December 9, 2012

Jeff Dimmen scored with 5:22 remaining in regulation to help the Adirondack Phantoms earn a road standings point at Providence Sunday evening in the finale of the team's 3-in-3 weekend. Kyle MacKinnon would notch the game-winner in overtime for the Bruins in the 3-2 decision.

Spectacular play from goalie Scott Munroe kept the Phantoms within range for Dimmen to get the power-play equalizer on the rebound of a Jason Akeson power-play shot. The Bruins blasted away in the first two periods and held a 38-13 advantage in shots late in the second period but Munroe denied multiple close-range chances as he stole the show and kept the Phantoms deficit at only 2-1 after two.

It was the first overtime or shootout loss of the season for the Phantoms as they finished the weekend at even .500 at 1-1-1.

Jamie Tardiff scored two goals for Providence, his ninth and tenth of the year. Tye McGinn scored the other goal of the evening for the Phantoms.

Adirondack played into overtime for the second game in a row after having done so only once in their first 21 games. The Phantoms won in a shootout on Saturday night at home over Syracuse 4-3. This was the first Phantoms game to go to overtime against a team other than Syracuse. Adirondack's record moved to 10-12-1 while the surging Bruins improved to 12-8-2 overall and 5-0-1 in the last six as they completed a perfect 3-for-3 weekend.

Jamie Tardiff raced up the right-wing on a quick 2-on-1 rush and took the shot himself over the glove of Munroe late in the first period to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.

Tye McGinn connected with Erik Gustafsson on a give-and-go during a 2-on-1 rush of their own. McGinn's second of the weekend and eighth of the season tied the score at 1-1.

Tardiff would score again after Munroe had slid to his right to make another show-stopping save, this time on Ryan Spooner's big one-timer from the right circle. But somehow the puck was still alive and Tardiff banged in his second of the game.

Providence kept coming with more tries but Munroe kept denying them with several quick moves. His left leg was especially active on many of the stops.

Going the other way, Harry Zolnierczyk and Shane Harper both had breakaway chances in the second period. Zolnierczyk's was especially promising as he was all alone with nobody with him at all. It appeared that Svedberg just got a piece of the speedy forward's attempt to go upstairs and the Bruins goalie barely glanced it upstairs.

Adirondack received back-to-back power plays late in the third and capitalized on the second one with Jason Akeson's shot from the right circle coming right out to Jeff Dimmen cutting in from the other side to fire home the long rebound. Dimmen had three goals last year with the Calder Cup Champion Norfolk Admirals. He had missed the last month with injury before returning to action for all three games this weekend.

Providence had a power play of their own with a chance to win with three minutes left in regulation but Adirondack's defense had stabilized by then and killed it off.

Zac Rinaldo almost won the game in the closing minute of the third after Sean Couturier won the puck in the corner. He carrier the puck out quickly but was denied on his wrap-around try by Bruins' goalie Niklad Svedberg.

Chris Bourque helped dig the puck out of the corner early in the overtime for the Bruins and found an open MacKinnon in the slot who fired home the game-winner 1:10 into the overtime.

Adirondack was without Ben Holmstrom who missed the game with a lower body injury. Other scratches included Marc-Andre Bourdon, Oliver Lauridsen, Mike Testwuide, and Matt Ford.

Zack FitzGerald joined the Phantoms lineup and played as a forward for the second time this season even joining a line with Brayden Schenn and Jason Akeson on a couple of occasions. FitzGerald had a couple of early shots on goal, one of which might have hit the outside of the post.

The game was the only visit for the Phantoms to Providence this year.

Adirondack was well-represented with fans coming down on the Phantoms Fun Bus and the vocal contingent cheered for the visiting team throughout and even got the "Let's Go Phantoms" chant going.

The Phantoms are back home next weekend beginning with a Friday rematch against Syracuse it what is certainly anticipated to be another exciting battle. Friday's game is Teddy Bear Toss night with fans getting to throw their Teddy Bear donations onto the ice after Adirondack scores their first goal with all the donations going to benefit the Greater Glens Falls Salvation Army. Saturday's weekend finale is against the Manchester Monarchs, AHL affiliate of the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings.




Adirondack Phantoms 2 at Providence Bruins 3 (OT) - Status: Final OT
Sunday, December 9, 2012 - Dunkin' Donuts Center

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

1st Period-1, Providence, Tardif 9 15:13. Penalties-Akeson Adk (high-sticking), 4:29; Brown Adk (high-sticking), 9:45; Cohen Pro (interference), 15:43; Eddy Adk (hooking), 18:18.

2nd Period-2, Adirondack, McGinn 8 (Gustafsson, Schenn), 1:34. 3, Providence, Tardif 10 (Spooner, Bourque), 14:51 (PP). Penalties-FitzGerald Adk (roughing), 12:46; Robins Pro (roughing), 12:46; Manning Adk (slashing), 14:09; Cross Pro (cross-checking), 17:58.

3rd Period-4, Adirondack, Dimmen 1 (McGinn, Akeson), 14:38 (PP). Penalties-Trotman Pro (delay of game), 9:46; Florek Pro (holding), 13:57; Couturier Adk (slashing), 16:58.

OT Period-5, Providence, MacKinnon 3 (Bartkowski, Bourque), 1:10. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 7-6-12-1-26. Providence 16-22-8-1-47.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 1 / 4; Providence 1 / 5.
Goalies-Adirondack, Munroe 7-6-0 (47 shots-44 saves). Providence, Svedberg 10-4-1 (26 shots-24 saves).
A-6,457
Referees-Jean Hebert (43).
Linesmen-Brian MacDonald (72), Todd Whittemore (70).

UPCOMING


Monday, December 11 (7:00) - Phantoms Power Hour LIVE on Q101.7 at 7:00 PM with player guests Erik Gustafsson and Oliver Lauridsen.

Friday, December 14 (7:00) - Syracuse Crunch at Adirondack Phantoms. Annual Teddy Bear Toss Night to benefit the Salvation Army. Bring your Teddy Bear donation and throw it on the ice after the Phantoms score their first goal. It will be raining Teddy Bears inside the GFCC!

Saturday, December 15 (7:00) - Manchester Monarchs at Adirondack Phantoms. Boy Scouts Night. Pregame Pasta Buffet ($12)

Wednesday, December 19 (7:00) - St. John's IceCaps at Adirondack Phantoms. Pucks and Paws. Bring your dog to the game! Also $1 hot dogs.

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