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Penguins Hold Off Phantoms 3-2

March 31, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL) - Adirondack Phantoms News Release


WILKES-BARRE, PA - Jon Matsumoto scored a power play goal and captain Jared Ross had an unassisted shorthanded goal, but the Adirondack Phantoms fell to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3-2 Wednesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

The two teams picked up right where they left off from the previous seven encounters, with a fast-paced, high intensity game from the opening puck drop. They traded blows figuratively and literally as rookie Ben Holmstrom was sucker-punched at the side of the crease after a whistle and engaged in his first career pro fight with Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy, who appeared to have initiated the bout. The contested seemed to be heading to a scoreless frame until the last minute when Wilkes-Barre/Scranton popped in two goals on Jeremy Duchesne to shock Adirondack. Dustin Jeffrey scored a power play goal at 19:00, the first man-advantage for either team, when Chris Conner's shot/pass from the right circle took a gift-wrapped deflection off a skate in the middle and fell to an unmarked Jeffrey at the right post. 7.9 seconds later it was 2-0 Penguins. On the ensuing face off from Jeffrey's goal, Mark Letestu won the draw back to Lovejoy who passed the puck to his partner Steve Wagner. Wagner skated up toward the red line and then snapped a wrister from one stride behind the center line the hovered at waist-height before dipping slightly and eluding Duchesne's catching glove at 19:08. The two goals were the fastest two allowed by Adirondack this season (7.9 seconds apart).

The Phantoms did not left off the pace as they came out for the second period with the same intensity and turned their energy into a goal. Leading scorer Jon Matsumoto fired home a power play goal from the right circle at 1:56, assisted by David Laliberte and Joonas Lehtivuori, to put Adirondack on the board. Three minutes later it was 3-1 Penguins when Duchesne tried to clear the puck from the crease and flipped it up in the air, only to have Letestu bat the puck with his stick into the open net at 5:15. Later in the frame it was captain Jared Ross' turn to dazzle the fans with a highlight play. Ross stole a pass at his own blue line and raced away on a breakaway, beating goalie Brad Thiesssen low for an unassisted, shorthanded goal at 16:02 cutting the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lead to 3-2; it was Ross' 12th goal of the year.

The Penguins seemed determined to hold on to the lead in the third period, as they tried to push for an insurance goal. Goalie Michael-Lee Teslak, who replaced Duchesne at 5:17 of the second period, was sharp in net, keeping the game within one goal, including making a highlight-reel save with his goal paddle lying on the ice to rob Letestu of his second of the night. The Phantoms had two power plays in the final period and pulled Teslak for the final minute of play, but Thiessen was strong at his end of the ice, keeping the lead and helping the Penguins hold on for a 3-2 win. With the loss and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton victory, the Phantoms were mathematically eliminated from the 2010 Calder Cup Playoff race.

Brad Thiessen stopped 31-of-33 shots to record his 12th win of the year, helping Wilkes-Barre/Scranton improve to 39-31-2-3. Jeremy Duchesne picked up the loss, allowing three goals on 16 shots in 25:17 of action as Adirondack fell to 31-37-3-4. Backup Michael-Lee Teslak blocked all 20 shots that he faced in his relief appearance over the final 34:05 of play. The Penguins out-shot the Phantoms 36-33 in the game and went 1-for-4 on the power play, Adirondack was 1-for-5 with the man-advantage.

Adirondack now returns home as they prepare to battle the Syracuse Crunch on Friday, April 2nd for a 7:30 pm puck drop at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Friday is Orange Crunch Night, where the team is asking all fans to Wear Orange in support of the Phantoms. Also on Friday night, come meet "Dr. Hook" Tim McCracken from the movie Slapshot.

There is no better way to watch Phantoms Hockey than by sharing it with a group of your family and friends. Bring a group of 15 or more people to the Glens Falls Civic Center and qualify for incredible discounted ticket prices off the regular box office rates. For more information about group tickets, contact the Phantoms at (518) 480-3355 or online at www.phantomshockey.com. Don't miss a minute of the exciting action of the Adirondack Phantoms 2009-2010 Season presented by Bud Light.

FINAL BOX SCORE

Adirondack Phantoms 2 At Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3 - Status: Final Mar 31, 2010 - Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

Adirondack 0 2 0 - 2 W-B/Scranton 2 1 0 - 3

1st Period-1, W-B/Scranton, Jeffrey 22 (Conner, Smith), 19:00 (pp). 2, W-B/Scranton, Wagner 4 (Lovejoy, Letestu), 19:07. Penalties-Holmstrom Adk (fighting), 13:01; Lovejoy Wbs (fighting), 13:01; Lehtivuori Adk (high-sticking), 18:08.

2nd Period-3, Adirondack, Matsumoto 28 (Laliberte, Lehtivuori), 1:56 (pp). 4, W-B/Scranton, Letestu 21 (Conner, Johnson), 5:15. 5, Adirondack, Ross 12 16:02 (sh). Penalties-Smith Wbs (cross-checking), 1:17; Bortuzzo Wbs (goaltender interference), 2:16; Klotz Adk (fighting), 5:17; Brookbank Wbs (fighting, game misconduct - jersey), 5:17; Lovejoy Wbs (delay of game), 6:44; Nodl Adk (holding the stick, unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:52; Tangradi Wbs (roughing), 16:43.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Curry Adk (holding), 3:45; Letestu Wbs (tripping), 8:17.

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 12-18-3-33. W-B/Scranton 11-12-13-36.

Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 1 of 5; W-B/Scranton 1 of 4.

Goalies-Adirondack, Duchesne 1-3-0 (16 shots-13 saves); Teslak 1-0-1 (20 shots-20 saves). W-B/Scranton, Thiessen 12-12-1 (33 shots-31 saves).

A-6,080

Referees-Chris Ciamaga (41). Linesmen-Scott Adams (20), Paul Carnathan (93).

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