November 16, 2012

Adirondack's record on their five-game road-trip was back to even at two games apiece following a 5-2 defeat at the Binghamton Senators on Friday night.

Sean Couturier gave Adirondack an early 1-0 lead and Ben Holmstrom later scored as well to tie the score at 2-2 but a couple of quick spurts scoring back-to-back goals two different times would make the difference for the Binghamton victory.

The story of the game was perhaps late in the second period when thing got especially nasty when a line brawl developed. The big pile-on developed followed a couple of shoves from Adirondack's Garrett Roe and Binghamton's David Dziurzynski. Four different players from each team paired-off and threw punches.

Three players for each team received game misconducts from the melee including Roe, Mike Testwuide and Marc-Andre Bourdon from the Phantoms. Tyler Brown was also involved in the frenzy but only took a five-minute fighting major along with Bignhamton's Derek Grant who were deemed to be the initial combatants while the others were all disqualified for being involved in secondary altercations.

Scott Munroe played well and kept Adirondack in the game despite allowing four goal (the fifth goal was an empty-netter).

Couturier scored from the right circle on a cross-ice feed. He hung onto the puck an extra tick as Binghamton goalie Ben Bishop was getting back into position and then pushed a backhand wide behind the netminder just 1:24 into the game. It was only the second time this season in which the Phantoms have struck first.

Unfortunately, Binghamton would grab the lead with back-to-back goals 27 seconds apart seven minutes into the game. Grant scored from the slot to tie the game at 1-1. And Tyler Eckford's blast from the right point, perhaps deflected, was able to sneak through to give the Senators the lead at the first intermission.

Brayden Schenn blasted a shot from the left circle off the post in the second period and Ben Holmstrom was there in the crease to capitalize on the rebound opportunity. The Phantoms were not sure they would get credit for the goal at first. Referee Geoff Miller did not signal that it was a goal while the Phantoms were celebrating. After almost 10 minutes with his eyes glued to the monitor on video review, he determined that indeed the puck had gone in and Holmstrom had his second of the year.

After the lengthy delay, the Senators stormed back to score two more back-to-back. Pat Cannone scored from the right circle to make it 3-2 and then 57 seconds later it was Mike Zibanijad.

Harry Zolnierczyk was blasted in the closing minutes of the period by Mark Borowiecki but, despite the protests of captain Ben Holmstrom and head coach Terry Murray, no penalty was called. Zolnierczyk was slow to get up after the hit into the end-boards but did make it back to the bench and returned to the game.

About a minute after that was when all the chaos happened with the line-brawl.

Zolniercyzk had a breakaway early in the third and was hauled down by Borowiecki and then crashed into the goalie. He was again okay but Adirondack was unable to convert on their subsequent power play.

Mark Stone would end up scoring an empty-net goal in the closing seconds for the final margin of 5-2.

Scratches for the Phantoms included Zack FitzGerald, Andrew Johnston, Tye McGinn, Jeff Dimmen and Matt Mangene.

The game was the first of eight on the year between the Phantoms and the Senators. Binghamton's first visit to the Glens Falls Civic Center will be on Friday, November 30.

The Phantoms complete their second longest road-swing of the season Saturday night at Syracuse in what will be their 10th away game of the year out of 14 games total.

Adirondack returns this Wednesday night for their first home game in two-and-a-half weeks when they host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders. It is the first of three home games in four days for the Phantoms over the big Thanksgiving Weekend and also opens a stretch of six consecutive games at the GFCC which is the longest homestand of the season for Adirondack.

The annual Black Friday game will follow against the Norfolk Admirals, affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks. And then Mens' Cancer Awareness Night on Saturday against the Hershey Bears, affiliated with the Washington Capitals.

That Saturday game will feature Mustache Jerseys presented by Parks Heritage Federal Credit Union with part of the proceeds to benefit the C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital. Phantoms Youth Jerseys will be given away to the first 1,000 kids in attendance courtesy of Glens Falls Hospital Rehabilitation Team.

Adirondack Phantoms 2 at Binghamton Senators 5 - Status: Final
Friday, November 16, 2012 - Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

Adirondack 1 1 0 - 2
Binghamton 2 2 1 - 5

1st Period-1, Adirondack, Couturier 3 (Zolnierczyk, Manning), 1:24. 2, Binghamton, Grant 3 (Dziurzynski, Benoit), 7:30. 3, Binghamton, Eckford 3 (Cowick, Silfverberg), 7:57. Penalties-Stone Bng (tripping), 3:02; Dziurzynski Bng (boarding), 14:04; Harper Adk (hooking), 16:47; Jessiman Bng (diving), 16:47.

2nd Period-4, Adirondack, Holmstrom 2 (Schenn, Wellwood), 9:19. 5, Binghamton, Cannone 2 (Cowick), 10:36. 6, Binghamton, Zibanejad 1 (Schneider, Claesson), 11:33. Penalties-Holmstrom Adk (slashing), 5:38; Rinaldo Adk (slashing), 13:41; Bourdon Adk (fighting, game misconduct - secondary altercation), 18:01; Brown Adk (fighting), 18:01; Roe Adk (cross-checking, fighting, game misconduct - secondary altercation), 18:01; Testwuide Adk (fighting, game misconduct - secondary altercation), 18:01; Claesson Bng (fighting, game misconduct - secondary altercation), 18:01; Dziurzynski Bng (fighting, game misconduct - secondary altercation), 18:01; Eckford Bng (fighting, game misconduct - secondary altercation), 18:01; Grant Bng (fighting), 18:01.

3rd Period-7, Binghamton, Stone 1 (Pageau), 19:41 (EN). Penalties-Gustafsson Adk (hooking), 0:41; Borowiecki Bng (tripping), 3:16; Harper Adk (hooking), 12:09.

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 9-14-12-35. Binghamton 7-15-17-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 0 / 3; Binghamton 0 / 5.
Goalies-Adirondack, Munroe 3-4-0 (38 shots-34 saves). Binghamton, Bishop 1-2-0 (35 shots-33 saves).
A-4,597
Referees-Geoff Miller (28).
Linesmen-Bob Fyrer (72), Jud Ritter (34).






Upcoming Events

Saturday, November 17 (7:30) - Adirondack Phantoms at Syracuse Crunch

Monday, November 19 (7:00) - Phantoms Power Hour LIVE on Q101.7 with special guests Cullen Eddy and Shane Harper

BIG THANKSGIVING HOMESTAND!

Wednesday, November 21 (7:00) - Bridgeport Sound Tigers at Adirondack Phantoms - $1 Hot Dogs!

Friday, November 23 (7:00) - Norfolk Admirals at Adirondack Phantoms - Annual Black Friday Game. $2 Draft Beer Specials

Saturday, November 24 (7:00) - Hershey Bears at Adirondack Phantoms - Men's Cancer Awareness Night.

Includes Phantoms Youth Jersey Giveaway presented by Glens Falls Hospital Rehabilitation Team. Phantoms Mustache Jerseys and post-game auction presented by Parks Heritage Federal Credit Union with portion of proceeds to benefit Glens Falls Hospital Foundation - C.R. Wood Cancer Center Capital Campaign.