Down...but not out. The Adirondack Phantoms dramatically and incredibly rallied from a 5-1 deficit at the Connecticut Whale with four straight goals on their way to earning a standings point in a 6-5 overtime loss Wednesday night. It was a great finish in a wild game for the Phantoms who were down 5-3 with less than two minutes to go. Their recovery from a four-goal deficit was the biggest comeback in several seasons for Adirondack.

It was two of the team's youngest talents who capped the comeback. Jason Akeson (6th) scored with 1:45 remaining to close the gap to 5-4 and then Marcel Noebels (4th) buried a rebound with 21 ticks left to tie the score at 5-5.

Brandon Segal for Connecticut scored one goal in regulation and then raced up the backdoor in overtime to chip-in the game-winner for the Whale. His winning tally came moments after Brandon Manning had almost rifled his second overtime goal of the season for the Phantoms. His crank from the high-slot just missed high and wide.

Adirondack completed their three-game road swing with a near-perfect 2-0-1 mark and they have now had seven straight games decided by one goal as well as 13 of their last 15.

It certainly didn't look as though this one would be a one-goal game when Connecticut built a 5-1 lead midway through the second period following three straight goals in seven minutes. The Whale took a 2-1 lead in the first period on goals by Brandon Mashnter and Brandon Segal. While Danny Syvret blasted his second of the year for the Phantoms in between to get Adirondack on the board.

James Wilson's first AHL goal followed by Kelsey Tessier's seventh made it 4-1 at the eight-minute mark of the second when Phantoms coach Terry Murray removed Cal Heeter in favor of veteran Brian Boucher.

Michael Haley neatly deflected a shot from the point by Mike Vernace at 10:33 into the second and at about the midway point of the game the Phantoms were staring at a 5-1 deficit.

That's when the comeback kids got things rolling.

Harry Zolnierczyk crashed the net a couple minutes later for a power play goal on the rebound of tries by Shane Harper and Andrew Johnston for his ninth of the year making the score 5-2 at the second intermission.

Early in the third, Adirondack found themselves on the penalty kill trying to keep the score close. Little did they know they would be able to strike back and actually make it closer. Zolnierczyk chipped the puck up along the board from his own line eventually sending Rob Bordson streaking up the right-wing on a shorthanded breakaway. He sped past the defenseman, curled around the goalie Jason Missiaen, and set himself up to flip it home upstairs over Missiaen's right leg for his fourth of the year.

Now down 5-3, the Phantoms turned on the after-burners. But still had not cut into the deficit any further when time was running out. Adirondack had a late power play and then pulled goalie Brian Boucher for a 6-on-4 attack. After big blasted by Danny Syvret and Matt Mangene, the puck would rebound to Jason Akeson in the left circle who slammed home his sixth of the season with 1:45 to go.

The Phantoms would pull goalie Boucher again this time for a 6x5 attack. And this time it was Brandon Manning's slapper that sent everyone scrambling. Noebels neatly flipped in the rebound from a sharp angle on the left-wing goal line for his fourth goal in five games with 21 seconds remaining to cap the best comeback in years for the Phantoms.

Segal's overtime goal eventually got Connecticut the win but the Phantoms players had mounted an incredible comeback to get the game to overtime and earn the standings point.

Adirondack outshot Connecticut in the third period 14-5 and 39-33 in the game. The Phantoms were 3-for-6 on the power play plus had a shorthanded goal. Connecticut was 2-for-5.

The Phantoms with three power play goals now have six in their last four games. Adirondack is 2-2 in overtime games this year and 6-3 in games going past regulation (overtime or shootout). The Phantoms are 4-2-1 in their last 7 games including their current three-game point streak in which they are 2-0-1.

Adirondack is back at home looking to extend their point-streak to four when they host the Albany Devils Friday on Pink in the Rink Night presented by Glens Falls Hospital with the special pink jerseys to be auctioned after the game to benefit the C.R. Wood Cancer Center. Area breast cancer survivors will be in attendance to drop the ceremonial first puck and also help present the game-worn jerseys in the auction. For tickets, call the Phantoms at 518-480-3355.

Listen to the radio highlights of the great comeback here!

UPCOMING

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.

Saturday, January 26 (2:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Albany Devils

Monday, January 28 (7:00) - AHL All-Star Game at Providence. Televised nationwide. In Glens Falls can be seen on Time Warner Cable Sports (Channel 50 and HD-1803)

Thursday, January 31 - Players return. End of AHL All-Star Break

Friday, February 1 (7:00) - Norfolk Admirals at Adirondack Phantoms. $2 Draft Beer Specials


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

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