tying the game at 1-1 at the time, as he slid around in the slot and flipped a backhanded past Johnson as he was sliding down to the ice.

Zac Rinaldo had the tough-luck miss of the night. Early in the second period he celebrated on a shot from the left side of the goal after following up for his own rebound. He and the Phantoms believed he had pinged one in. After a 10-minute delay for the first video-review in Adirondack Phantoms history, referee Chris Brown eventually concluded that the video was inconclusive and could not credit the goal. Video-replay is brand new to the entire AHL for 2012-13.

The team wore retro-throwback Adirodnack Red Wings jerseys for the game which were auctioned to the large crowd after the game and the handsome uniforms fetched some impressive price-tags from the crowd as the bidding really got up there.

Adirondack hits the road for their first away game of the season Sunday afternoon at 3:00. Broadcast coverage of the game commences at 2:30 with the Pepsi Countdown to Faceoff on the Phantoms Hockey Network presented by Curtis Lumber and on the flagship station, Q101.7. All games can be heard on the internet and on most smart-phones on ustream at ustream.tv/channel/phantomsradio .

Sunday's game is the first of four consecutive away contests for the Phantoms who return home in two weeks for a game on Saturday, October 27 against the Rochester Americans. A Halloween Costume Parade with the kids will be featured between periods. Call the Phantoms for tickets to exciting and family-friendly entertainment with the Adirondack Phantoms at 518-480-3355.

Portland Pirates 3 at Adirondack Phantoms 6 - Status: Final
Saturday, October 13, 2012 - Glens Falls Civic Center

Portland 2 1 0 - 3
Adirondack 2 1 3 - 6

1st Period-1, Portland, Werek 1 (Lane), 10:15. 2, Adirondack, Zolnierczyk 1 (Bordson), 18:24. 3, Portland, Ekman-Larsson 1 (Miele), 19:09. 4, Adirondack, Roe 1 (Holmstrom, McGinn), 19:41. Penalties-Summers Por (holding the stick), 4:13; Werek Por (slashing), 8:08; Syvret Adk (tripping), 13:01; Shinnimin Por (interference), 20:00.

2nd Period-5, Portland, Miele 1 1:14. 6, Adirondack, Couturier 1 (Syvret, Schenn), 13:51 (PP). Penalties-Couturier Adk (tripping), 0:30; Summers Por (high-sticking), 10:51; Hextall Por (slashing), 12:01; Ekman-Larsson Por (slashing), 13:10; Bourdon Adk (closing hand on puck), 18:37; Syvret Adk (delay of game), 18:59.

3rd Period-7, Adirondack, McGinn 1 (Holmstrom, Roe), 4:19 (PP). 8, Adirondack, Schenn 1 (Couturier), 14:44 (SH). 9, Adirondack, Schenn 2 19:09 (EN). Penalties-Louis Por (cross-checking), 1:50; Szwarz Por (delay of game), 3:13; Ford Adk (slashing), 14:04; Hextall Por (slashing), 14:44.

Shots on Goal-Portland 12-15-6-33. Adirondack 11-17-20-48.
Power Play Opportunities-Portland 0 / 5; Adirondack 2 / 8.
Goalies-Portland, Johnson 0-1-0 (47 shots-42 saves). Adirondack, Munroe 1-0-0 (33 shots-30 saves).
A-4,801
Referees-Chris Brown (86).
Linesmen-Mike Emanatian (69), Steeve Lemay (64).

Pick up your Phantoms schedule posters! They're available now at the Adirondack Phantoms offices located downstairs inside the Glens Falls Civic Center. Also look for them around town. Pick up an extra and post it on the door or window of your area store or business. Help spread the word...Hockey Season is Coming!!

Get great savings with the Phantoms when you purchase a season ticket PLUS never waste a ticket. Your unused game tickets can be redeemed for future Phantoms games. 22-game and 12-game packages available as well.

I'm In! We need 1,756 season ticket holders for this season to help prove the viability of Glens Falls as a great hockey market. The league and other teams are watching! We're already off to a great start. and are closing in for our goal. Keep it up, fans! To join the "I'm In" campaign, contribute your $50 down-payment to a season ticket for 2012-13 or ask about a 22-pack or 12-pack ticket plan. Together we can do this. Call the Adirondack Phantoms at (518) 480-3355.