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Akeson's Late Game-Winner Down Devils

January 25, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Saturday afternoon's tilt in Albany appeared to be headed for overtime but the Phantoms' leading scorer said, "Not so fast." Jason Akeson blasted home the game-winner with just 20.5 seconds remaining as the Adirondack Phantoms prevailed in come-from-behind fashion at the Albany Devils on a snowy Saturday afternoon. Akeson's 14th goal of the season powered through Albany goalie Scott Wedgewood lifted the Phantoms to the road-victory at Times Union Center.

Petr Straka worked into the zone and muscled up against bigger defenseman Seth Helgeson to work the puck to Rob Bordson on the end-boards who quickly touched it back to Akeson crashing into the slot for his big one-timer. Wedgewood had a good chunk of it but Akeson's drive still made it through off the goalie's stick for the late game-winner.

Adirondack improved to 21-17-2 with the victory and regained the lead in the Northway Rivalry series 5 games to 4 over the Albany Devils. The Phantoms are now 3-2-0 at Times Union Center this year. The Devils fell to 23-13-6 as they dropped their third straight.

Marc-Andre Bourdon played his first game in 14 months and recorded an assist on Adirondack's first strike coming off the stick of Tye McGinn late in the second period. Bourdon's hard centering pass from the left-point was perfectly placed for McGinn in the slot to deflect in his eighth of the season. It was Bourdon's first game as well as his first point since November 30, 2012. The fifth-year pro had been sidelined for over a year with post-concussion symptoms and was rejoining the lineup for the first time.

Bourdon acknowledged he got off to a somewhat rough start in his first couple trips on the ice which included a turnover and then a broken skate that required him to head back to the locker-room early in the game. But after his quick reset, he was able to get back on track.

PhantomsTV! Marc-Andre Bourdon Postgame "It was a lot of mixed emotions," Bourdon said. "I didn't know what to expect. I've never missed that long. After the first two shifts I was like, 'Well, it's going to be a long one.' Then me and (Delisle), we came back stronger. He was talking a lot to me and helping me out."

Cal Heeter was the winner for the Phantoms improving to 14-13-0 with another strong performance turning away 27 of Albany's 28 drives. Perhaps his top save came in the second period sliding to his left to deny Kelly Zajac's one-timer from the right-circle. But there were a number of additional solid stops for the second-year pro out of Ohio State who kept his team in the game and gave the offense time to find their groove.

Albany struck first with a goal in the closing minute of the first period with Mike Sislo registering his 12th of the season knifing into the slot from the left circle on the power play to beat Heeter glove-side.

Adirondack would equalize with 1:09 left in the second period with Bourdon's nicely placed assist from the left-point finding McGinn's stick.

And then both Heeter and Wedgewood would keep the game deadlocked until the closing seconds when Akeson would blast home his game-winner.

Akeson's goal is the 47th of his career with the Adirondack Phantoms putting him just one away from the all-time team record 48 goals by Denis Hamel.

The Phantoms and Devils meet three more times this season with the next encounter taking place on February 15 in Adirondack's sixth, and last, visit to Times Union Center this season.

Adirondack hosts Hartford on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 for Pink in the Rink presented by Glens Falls Hospital. The Phantoms will be wearing special pink jerseys to show their support for their fight against breast cancer. Partial proceeds from the postgame jersey auction will go to benefit the C.R. Wood Cancer Center. It is also a Sunday Family FunDay with FunDay packages on sale for only $43 including 3 tickets, 3 hot dogs, 3 sodas, one popcorn and one program. Call the Phantoms for information at 518-480-3355.



American Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2014


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