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Akeson and Chubak Bring the Noise on a Record-Setting Night

April 7, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Jason Akeson brought the noise with his second career hat trick and back-up goalie Carsen Chubak entered his name into the history books on an incredible, record-setting night in Glens Falls. Chubak became the first goalie in franchise history to record 50 saves in a game and Jason Akeson broke the all-time single-season points record for the Adirondack Phantoms as both led the way to a 4-3 victory over the Albany Devils in the last ever meeting of the four-year Northway Rivalry series between the two teams.

What a night and what a game. This one was wild and entertaining on both ends of the ice with Chubak breaking Scott Munroe's old franchise record of 49 saves established in a game for the Philadelphia Phantoms on January 17, 2009 against the Hershey Bears. Earlier in the evening, Jason Akeson received a terrific ovation following the second of his three goals when it was announced he had broken the Adirondack Phantoms' single-season points record previously held by Jon Matsumoto who had 62 points in 2009-10. Akeson would tack on another to up his current season total to 64 points which now rates ninth in the AHL and fourth in the Eastern Conference.

Petr Straka also scored for the Phantoms and added an assist while the Albany Devils received goals from Rod Pelley, Reece Scarlett and Scott Timmins. Albany was blasting away pretty much from the start. Benefiting from a couple early power plays, the Devils had 16 shots in the first period but that was just the appetizer for their 23-shot barrage in the second frame when Chubak was challenged the most and made some of his most spectacular stops of the night while only allowing one to sneak through on a power-play one-timer by Scarlett.

It was Chubak's first full game in almost one-and-a-half months going back to his February 22 start in front of over 17,000 fans in Philadelphia. And it was his first game-action of any sort since March 9. Chubak was tremendous in facing the highest volume of shots ever seen by a goalie in the 18-year history of the franchise which began as the Philadelphia Phantoms in 1996.

While it's fun for the fans to go back through the history books and determine new records, it's not something the players are focused on in the heat of a hard-fought battle. Terry Murray's team has their mind on winning the game, not how many saves they are making.

"He said that he didn't know if it was 50," Terry Murray said, "because he wasn't counting so it didn't really matter what the number was. But he played well. You know he hasn't played a lot of hockey this year. He's kind of bounced around with the East Coast League. And here as a third goaltender when he's not practicing with the team. He's shown a lot of character, a lot of adversity that he dealt with. And I think he was rewarded for that kind of patience and hard work that he's put in this year with a big effort."

Fans love an underdog and Chubak with his limited playing time all season seems to thrive in the role. The game was just his fourth start of the season and only his second win. His first win this year came on a similarly spectacular night albeit not a record-setting one. In his AHL starting debut, Chubak made 38 saves on 39 shots against the Providence Bruins in a 3-1 win on December 28th in front of a large and deafening crowd.

Chubak has benefited from his opportunity to fully practice with the team instead of staying on his own or on the sidelines. With the season-ending injury to Yann Danis, the Phantoms have two goalies instead of three.

"It's difficult," Chubak said. "It was really nice to actually practice (with the rest of the team) for the last week and a half. So with that I do feel a little bit more comfortable right now. Actually in my last start (on March 9) I think I only had about two practices going into it in about the month before. But this one I felt more comfortable going in."

When the Phantoms did get the pressure away from Chubak for a bit, it was Jason Akeson on the other end of the ice who was busy recording his second career hat trick and the 10th all-time in Adirondack Phantoms' history while rushing past Jon Matsumoto's single-season scoring record in the process.

One of the first hats to acknowledge Akeson's three-goal performance lands at his feet. Thanks to Robert Shaw submitting the pic to us on facebook.

Akeson scored even-strength about five minutes into the game and then added a shorthanded goal on a 2-on-1 with Petr Straka with two-and-a-half left in the first period. After that goal which made it 2-1, Public Address Announcer Dan Miner informed the crowd of the record setting moment with many fans rising to their feet in appreciation of the big moment. Akeson would later bring the hats flying with his power-play goal late in the second period that gave the Phantoms a 3-1 lead.

"Sometimes you have those games where you know everything's going in for you," Akeson said. "And tonight was one of those nights. (Saturday night) I had a tough time hitting the net and I think I had 10 shots or something like that and I couldn't buy one. But tonight it worked out."

The third-year pro joins Brayden Schenn and Michael Ryan as the only players to have record two hat tricks for the Adirondack Phantoms. It was the team's first hat trick in over a year. The last came a little over a year ago when Akeson recorded his first hat trick on March 9, 2013 against the Connecticut Whale.

Jason Akeson has become extremely familiar with mid-game announcements of record-breaking moments as he has placed his name at the top of the Adirondack Phantoms' team record-book in a number of categories. Most career goals (58), career assists (113), career points (171) and now points in a season with 64.

Adirondack finished a successful five-point (out of six) weekend in late, dramatic fashion. The Albany Devils had cut the Phantoms' 4-2 lead down to 4-3 with about seven minutes remaining. Then, in the closing moments, the Phantoms were called for consecutive penalties. Albany's man-advantage went from 5-on-4 to 6-on-4 (with the pulled goalie) and then to 6-on-3 with 21 seconds to go. The Phantoms' backs were to the wall but Rob Bordson won a huge faceoff in the Adirondack zone and Cullen Eddy was able to hammer the puck around the wall hard enough to the far side to sail it down the ice. Albany re-entered the zone with about seven seconds remaining but never got off a shot as Bordson poked the puck free and drove it the length of the ice at the end just missing an empty-net goal by a few feet.

Scott Wedgewood started in goal for Albany but collided with Petr Straka on a race to the puck early in the game appearing to have been hit in the head. Wedgewood stayed in for the rest of the opening frame before departing in favor of Keith Kinkaid who entered the contest at the beginning of the second period.

Albany out-shot the Phantoms 53-32 in the game. Both teams were 2-for-6 on the power play. Petr Straka's goal in the second period was scored on a strange play when Albany's Alexander Urbom was attempting to blast a long-clear the length of the ice on a penalty kill. But the drive hit off the back of the leg of teammate Dan Kelly a few feet in front of him and then perfectly onto the stick of Straka who moved in all alone on Kinkaid for the score.

The Phantoms' players and coaches have all said on numerous occasions how important it was for them to play well and grab some wins for the fans in their final games in Glens Falls. The team thrived in their last-ever multi-game homestand going 2-0-1 on the weekend with five points out of six as well as 2-0-2 in their last four home games.

Attendance over the three weekend games topped five-figures finishing at 10,031. Fans are taking advantage of some of their last-ever opportunities to cheer for the team they have come to know and love over the past five seasons and are being rewarded for their loyalty with some incredibly exciting and memorable games and record-setting achievements.

And with Rob Bordson's poke-steal during the 6-on-3 penalty-kill came the conclusion of the four-year Northway Rivalry series. In 46 games between the Adirondack Phantoms and Albany Devils, the two teams finished dead-even at 23 wins per side. The final season of the Northway Rivalry finished in a 6-6 tie which was the exact same season-mark for the first year of the series.

The first game ever between the Adirondack Phantoms and Albany Devils was on October 9, 2010 with the visiting Phantoms spoiling the first-ever game of the Albany Devils in a 5-3 win at Times Union Center. Ben Holmstrom and Zac Rinaldo were among the goal-scorers in that first-ever encounter with Rinaldo's tally late in the game standing as his first professional goal. While that was an entertaining beginning and a fine start, this last game ever for the series will hold up as being far more memorable.

Other historic nights in the Northway Rivalry included the April 1, 2011 game in Glens Falls featuring a hat trick by Mike Testwuide as the Phantoms racked up a franchise-record for goals in a 9-5 win. Mike Testwuide also had an exciting overtime game-winner in the traditional New Year's Eve game to close out 2012 in another of the series-highlights.

It's been fun, Albany Devils. Thanks for helping us provide fans of both teams located about 50 minutes apart with such a great rivalry!

The Adirondack Phantoms have just six games remaining including only two home games. The Phantoms play on the road next Friday and Saturday at the Worcester Sharks and Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Adirondack's second-to-last home game at the Glens Falls Civic Center will be next Sunday at 5:00 against the Utica Comets. Sunday Family FunPacks are available by calling the Phantoms' office at 518-480-3355.



American Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2014


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