November 17, 2012

The Adirondack Phantoms have played the fewest number of home games of any team in the American Hockey League. And the long stretch of games on the road appeared to catch up to the Phantoms this weekend as they played their 10th away game out of 14 total.

Adirondack completed their five-game road trip Saturday evening at Syracuse dropping a 5-2 decision to the Crunch to finish 2-3-0 on their second longest away-swing of the season. It was the second night in a row in which the Phantoms fell by a 5-2 score but this game had some differences from the previous night at Binghamton.

Syracuse used a three-goal spurt in under three minutes to take a narrow 2-0 advantage and turn it into a comfortable 5-0 lead as they sent Phantoms goalie Cal Heeter out of the game early. Scott Munroe came on to relieve Heeter and turned aside all 13 drives he faced as the Phantoms pulled the margin closer but were unable to get over the hump.

East Division leading Syracuse improved to 9-2-2 with the victory while Adirondack fell to 6-8-0. This year's Syracuse Crunch are the former Norfolk Admirals who won the Calder Cup last season and amazed the sporting world with their professional hockey record 28-game winning streak at the end of the regular season.

Brayden Schenn's team-leading eighth goal got the Phantoms on the board on the power play in the second period. And Erik Gustafsson ripped a shot off the left-post banking it in to make it 5-2 in the third period. Adirondack had a number of other close calls on Syracuse goalie Riku Helenius but were unable to get any closer.

Five different goal scorers for Syracuse included Pierre-Cedric Labrie, Cory Conacher, Ondrej Plat, Richard Panik, and Brett Connolly.

For his part, there was certainly nothing at all Heeter could have done on two or three of the Crunch goals when they pushed across three straight midway through the second period. One came on a two-on-one rush after he made the initial save. Another that made it 5-0 came as Panik caught the puck just out of the reach of Heeter and dropped it to his own stick on the left-wing side of the crease for a very creative and impressive goal.

The game had two referees and they were there to make sure nothing slid by. 17 different power plays were awarded to the two teams combined. The American Hockey League usually has one referee for games but a small percentage of games have two referees to allow the players and the officials the opportunity to get used to that format.

"I think this was just the third time this year we had the two officials out there and it does make a difference" head coach Terry Murray said. "I think we get used to the one and maybe get away with more little stuff. With two, they see everything and we took some careless penalties including times when we were on the power play or in a pretty good situation or in the offensive zone. That's composure that you have to have."

Conacher, the reigning league MVP, had a blast early in the second period on the power play that had made it 2-0 at the time following a cross-checking penalty on Danny Syvret. The Phantoms called their timeout after that one and head coach Terry Murray used the opportunity to express his displeasure with the referee who had made the call.

Coach Murray also focused on how the game started. "It's important to start the game the right way and show composure. Don't take bad penalties," Murray said. "We have to have composure and be ready (at the start) to match the game-speed and intensity that they play with."

The game had a number of skirmishes as the Adirondack vs. Syracuse rivalry continued to heat up. Cullen Eddy, Brandon Manning and Zack FitzGerald all dropped the gloves with various Crunch players and a number of other Phantoms came close to going toe-to-toe as well.

The game ended Adirondack's impressive streak of winning every game in which they score a power play goal. The Phantoms went 1-for-8 on the power play but by taking the loss are now 6-1 in games in which they collect a man-advantage tally.

Zack FitzGerald saw action for just the third time this year and played at left-wing for the first time this season which is where he played most of last year with Hamilton. FitzGerald had played defense in his previous two games.

The Crunch outshot Adirondack 35-26. The Phantoms were 1-for-8 on the power play while Syracuse finished 2-for-9. Syracuse took a 2 games to 1 lead in a season series that will see the Crunch and Phantoms square-off eight times. The Crunch visit Glens Falls over back-to-back weekends for games on December 8 and Decmeber 14.

Scratches for the game included Andrew Johnston, Tye McGinn, Matthew Ford, Jeff Dimmen and Matt Mangene.

Adirondack returns to the GFCC 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 Syracuse Crunch 5 - Status: Final
Saturday, November 17, 2012 - Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter

Adirondack 0 1 1 - 2
Syracuse 1 4 0 - 5

1st Period-1, Syracuse, Labrie 3 (Conacher, Barberio), 13:09. Penalties-Conacher Syr (holding), 0:28; Brown Adk (tripping), 3:41; Holmstrom Adk (tripping), 6:39; Johnson Syr (interference), 7:33; Rinaldo Adk (slashing), 14:55.

2nd Period-2, Syracuse, Conacher 8 (Taormina, Connolly), 1:32 (PP). 3, Syracuse, Palat 2 (Brown, Killorn), 8:19. 4, Syracuse, Connolly 5 (Brown), 9:59. 5, Syracuse, Panik 5 (Barberio, Johnson), 11:53 (PP). 6, Adirondack, Schenn 8 (Manning, Gustafsson), 13:27 (PP). Penalties-Syvret Adk (cross-checking), 0:51; Eddy Adk (fighting), 1:49; Labrie Syr (fighting), 1:49; Bourdon Adk (unsportsmanlike conduct), 2:25; Connolly Syr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 2:25; Gudas Syr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 2:25; Conacher Syr (high-sticking), 5:35; Manning Adk (elbowing), 6:01; Bourdon Adk (cross-checking), 6:39; Panik Syr (interference), 6:39; FitzGerald Adk (fighting), 9:51; Gudas Syr (fighting), 9:51; Harper Adk (charging), 10:25; Cote Syr (boarding), 12:20; Cote Syr (tripping), 14:04; Harper Adk (roughing), 19:04; Barberio Syr (roughing), 19:04.

3rd Period-7, Adirondack, Gustafsson 2 (Roe, Syvret), 10:07. Penalties-Barberio Syr (hooking), 6:51; Zolnierczyk Adk (unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:06; Manning Adk (fighting), 14:52; Panik Syr (roughing, fighting), 14:52; Rinaldo Adk (charging), 16:41; Labrie Syr (hooking), 18:11.

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 5-12-9-26. Syracuse 11-16-8-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 1 / 9; Syracuse 2 / 8.
Goalies-Adirondack, Heeter 3-4-0 (22 shots-17 saves); Munroe 3-4-0 (13 shots-13 saves). Syracuse, Helenius 3-2-0 (26 shots-24 saves).
A-5,191
Referees-Trent Knorr (44), Chris Cozzan (18).
Linesmen-Brian Lemon (25), Derek Sylvester (76).





UPCOMING

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.



Great Youth Jerseys to be given away to the first 1,000 kids in attendance (age 14 and younger) on Saturday, November 24 presented by the Glens Falls Hospital Rehabilitation Team. Be sure to get there early!

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Mustache Mania!!

Phantoms Fight Cancer this month features players and staff growing mustaches to raise awareness and generate funds for men's cancer issues. Contribute in the donation cans at the Phantoms game for your favorite Phantoms mustache grower (even Dax!!)

The month will feature a Phantoms Mustache Jersey in our November 24 game presented by Parks Heritage Federal Credit Union with part of the proceeds from the post-game jersey auction to benefit the Glens Falls Hospital Foundation - C.R. Wood Cancer Center Capital Campaign. Visit our special Movember site at mobro.co/phantomshockey