A 2-2 tie going down to the finish would swing the way of the Worcester Sharks with a late goal by Freddie Hamilton for a 3-2 final on Saturday night in Glens Falls. Adirondack's two-game win streak came to an end in front of a large and boisterous crowd of 4,442 on Dax Bobblehead Night.

Hundreds of fans lined up early to ensure they would receive their coveted bobbleheads creating an early electric atmosphere inside the building. The seats were much more filled than usual for pregame warm-ups helping ramp up the excitement level leading to game-time. The odd and unusual adventures of Bobble-Dax were documented throughout the day on the team's facebook and twitter pages and it was clear by the large early turnout that the Dax Bobbleheads were a big hit with the fans.

As for the game itself, the tight contest going down to the wire appeared to be potentially headed for extra-hockey before the Sharks pulled out the late win.

"It felt like it could get to overtime...yeah," head coach Terry Murray said. "The shots are low, at the end of the second period they're even. There's not a lot going on with great quality scoring chances at either end. It has a feeling that it could get to overtime. But it didn't. They win a face-off and that's how quick the game is over."

Adirondack also had a couple changes to their roster announced right before game-time. Defenseman Erik Gustafsson was recalled to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier in the day after notching a couple of assists for the Phantoms on Friday. And veteran D-Man Andreas Lilja was loaned back to Adirondack and returned to the Phantoms line-up. The 37-year-old who won a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008 played four games with the Phantoms in January.

The Phantoms built on that initial momentum and got rolling early with Jon Sim rushing in to steal a bobbled puck by Worcester goalie Alex Stalock. Sim and Laliberte got together for a give-and-go with the NHL veteran blasting home his first goal as an Adirondack Phantoms. It was Sim's seventh goal of the season overall with the first six coming with the San Antonio Rampage before the 35-year-old Nove Scotia native was acquired by the Flyers organization.

The goal was also Sim's first for the Phantoms franchise since 2004-05 when he had a combined 45 goals in the regular season and Calder Cup Championship run for the Philadelphia Phantoms.

David Laliberte's assist extended his point-streak to four straight games dating back to last Friday night at Syracuse.

Another former Phantom would strike next but this time it would go for the Worcester Sharks as Jon Matsumoto capitalized from the right circle on a give from behind the goal by Bracken Kearns. Matsumoto had 30 goals with the Adirondack Phantoms in 2009-10 and is former teammates of several current Phantoms including Scott Munroe, Danny Syvret, David Laliberte and others. With less than four minutes remaining in the first period, the score was tied 1-1.

Worcester took the lead two minutes later on some pretty tic-tac-toe passing in the Phantoms zone while catching Adirondack off-balance on a shift-change. John McCarthy converted past Munroe to give Worcester a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.

"The goals that they score, one is a power play and they come to 200 feet," Murray said. "The other one is simply a line-change drill, they come 200 feet. It looked easy when you watch it. They made a couple of good plays."

Adirondack would rally in the second period with the tying goal. Eric Wellwood just missed on a breakaway when his backhander went off the crossbar and sailed away. But a few minutes later it would be Garrett Roe to light the lamp for the first time in over a month on a nice give across by Jon Sim that followed a quality entry into the zone by Jason Akeson. Roe returned to action Friday night after missing the past month with an injury sustained on January 12 and he provided a nice burst of energy with his hard-working shifts.

The 2-2 would hold up through most of the third period. Both teams had some quality chances although perhaps they were in somewhat shorter supply. Adirondack had an opportunity eight minutes into the third period when Worcester goalie Alex Stalock would flip the puck out of play and take a penalty. But the Phantoms were unable to score another power play goal.

Worcester's game-winner came off a clean faceoff win in the Phantoms zone straight back to the right-point and the Sharks quickly got it to the high-slot for Freddie Hamilton's blast over the shoulder of Munroe and the game-winner right off the underside of the cross-bar.

"They won the faceoff back to their D-Man. It wasn't anything we haven't seen through the game," Murray said. "They win the puck to the right-D, the winger ends up rolling back to the boards, and they throw a quick pass to him and they find the man in the slot. That's just coverage. That's just a fundamental play."

Adirondack and Worcester finished the season series tied at one-game each with both teams winning the opposing home-ice.

The Phantoms conclude their three-in-three weekend set on Sunday afternoon at the Springfield Falcons at 3:00.

Adirondack's next home game is next Sunday, February 24 at 5:00 against the Binghamton Senators featuring specialty Dax Jerseys in the game on Dax's Big Birthday Bash. Call the Phantoms to order Sunder Family 3-Packs at 518-480-3355.

Worcester Sharks 3 at Adirondack Phantoms 2 - Status: Final
Saturday, February 16, 2013 - Glens Falls Civic Center

Worcester 2 0 1 - 3
Adirondack 1 1 0 - 2

1st Period-1, Adirondack, Sim 7 (Laliberte), 4:47 (PP). 2, Worcester, Matsumoto 11 (Kearns, Urban), 16:16 (PP). 3, Worcester, McCarthy 8 (Hamilton, Viedensky), 18:15. Penalties-Matsumoto Wor (hooking), 0:53; Gogol Wor (interference), 4:25; Mangene Adk (tripping), 9:09; Tarasov Wor (hooking), 9:46; Manning Adk (slashing), 14:17.

2nd Period-4, Adirondack, Roe 4 (Sim, Akeson), 10:17. Penalties-Petrecki Wor (roughing), 6:16; Kearns Wor (fighting), 19:24; Eddy Adk (fighting), 19:24.

3rd Period-5, Worcester, Hamilton 7 (Groulx, McCarthy), 16:34. Penalties-Stalock Wor (delay of game), 7:52.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 10-10-13-33. Adirondack 7-13-8-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 2; Adirondack 1 / 5.
Goalies-Worcester, Stalock 13-10-3 (28 shots-26 saves). Adirondack, Munroe 11-12-0 (33 shots-30 saves).
A-4,442
Referees-Tim Mayer (19), Jean Hebert (43).
Linesmen-Jim Harper (59), Glen Cooke (6).

UPCOMING

Saturday, February 16 (7:00) - Worcester Sharks at Adirondack Phantoms. Dax Bobbleheads (first 2,500 fans)

Sunday, February 17 (3:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Springfield Falcons

Monday, February 18 (7:00) - Phantoms Power Hour LIVE on Q101.7 with player guest Scott Munroe.

Friday, February 22 (7:00) - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Adirondack Phantoms. At Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Saturday, February 23 (7:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Hershey Bears

Sunday, February 24 (5:00) - Binghamton Senators at Adirondack Phantoms. Dax's Big Birthday Bash and Celebration! Dax Jerseys with Post-Game Jersey Auction. Dax's Mascot Friends plus Mascot Hockey. Also: Sunday Family 3-Pack for only $43 - Exceptional Value!

Call the Phantoms in advance for tickets and Sunday Family Fun Packs and SAVE! 518-480-3355


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