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5-Game Home Point-Streak with OT Loss

April 5, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Shane Harper's tying goal with 6:44 remaining helped Adirondack earn a standings point for their fifth consecutive home game but Alex Grant of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins blasted home the game-winner in overtime in a 3-2 decision Friday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Adirondack is 4-0-1 in their last five home games and now has a point in nine of their last 13 games overall going 7-4-2 during the stretch in which they have been playing some of their best hockey of the year.

Harper's goal on the power play came on a backdoor feed by newcomer Kyle Flanagan. It was Harper's first game back with the Phantoms after spending all of March with the Trenton Titans of the ECHL where he excelled.

Garrett Roe scored his 10th of the season early in the second period. And Brian Boucher played some dazzling hockey between the pipes especially down the stretch to get Adirondack into the extra-period and earn the standings point.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton had a power play at the end of the third that carried over into the overtime and Adirondack was able to kill off both ends of the man-advantage. But the Phantoms were still pinned in their zone as Jeff Dimmen returned from the penalty-box and that ultimately led to Alex Grant's game-winning blast from center-point.

"There's a fatigue factor that becomes a part of the penalty kill. That's what you always want to make an important part of your power play is fatigue," Phantoms head coach Terry Murray said. "And that's what happened. We couldn't get it out. We had an opportunity and I think those situations happen whenever you're out there too long."

The game got off to a slow start with not much happening. Shots on goal were just 1-0 at almost the 10-minute mark into the game. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's stingy defensive style and physical play made for a long battle of over 60 minutes.

"There were a lot of heavy minutes out there tonight," Murray said. "They were two teams that checked and worked hard and in the hard areas of the game; along the boards, dot-to-boards. That's pushing and shoving and that's very demanding physically. And when you get down to five and then four defensemen it makes it hard."

Coach Murray was referring to an injury to blue-liner Brandon Manning that knocked him out of action in the second period along with a fight by Jeff Dimmen that kept him out of the game for a few minutes.

The game was also an exciting night for 21-year-old right-wing Brandon Alderson out of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds who was making his pro debut. He signed an entry-level contract with the Flyers on March 1 and was able to join the Phantoms after his Major Juniors team was eliminated from the playoffs last week.

"It was kind of weird, I had a little flashback there before I went out for my first shift kind of like when I jumped out for my first shift in juniors," Alderson said. "The same thing, nerves were running through my head there but we had a pretty good first shift there. After that it was little things like systems. I need to remember it's changed up from my previous team so all those little small things it takes a little bit of getting used to."

Roe's goal in the second period came from the left-circle after a nice steal in the zone by Jason Akeson who recorded his 31st assist and 46th point of the year.

Jayson Megna tied the game on a deflection of a slapshot from the point by former Adirondack Phantoms Joey Mormina a few minutes later.

Adirondack almost took the lead on a rush into the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton zone with a couple of nice chances against Jeff Zatkoff. But the Penguins quickly sped back the other way and turned it into a go-ahead goal by Roley Holzapfel.

Shane Harper tied the game at 2-2 with 6:44 left on a nice feed from the left-wing goal-line by Kyle Flangan finding his teammate on the backdoor.

Brian Boucher made some of his best saves in the final three minutes of the third-period including a couple of scintillating stops from close-range to keep the Phantoms alive.

But Alex Grent's blast shortly after the conclusion of the 4-on-3 overtime power-play would squeak past Boucher's left-skate for the game-winner and his fourth of the season.

Adirondack outshot Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 28-25. The Phantoms were 1-for-5 on the power-play while the Penguins were 1-for-4.

Adirondack is back at home Saturday against the Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. Saturday's game is Fan Appreciation Night presented by Stored Tech with hundreds of prizes to be given away from the Phantoms, Flyers, and our corporate partners. The Phantoms are giving away so many prizes you won't believe it! Call the Phantoms for tickets at 518-480-3355.

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