Brian Boucher looked every bit the talented, veteran goalie in his first AHL game in over three season as he turned aside 28 Worcester Sharks' drives to lead the Phantoms to a 2-1 road victory Saturday night. Cullen Eddy (1st) and Tye McGinn (11th) scored in Adirondack's triumph at the DCU Center.

But it was the 36-year-old veteran Boucher who stole the show. A couple of his best saves came as Adirondack was clinging to a one-goal lead and trying to grind their way to the finish line. In the second period playing 4-on-4, Worcester picked one off at center and turned it into a 3-on-1 back in the Phantoms zone. Daniil Tarasov from the right circle gave it to the middle but quickly got it back again only to be robbed on the quick glove of Boucher sliding to his left.

Then with 2:23 remaining in the third period, John McCarthy deked his way around a Phantoms defenseman and moved in all alone on Boucher on a clean mini-breakaway. McCarthy got off a good shot to the left-wing post but Boucher flashed out his right leg-pad for the best save of the night to preserve the victory.

It was Boucher's first game and first win in the AHL since October 18, 2009 when he won for Adirondack at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Interestingly, Jon Matsumoto scored one of the Adirondack goals in that game. And Boucher ended up denying Jon Matsumoto, now one of the top scorers for the Sharks, a couple of times in this one.

Boucher began his professional career with the Philadelphia Phantoms in 1997-98 winning a Calder Cup and appearing in the AHL All-Star Game. He also was with the team for their regular season games to Glens Falls to play against the Adirondack Red Wings.

The NHL veteran of seven different teams was picked up by the Flyers organization in a trade with Carolina last week as an insurance policy for Ilya Brysgalov and Michael Leighton in case of injury with the big club. And Boucher recovering from off-season injury appeared to find his groove extremely quickly in the game and then was strongest in the third period when the Sharks were surging the strongest.

Cullen Eddy scored his first goal of the season early in the game when his drive from the right point eluded Worcester goalie Alex Stalock.

Brodie Reid was all alone in front of Boucher later in the period was able to tie the score with ninth of the season and only goal of the night surrendered by the Phantoms.

Tye McGinn scored what proved to be the game-winner midway through the second period on the rebound of a Danny Syvret power play shot. It was McGinn' second goal of the weekend shortly after being sent back to the AHL from Philadelphia's NHL training camp and also his 11th of the season which is tops among active Adirondack Phantoms. He trails Brayden Schenn's total of 13 for the official team lead.

Worcester outshot the Phantoms 29-24. Adirondack was 1-for-7 on the power play while the Sharks were 0-for-2.

Several fights developed on big hits deal out by Sharks players. Ian Slater and Zack FitzGerald went up to big, tough guy Matt Pelech in separate bouts. And Cullen Eddy dropped them with Bracken Kearns shortly he had been on the receiving end of one of the big hits by Pelech.

Brandon Manning missed the game with an illness. Harry Zolnierczyk assumed alternate captain duties with Danny Syvret in Manning's absence. Mike Testwuide was a healthy scratch and other scratches included Garrett Roe, Matt Konan, Erik Gustafsson and Ben Holmstrom.

The Phantoms wind up their 3-in-3 weekend stretch with a 4:00 engagement Sunday afternoon at the Albany Devils. Adirondack's next home game is Friday night against Albany on Pink in the Rink Night presented by Glens Falls Hospital with jersey-auction proceeds to benefit the C.R. Wood Cancer Center. Special Pink in the Rink fundraising tickets for $15 with $5 to go the cause are available by calling 518-480-3355.

Adirondack Phantoms 2 at Worcester Sharks 1 - Status: Final
Saturday, January 19, 2013 - DCU Center

Adirondack 1 1 0 - 2
Worcester 1 0 0 - 1

1st Period-1, Adirondack, Eddy 1 (Zolnierczyk, Bordson), 2:40. 2, Worcester, Reid 9 (Tarasov, Pelech), 13:39. Penalties-Slater Adk (fighting), 8:23; Pelech Wor (fighting), 8:23; Eddy Adk (fighting), 10:11; Kearns Wor (fighting), 10:11; FitzGerald Adk (holding), 11:01; Bordson Adk (high-sticking), 19:00.

2nd Period-3, Adirondack, McGinn 11 (Ford, Syvret), 11:23 (PP). Penalties-Tennyson Wor (holding), 1:54; FitzGerald Adk (fighting), 5:12; Pelech Wor (fighting), 5:12; Kearns Wor (interference), 5:43; Grant Wor (slashing), 6:47; Matsumoto Wor (slashing), 10:04; Zolnierczyk Adk (tripping), 17:57; Tennyson Wor (roughing), 17:57.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Pelech Wor (holding), 1:28; Livingston Wor (holding), 3:00; Tennyson Wor (interference), 9:33.

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 7-11-4-22. Worcester 8-7-14-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 1 / 7; Worcester 0 / 2.
Goalies-Adirondack, Boucher 1-0-0 (29 shots-28 saves). Worcester, Stalock 12-9-2 (22 shots-20 saves).
A-6,959
Referees-Trevor Hanson (47).
Linesmen-Ed Boyle (81), Bob Paquette (18).

UPCOMING

Sunday, January 20 (4:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Albany Devils (at Atlantic City, NJ)

Monday, January 21 (7:00) - Phantoms Power Hour LIVE on Q101.7 with scheduled guests Marcel Noebels and Ian Slater.

Wednesday, January 23 (7:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Connecticut Whale

Friday, January 25 (7:00) - Albany Devils at Adirondack Phantoms. Pink in the Rink Night presented by Glens Falls Hospital with jersey-auction proceeds to benefit C.R. Wood Cancer Center.

Phantoms Have You Covered
We have all the latest interviews, game-recaps, videos and more. Make sure you're keeping up! Follow the Phantoms and join our online communities on facebook.com/adkhockey and on twitter @phantomshockey. And, of course, check in frequently at our official team website at phantomshockey.com