13 Is Lucky Number for Phantoms

Published on January 13, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Denis Hamel's early third period blast took a circuitous route to the net but eventually found its way in for an unusual game-winner as Adirondack came from behind turning away the Hamilton Bulldogs 5-4 on Friday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center. His drive from the left-point was initially saved by Robert Mayer but the puck went off the goalie's pads an straight up in the air, then off the top of the glass behind him, then back forward to bounce off the top of the Hamilton cage, then onto the back of Mayer and into the goal. A shocked and elated Hamel celebrated his second goal of the evening which would hold up as the game-winner.

"Sometimes in this game you need bounces like that to get the win," Hamel said after the game. "This was an important win for us."

In the Friday the 13th affair, Denis Hamel's lucky bouncer for the game-winner would be his 13th goal of the year while Michael Leighton came on in relief for his 13th win of the year. It was also Adirondack's 13th time notching at least a standings point on home-ice in 2011-12.

The goal was initially credited to Jon Kalinski who was in the slot when Hamel's bouncing, hopping puck made its way back out in front. But post-game video review confirmed that the goal went in off the back of the Hamilton goalie and should be awarded to Hamel.

The topsy-turvy game was one of the most entertaining of the year as Adirondack initially stormed out to a 2-0 lead only to watch it evaporate in a six minute burst by Hamilton in the second period who led 3-2. The Phantoms trailed 4-3 heading into the third but the back-to-back goals by Jon Kalinski and Denis Hamel pushed the Phantoms onto a third-period comeback victory.

Adirondack has two wins this season in which they have overcome deficits when trailing after two, and they have both come in the last eight days. The Phantoms turned the same trick last Friday at the Outdoor Classic when they trailed Hershey 2-1 after two but won the thriller 4-3 in overtime.

With the win, the Phantoms surged past idle Albany in the division and conference standings. Adirondack stands at 19-15-2 with just two game remaining until the official midway point of the season. The Phantoms have 40 standings points which puts them in second place in the Northeast Division again and in eighth place in the conference. Adirondack received help as well in Norfolk, Va. where the division leading Connecticut Whale failed for their fifth straight game to come up with a win as they took a 3-1 road setback. The Phantoms now stand just four points back of first place in the Northeast.

Tyler Brown got the scoring started in the first period picking up the rebound of a Kevin Marshall slapshot and slamming it in behind Mayer from the right-wing side of the crease. The 21-year-old rookie from Wasaga Beach, Ontario now has four goals this season, three of which have come in his last six games.

Adirondack extended their lead to 2-0 early in the second period when Brandon Manning rifled a slapshot off the glove of Mayer and into the net for his first ever goal as a pro. The Prince George, BC resident led all Western Hockey League defensemen in goals last year with 21 as captain of the Chilliwack Bruins. Manning missed the first couple months of this season to injury and the game was only his 10th of the year.

Tye McGinn would engage Hamilton tough-guy Zack Fitzgerald in an entertaining fight with both combatants landing several solid blows. McGinn had the early punches on Fitzgerald but the former Albany River Rat would come back at the end of the bout with some solid connections of his own. McGinn stepped into the role while Adirondack was without a couple of their big bodies in Tom Sestito and Oliver Lauridsen who were both sitting one-game suspensions stemming from their altercation last Friday at Hershey.

The fight appeared to somewhat spark a Bulldogs surge as they would score three goals in less than six minutes to surprised the GFCC crowd and take a 3-2 lead. Louis Leblanc had back-to-back goals and then Aaron Palushaj would blast one in past Jason Bacashihua at 11:35 to put the Dogs in front.

Adirondack would come back to tie the score on Denis Hamel's power-play breakaway goal at16:41 into the second. Blake Kessel hit Hamel on the Hamilton line with a perfect stretch-pass to send the team's leading scorer in all alone onto the Bulldogs cage where he blasted his shot glove side on Mayer.

Hamilton retook the lead late in the second on a three-on-one rush. It appeared the Phantoms had broken up the dangerous scoring opportunity after Hamilton passed it back and forth and never got off a shot. But Alex Henry kept the play going as he carried it behind the Adirondack goal and found Palushaj on the right-wing side of the crease with Bacashihua leaning to the wrong side. Palushaj's second of the night and 11th of the year gave Hamilton the 4-3 advantage at the second intermission.

Michael Leighton would relieve Bacashihua in net for the third period and would make 10 saves allowing zero goals in acquiring his lucky 13th win of the year.

Adirondack would show their third period abilities yet again with another comeback as Jon Kalinski's quick shot on a centering give by Shane Harper would hit off the stick of Mayer and sneak in five-hole early in the third period to tie the score at 4-4. Harper had driven it in from the right-wing wall and then went around to the left-wing corner to induce some of the Dogs defenders towards him. After Kalinski had the puck come to him in the slot he was able to capitalize due to his quick release that perhaps Mayer wasn't fully ready for.

Hamel would then rifle in his hopping, bouncing puck on the slapper from the left-point that made its way back in because of the power behind one of the most powerful shots in the league. Off the goalie, end-glass, top-of-the-net, goalie's back and then in for the quirky game-winner five minutes into the third.

Adirondack is now 4-0-1 against the Western Conference and stands at 2-0-1 against the Canadian teams.

The Phantoms outshot Hamilton 37-31. Adirondack went 2-for-5 on the power play while Hamilton was 1-for-4. The result ended Hamilton's five game point-streak and three-game win streak.

Adirondack is 4-1 in their last five home games and stands at 12-6-1 on home-ice in 2011-12 and is 19-6-1 on home-ice dating back to March of last year. The Phantoms are 11-5-2 in one-goal decisions.

The Phantoms resume the homestand Saturday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center hosting the Manchester Monarchs for the first time.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 13, 2012


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