This Week's Games

Friday, March 8 (7:00) - Springfield Falcons at Adirondack Phantoms
Saturday, March 9 (7:00) - Connecticut Whale at Adirondack Phantoms
Sunday, March 10 (3:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Albany Devils

Last Week's Scores

Friday, March 1 - Springfield Falcons 3 - Adirondack Phantoms 2 (SO)
Friday, March 1 - Springfield Falcons 7 - Adirondack Phantoms 2
Saturday, March 2 - Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4 - Adirondack Phantoms 3
Sunday, March 3 - Albany Devils 3 - Adirondack Phantoms 2


Top Scorers Goals Assists Points
Brayden Schenn 13 20 33
Jason Akeson 8 22 30
Sean Couturier 10 18 28
Danny Syvret 4 23 27
Erik Gustafsson 4 14 18

Goalies W-L-SOL GAA SVS
Scott Munroe 11-14-0 2.64 .916
Michael Leighton 0-1-0 3.07 .893
Cal Heeter 8-13-1 2.96 .906

Upcoming

The Phantoms have home games this Friday and Saturday against Northeast Division rivals Springfield and Connecticut. It's your last chance to cheer for the Phantoms at the Glens Falls Civic Center for a little while. The team will play their next seven games after that on the road over the upcoming two weeks.

The Springfield Falcons enter the weekend with the best record in the league. The Connecticut Whale are the AHL affiliates of the New York Rangers. Sound like a big weekend of exciting Phantoms hockey in Glens Falls? It sure does!

Michael Leighton is back with the Phantoms and played his first game with Adirondack in almost a year this past Sunday. He is almost certainly going to play in at least one of the games this weekend. Leighton is one of the most popular players all-time for the Adirondack Phantoms and is one of the top goaltenders in AHL history rating 16th all-time in career wins (170) and 4th all-time in career shutouts (36). We're happy to welcome him back to the team!

Adirondack's upcoming road-trip begins Sunday and they will journey somewhat all over the place as they head to Albany, Portland, Binghamton, Hershey, Norfolk and Connecticut over the next several days. They'll really be logging the miles on that one! Let's get loud this weekend for their home games and get them ready for the long trip.

Friday night is $2 Draft Beer Specials. And Saturday night it's great looking Adirondack Phantoms T-Shirts for the first 2,500 fans presented by Olive Garden, Red Lobster and Bartlett Industries.

Call the Phantoms to get your tickets in advance and save at 518-480-3355.

Leighton is Back!

The timing almost could not have worked out any better. Michel Leighton returned to the Adirondack Phantoms on the same day in which the team held their annual post-game photo session with the fans. Many fans lined up to personally welcome "Leights" back to the team and wish him well and tell him how thrilled they were to see him.

"It really makes you feel good when you know you're wanted," Leighton said. "Hearing a lot of the fans say that they're sorry I need to be down here but they're happy that I'm here. They're grateful to have me and to watch me play again so that makes you feel really good."

And Leighton himself was also just happy to get back into game action. Something he has not had a whole lot of this year due to the NHL Lockout and then an injury a few weeks ago just as his season was getting started.

Leighton is 16th all-time in career wins with 170 and is 4th all-time in shutouts with 36 including 7 with Adirondack. He also represented the Phantoms at the AHL All-Star Classic last season in Atlantic City.

His last shutout came on March 23, 2011 in a 1-0 thrilled at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in which he barely edged his current teammate Scott Munroe in a terrific goaltenders' duel. That game was a rematch of one of the most famous goaltender battles in AHL history; Leighton made a league record 98 saves in a grueling 5 overtime playoff marathon while with the Albany River Rats in a loss to Scott Munroe of the Philadelphia Phantoms on April 22, 2008.

He won the Baz Bastien Award as the AHL's top goalie in that 2007-08 season and went on to backstop the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2009-10 in a run which included three shutouts of the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Finals.

All-time with Adirondack, Leighton has played in 87 career games going 42-39-4, 2.36, .921. He is the all-time leader for the Adirondack Phantoms in career wins (42), games played by goalie (87) and saves (2413).

Long-Time Coming

Andreas Lilja is not generally known for his goal-scoring prowess. But his gap between AHL goals was a particularly lengthy one. His goal for Adirondack this past Sunday was his first in the league in almost exactly 12 years. Of course, that is also due to all the time he has spent in the NHL in-between.

The 37-year-old's last professional goal was two years ago for Anaheim against Chicago on January 2, 2011.

But his most recent AHL goal had been on March 2, 2001 for the Lowell Lock Monsters against the Worcester IceCats. He had seven total goals that year but would not score again in the AHL until March 3, 2013 in the Phantoms' Sunday game against Albany. Maybe it's the start of a new trend!

Transactions

March 5 - Eric Wellwood (F) - Recalled to Philadelphia Flyers
March 4 - Cal Heeter (G) - Reassigned to Trenton Titans (ECHL)
March 4 - Shane Harper (F) - Reassigned to Trenton Titans (ECHL)
March 1 - Michael Leighton (G) - Loaned to Adirondack by Philadelphia Flyers
March 1 - Tom Sestito (F) - Recalled to Philadelphia Flyers. Then placed on waivers and acquired by Vancouver.

Season Ticket Holder Party

- Wednesday, March 6th (6:00 - 8:30 p.m.) at Heritage Hall inside the Glens Falls Civic Center
- All the players will be there.
- Lots of great prizes.
- Come Hungry! Dinner catered by Olive Garden and Dango's
- Open to all current full season ticket holders and 22-game plans.

Season Ticket Renewal Incentive - Sign Up Now!

It's the 25th season of AHL hockey excitement in Glens Falls and it's coming this October. Sign up for new or renewal season tickets for your chance to win a TV! Don't forget about our unlimited ticket exchange policy for season ticket holders. If you think season tickets aren't for you because you might miss a few games...Think Again! All of your unused tickets are good for future games.

With your season tickets, your support the future of hockey in Glens Falls and the city's efforts to secure a new team at the Civic Center.

Post-Game Photos

We all had a great time at last Sunday's post-game photo session. We hope you did too. Do you think Michael Leighton and Zack FitzGerald are popular with the fans? Check out the long-lines to get their pic!

Community

Phantoms players and Dax appeared at Glens Falls Hospital, area schools, youth hockey practices, and Dango's as celebrity bartenders in just the past few days. Wow...They get around!

Below are pics of Oliver Lauridsen and Marcel Noebels visiting the children's wing of Glens Falls Hospital and Dax at Greenfield Elementary in Saratoga Springs.



To find out more about the Phantoms in the community or to inquire about the Phantoms at your local charity or school function or community event, please contact Phantoms Director of Fun and Community Development, Andrew Hill at 518-480-3355 or ahill@phantomshockey.com

Upcoming Milestones

Jason Akeson - 12 points away from breaking all-time Adirondack Phantoms record for career points and 15 points away from becoming first Adirondack Phantom to 100 points.

Danny Syvret - 1 assist away from 200 in pro career. 5 assists away from 200 in AHL career. 3 games away from 200 in Phantoms career.

Zack FitzGerald - 2 games away from 400 in pro career.

Rob Bordson - 1 point away from 100 in pro career. Also, just reached 200 games in pro career this past Friday night. Congrats, Rob!

Phantoms All-Time Leaders

Career Games

1. Kevin Marshall 185
2. Jon Kalinski 182
3. Ben Holmstrom 181
4. Mike Testwuide 161
5. Cullen Eddy 155
5. Dan Jancevski 150
7. Eric Wellwood 149
8. Marc-Andre Bourdon 142
9. Rob Bordson 141
10. Denis Hamel 140

Career Points

1. Denis Hamel 96
2. Erik Gustafsson 91
3. Ben Holmstrom 90
4. Jason Akeson 85
5. Danny Syvret 76
6. Mike Testwuide 70
7. Jon Kalinski 63
8. Jon Matsumoto 62
9. David Laliberte 61
9. Eric Wellwood 61

Phantoms Week in Review

Friday, March 1 -
Game 1 - Springfield Falcons 3 - Adirondack Phantoms 2 (SO)
Game 2 - Springfield Falcons 7 - Adirondack Phantoms 2

The Adirondack Phantoms had an unusual hockey doubleheader of sorts on Friday night at Springfield beginning with the completion of a suspended game from February 17. Adirondack entered the resumption of play with a 2-1 lead in the 2nd period but Springfield finally broke through with the tying goal by Scott Howes with 10 minutes left in the third.

A highlight-reel spin-o-rama goal in the shootout by Jonathon Audy-Marchessault would be the only tally after that as Springfield pulled it out 3-2. Adirondack had almost won the game in overtime when Rob Bordson's blast rushing up the right-wing deflected off the glove of RPI product Allen York in net for the Falcons. The shot deflected into the air off York's glove and landed behind the goalie but refused to bounce across the line and York was able to prevent Bordson from tipping in the loose puck.

The second game was an off-performance for the Phantoms as Springfield raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first period to launch their way to a 7-2 victory. It was the most goals allowed and largest margin of defeat for Adirondack this season. Rob Bordson (9th) and Matthew Ford (4th) scored for the Phantoms in the loss while Cal Heeter gutted it out and went the distance in a game that was not to be blamed on his performance.

Newcomer Mitch Wahl played in his first two games for the Phantoms after being acquired in a trade from Calgary earlier in the week. Matthew Ford returned to the lineup from injury for the first time in a month and alos played in both games.


Saturday, March 2 - Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4 - Adirondack Phantoms 3

A back-and-forth contest would conclude with host Bridgeport getting the last strike on Saturday night. The Phantoms tied the game at 3-3 with less than 6:00 remaining on the first career professional goal by Matt Konan off the rebound of an Andreas Lilja shot off the crossbar.

Adirondack looked in good shape with a subsequent power-play after that tying goal but Bridgeport built momentum with their late and critical penalty kill and then Brock Nelson, fresh out of the penalty box, put on a dazzling move in the right circle, cut directly at Phantoms goalie Scott Munroe, and roofed the game-winner with 3:33 to go.

Islanders' send-down Rick DiPietro secured his first win in Bridgeport's home building in about 10 years. It was a Sound Tigers goalie-alum battle of sorts. Scott Munroe starred for Bridgeport three seasons ago while DiPietro led Bridgeport to the Calder Cup Finals in 2002-03.


Sunday, March 3 - Albany Devils 3 - Adirondack Phantoms 2

Michael Leighton returned to the Phantoms lineup for the first time in almost a year but Albany prevailed on Sunday afternoon in Glens Falls 3-2 in front of an impressive crowd of 4,040 on Post-Game Photo Day.

Albany was clinging to a 2-1 lead in the third period but a costly turnover midway through the final frame would be intercepted by Joe Whitney and then converted by Philip DeSimone.

Eric Wellwood made it a one-goal game again with less than two minutes remaining but Adirondack ran out of time trying to get the tying goal.

Andreas Lilja scored his first AHL goal in 12 years and his first professional goal in two years on a shot from center-point.

Joe Whitney led the Devils' attack with one goal and two assists as the little, speedy forward out of Boston College continued his success against the Phantoms this year. The game was the 10th out of 12 in the Time Warner Cable Cup rivalry series and was also the last visit of the season for the Devils to Glens Falls. Adirondack has two more games at Albany remaining.

The players came back out for the team's annual post-game photo session to delight hundreds of fans who snapped up thousands of pics with their favorite Phantoms.


Saratoga Spine Phantoms Player of the Week - Andreas Lilja

Andreas Lilja is the Saratoga Spine Player of the Week. The 37-year-old veteran of 577 NHL games hit the crossbar on Saturday night leading to the assist on the late game-tying goal at Bridgeport.

And on Sunday afternoon against Albany, Lilja scored his first professional goal in two years and his first AHL goal in almost exactly 12 years!

Lilja is in his second season with the Flyers organization. He won a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2007-08.

Producing the NHL'ers

Nine different players on this year's Adirondack Phantoms have been called up to the Philadelphia Flyers this year....and counting! And the list of THIS year's call-ups doesn't even include Phantoms alums from previous years who are with Philadelphia such as Matt Read, Michael Leighton and Claude Giroux.

Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier, Zac Rinaldo, Eric Wellwood, Tye McGinn, Andreas Lilja, Erik Gustafsson, Brian Boucher, Harry Zolnierczyk

Key Team Stats

The Phantoms are...

- 20-8-2 when tied or leading after two periods. (10-2-1 if leading. 10-6-1 if tied)
- 9-3-0 when leading after one period.
- 16-3-2 when they score 3 or more goals
- 2-2 in overtimes and 4-3 in shootouts for a combined 6-5 in games decided after regulation.
- 10 of the Phantoms wins have come when they have held the opponents to 0 or 1 goals.
- 4-2-2 on Sundays
- 14-5-0 when scoring the first goal.

Upcoming Opponents

Springfield Falcons, 34-14-7 (Columbus Blue Jackets) - Friday, March 8 (7:00)

Glens Falls Civic Center - $2 Draft Beer Specials

Springfield is back on top of the league again following their historic eight-point weekend which began against the Adirondack Phantoms. The team is playing extremely well and is set to make the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. The Falcons were 7 points behind the most points in the league going into the weekend but amazingly were able to make up all that ground to take over the top spot.

Last weekend, they won four games in less than 48 hours; a particularly impressive feat. It began on Friday with their comeback win in a shootout 3-2 over Adirondack in the completion of a suspended game. And then they went on to win the full game after that 7-2.

The Falcons turned aside Atlantic Division leading Providence 2-1 in a shootout on Saturday and then Curtis McElhinney notched his league-leading eighth shutout of the season 2-0 over Worcester on Sunday afternoon.

The Falcons enter the night on a two-game losing streak with a 3-0 loss to conference-leading Syracuse last Saturday and then a 5-1 loss to Worcester on Sunday.

Record - 34-14-7, 75 points
Standings - 1st place (Northeast Division), 1st place (Eastern Conference)
Home Arena - Mass Mutual Center
Head Coach - Brad Larsen (1st season)

The Falcons have one of the highest scoring teams as well as top defenses in the AHL. Although their offense has struggled lately with just one goal in their last two games.

Young head coach Brad Larsen played for the Portland Pirates in 2009-10 before retiring to advance into coaching and is an early candidate for AHL Coach of the Year honors in his first season at the helm. He also played several seasons for the Colorado Avalanche and Hershey Bears as well as Atlanta and the Chicago Wolves.

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault - 17-35-52. 3rd in AHL in points and 2nd in assists. Quebec City native in second season as a pro. 2nd on Connecticut Whale last year with 24 goals and first with 40 assists. Had highlight-reel goal to win shootout on Friday vs. Adirondack that was featured as #3 Play of the Day on ESPN's Top 10.

Ryan Craig - 16-24-40. Captain of Springfield and formerly captain of WBS Penguins returns to the Falcons where he played in 2004-05 and 2005-06. Had career high 27 goals in 04-05. 190 NHL games mostly with Tampa Bay.

Bryan Helmer - 0-1-1. 40-year-old AHL vet whose career began with the Albany River Rats for five seasons from 1993-94 through 1997-98. Back-to-back Calder Cups with Hershey in 2009 and 2010.

Curtis McElhinney - 23-10-2, 2.30, .924, 8 shutouts to lead the AHL and set all-time Springfield Falcons single-season record. 10th in league in GAA and 5th in svs pct.

Connecticut Whale , 27-23-7 (New York Rangers) - Saturday, March 9, 2013 (7:00)

Glens Falls Civic Center - T-Shirt Night for first 2,500 fans!

This is Game 4 of the 6-game season series between the Northeast Division rivals and affiliates of NHL rivals Flyers and Rangers. Adirondack is 1-1-1 against Connecticut this year. 2 of the 3 games this season between the Phantoms and the Whale have gone to overtime.

The last time they met was on January 23 in Hartford in which the Phantoms rallied from a 5-1 deficit to dramatically tie the score and force overtime. Jason Akeson made it 5-4 with 1:45 to go and Marcel Boebels tied it with just 21 seconds remaining. But the Whale won in the extra period on Brandon Segal's goal.

Connecticut's last visit to Glens Falls was the first game of 2013 and the last game before the end of the NHL lockout. Sean Couturier scored the game-winner in overtime in that January 5th contest before a raucous near-sellout contingent in the 2-1 final. Cal Heeter was just inches away from his first career shutout but was barely beaten on a chip along the goal-line for the only one he would allow in a tremendous performance.

Record - 27-23-7, 61 points
Standings - 2nd place (Northeast Division), 8th place (Eastern Conference)
Home Arena - XL Center
Head Coach - Ken Gernander


Head Coach Ken Gernander - Has lead the Whale (formerly Hartford Wolf Pack) since 2007. Eight seasons as Hartford captain and retired as Hartford's all-time leading point-scorer (160-187-347) but has since been surpassed by Brad Smyth. Holds franchise record for games played (599). Two-time winner of AHL Fred T. Hunt Award (sportsmanship, dedication) in 1996 with Binghamton and 2004 with Hartford.

Kris Newbury, 18-32-50 - Tops in points for the Whale. Played for St. John's Maple Leafs and then Toronto Marlies from 2003-04 through 2008-09. Career highs 44 assists and 61 points in 2010-11 with CT. 66 NHL games with Toronto, Detroit and New York Rangers and 4 goals.

Brandon Segal, 16-16-32 - AHL veteran since 2003-04 with Milwaukee, Portland, Norfolk, Rockford. Also 103 NHL games mostly with DAL and LA. Career high 26-26-52 in 2008-09 with Norfolk.

Ryan Bourque, 5-6-11. Son of Hall of Famer Ray Bourque and younger brother of Chris Bourque of Providence. Second-year pro was Rangers' third round selection in 2009.

Cameron Talbot, 21-22-1, 2.59, .918. Third year pro out of University of Alabama-Huntsville is a work-horse. 2nd in AHL in minutes (2527) and saves (1221) trailing only David Leggio of Rochester.

Albany Devils, 24-19-11 (New Jersey Devils) - Sunday, March 3rd (3:00)

at Times Union Center, Albany

Devils lead season series 7 games to 3 and have clinched the Time Warner Cable Cup. This is Game 11 out of 12 in the rivalry series. Adirondack will return to Albany on Sunday, April 21 for the last game of the regular season.

Phantoms won last meeting over Albany 4-2 on February 15 at GFCC.

Albany is 4-0-1 in their last 5 games to move into 9th place in the conference

Record - 24-19-11
Division - 3rd place (Northeast Division), 9th place (Eastern Conference)
Head Coach - Rick Kowalsky (3rd season)
Home Arena - Times Union Center

Matt Anderson - 11-23-34. Named CCM/AHL Player of Week a couple of weeks ago with 3 goals, 4 assists. Career high 23 goals in 2010-11 led Devils. U-Mass Amherst product and former Chicago Wolf in 6th year as pro.

Joe Whitney - 17-18-35. Diminutive Boston College product in second pro season checks in at just 5'6". 15 goals last year as a rookie. Has 6-8-14 this year against Phantoms.

Steve Zalewski - 10-20-30. Utica native and former Worcester Shark out of Clarkson Univ. 19 goals last year with Albany. Career-high 22 goals in 2009-10 with Worcester Sharks.

Goalie Keith Kinkaid, 2nd year pro out of Union has been recalled to New Jersey as Martin Brodeur is sidelined with a sore back.

Jeff Frazee - 7-9-4, 2.33, .920. 5th year pro, Round 2 selection (#38 overall) out of University of Minnesota.


UPCOMING

Friday, March 8 (7:00) - Springfield Falcons at Adirondack Phantoms. $2 Draft Beer Specials

Saturday, March 9 (7:00) - Connecticut Whale at Adirondack Phantoms. Phantoms T-Shirts for first 2,500 fans presented by Olive Garden, Red Lobster and Bartlett Industries.

Sunday, March 10 (3:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Albany Devils

Wednesday, March 13 (7:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Portland Pirates


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