October 26, 2012

The Adirondack Phantoms traveled down the Northway for Round 1 of the 12-game Time Warner Cable Cup rivalry with the Albany Devils and the home team prevailed in the series opener by a 5-1 score. The game is also the first of three over the next three weekends between the two foes. And it was also the opener of the Phantoms' first three-in-three weekend of the season in which Adirondack will play three game in three days.

Zac Rinaldo was perhaps the Phantoms best player in the game as he dealt several big hits while also scoring for the second game in a row. Trailing 2-0 in the first period, Rinaldo accepted a long stretch-pass and got free on a breakaway. He was denied by Devils goalie Jeff Frazee but he was awarded a penalty shot for being hooked from behind. Frazee got a piece of Rinaldo's drive but the third-year pro put enough muscle on the shot that it still went through him and into the net to get the Phantoms on the board.

Adam Henrique was awarded a penalty shot for the Albany Devils later in the game and he also converted on his second-period attempt. He was one of five different goal-scorers for the Devils including Matt Anderson, Jacon Josefson, Philip DeSimone and Darcy Zajac.

Phantoms head coach Terry Murray knows his team is capable of better quality play and looks forward to the team making the necessary corrections and improvements.

"What we need to be better at is the mental part of the game," Murray said. "To understand that you play the team game and stay with the game-plan. We looked for the home-run play. We're looking for plays to the offensive blue-line from the deep in our own end. Those are isolation plays and sometimes they work but most of the time you end up frustrating yourself. We have to get back to a team-game, the way we played last weekend was really good."

Adirondack's record moves to 2-3-0 as they completed their four-game road-trip. Albany improved to 2-3-0.

Cal Heeter played well in the game despite the deceiving stats-line and was also praised by head coach Terry Murray. He made several terrific saves to keep Adirondack within striking distance for much of the night. The Phantoms were only down by a 3-1 score well into the third period and developed some good chances at Frazee in the second and third to try to narrow the margin but just weren't able to find the net.

Albany outshot the Phantoms 30-24. The Phantoms were 0-for-2 on the power play while the Devils were 0-for-0.

It was a surprisingly clean affair considering the history of the Phantoms vs. Devils rivalry series. Albany had no power plays in the game and Adirondack received only two man-advantages late in the contest. Zac Rinaldo dealt out some impressive hits including a huge open-ice slam on Devils defenseman Adam Larsson. But all of his checks were clean and there was no significant nastiness in the game nor any fights.

Adirondack has won the Time Warner Cable Cup in each of the last two seasons including by a 7-3 count last year. They have 11 more opportunities to establish themselves against their rivals in 2012-13.

Scratches for the Phantoms included Mike Testwuide, Zack FitzGerald, Tyler Brown, Cullen Eddy and Matthew Ford.

The Phantoms return to the Glens Falls Civic Center for the first time in two weeks for just their second home game of the season on Saturday night against the Rochester Americans (4-2-1), AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.

Saturday's home game features a Halloween costume parade on the ice between periods and also a pregame pasta buffet in Heritage Hall beginning at 5:30. Game-time is 7:00. The game will also be broadcast nationwide on NHL Network Radio on Sirius-207 and XM-92.

Adirondack concludes their 3-in-3 weekend on Sunday afternoon with a 3:00 pm game at the Syracuse Crunch. That game will be televised locally on Time Warner Cable Sports.

Adirondack Phantoms 1 at Albany Devils 5 - Status: Final
Friday, October 26, 2012 - Times Union Center

Adirondack 1 0 0 - 1
Albany 2 1 2 - 5

1st Period-1, Albany, Josefson 4 (Kelly, Anderson), 4:03. 2, Albany, Anderson 1 (Josefson, Hoeffel), 15:57. 3, Adirondack, Rinaldo 2 18:25 (TXT_PS). Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-4, Albany, Henrique 2 8:17 (TXT_PS). Penalties-No Penalties

3rd Period-5, Albany, DeSimone 1 (Larsson, Zalewski), 9:13. 6, Albany, Zajac 1 (Larsson, Sestito), 12:11. Penalties-DeSimone Alb (delay of game), 14:27; Zajac Alb (interference), 16:20.

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 6-11-7-24. Albany 12-11-7-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 0 / 2; Albany 0 / 0.
Goalies-Adirondack, Heeter 0-2-0 (30 shots-25 saves). Albany, Frazee 1-1-0 (24 shots-23 saves).
A-3,581
Referees-Chris Brown (86), Ryan Hersey (8).
Linesmen-Jim Harper (59), Derek Wahl (46).

As always, a number of Phantoms fans were cheering loud and proud inside the Albany Devils' house.

Zac Rinaldo Penalty Shot Goal.

Terry Murray Post-Game

Upcoming Events


Saturday, October 27 (7:00) - Rochester Americans at Adirondack Phantoms - Halloween Costume Parade

Sunday, October 28 (3:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Syracuse Crunch

Monday, October 29 (7:00) - Phantoms Power Hour LIVE on Q101.7. Special Guest, Assistant Coach Riley Cote. This episode will air from the Glens Falls Civic Center. New live location for the weekly show coming soon.

Friday, November 2 (7:00) - Syracuse Crunch at Adirondack Phantoms. Start of "Movember!" $2 Draft Beer Specials. All-American Pregame Buffet ($12)

Saturday, November 3 (7:00) - Albany Devils at Adirondack Phantoms. Team Poster Giveaway Night presented by Glens Falls Printing (first 3,000 fans). Pasta Pregame Buffet ($12). .

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