Admirals Invade North Country

Published on March 9, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Adirondack Phantoms were unable to withstand the earlier Norfolk Admirals invasion and the top team in the league held off a late surge to preserve a 3-1 victory Friday night inside the Glens Falls Civic Center. Norfolk picked up their league leading 40th victory of the season as they ran their impressive win-streak to 13 straight.

Norfolk is trying to chase down the Philadelphia Phantoms' AHL record 17-game winning streak set in 2004.

Trailing 3-1 in the third period, Adirondack outshot the Admirals 14-4 in the final frame and also killed off a lengthy 5-on-3 power play to give themselves the opportunity to comeback. But Norfolk was able to escape with the win as the Phantoms simply ran out of time to close the deficit.

The Phantoms remain in the thick of the very tight Eastern Conference playoff competition and now trail Worcester for the eighth and last playoff by four points with 17 games remaining in the regular season. The Friday affair was the first of another three-in-three weekend for the Phantoms which includes a home game Saturday night against Albany and then an away game Sunday afternoon at the Worcester Sharks. Adirondack has won two out of three in each of their last three weekends, and will need back-to-back wins on Saturday and Sunday to continue that impressive weekend-success streak.

Denis Hamel scored on the power play in the second period for his 17th goal of the season to spark the comeback efforts but it would turn out to be Adirondack's lone tally on the night.

Jason Bacashihua played well in goal for the Phantoms in his 24 save effort and made a number of dazzling stops. Both teams showed their distaste for each other in a number of small scraps after the whistle as part of a season-series that has seen its share of testiness. Nobody would drop the gloves and draw any fighting majors in the game although it appeared we came close a few times.

Tyler Johnson scored a pair of goals to lead Norfolk. The rookie out of Spokane, Washington is one of a number of talented young prospects on the Tampa Bay Lightning farm-club.

He benefited from an Admirals steal by line-mate Richard Panik nine minutes into the game to rifle in his 21st of the year and give Norfolk the 1-0 lead.

Two minutes later, Alexandre Picard would crank a one-timer on the backdoor over in the right-circle for a power play goal making the score 2-0.

Three minutes after that, the puck was pushed from behind the goal back to Johnson in the slot who blast went in and out of the back of the cage so quickly that not everyone was aware at first that it indeed was a goal.

Adirondack was outshot in the first period 14-5 but were able to make some quick corrections on the Admirals and hold Norfolk to only 13 shots for the rest of the game.

Denis Hamel's wrister from the right point in the second period snuck through a screened Jaroslav Janus for his team-leading 17th goal of the year. Blake Kessel and Jason Akeson assisted on the tally. Akeson's helper was his team-leading 34th of the year and his 44th point which is also tops on the Phantoms.

Adirondack had a number of close calls and scrambles and battles in the slot and crease trying to close the deficit further but Janus held steady an made the two-goal advantage hold up.

The weekend home games are the Phantoms' first consecutive games at the GFCC since early February.

Ben Holmstrom returned to the lineup for Adirondack after missing all three games last weekend with injury. Adirondack was without defenseman Brandon Manning who was the latest youngster to make his NHL debut when he garnered 15 minutes of ice-time for the Flyers on Thursday night.

Harry Zolnericzyk was also called up by Philadelphia but he was a late scratch when Jaromir Jagr was deemed okay to play. Zolnierczyk made the trip back up north from Philadelphia and arrived in time to play in the opener of the three-in-three weekend.

Scratches for the Phantoms included Luke PIther, Garrett Klotz, Marc-Andre Bourdon and Oskars Bartulis.

The homestand concludes Saturday night against the Albany Devils on Faith and Family Night including a post-game concert with Isaiah 6. The game is expected to be close to a sellout. Fans are encourage to plan in advance and also get their tickets in advance by stopping by the Phantoms office or calling (518) 480-3355.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 9, 2012


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