Back to Back: Riopel Leads Phantoms to Victory
Published on December 18, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
The Phantoms ended their play before the holiday break in style with their first two game win streak of the season. Backed by Denis Hamel's eleventh goal of the season and Nic Riopel's 26 saves, the Phantoms turned away the Abbotsford Heat 2-1 Saturday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Michael Ryan (3rd) and Denis Hamel (11th) led the way for the Phantoms who were coming off a 3-1 victory over the Hershey Bears Friday in one of their best performances of the year. In this one, the Phantoms had to hang on while relying on Riopel to make several key saves. Adirondack's penalty kill excelled as they held Abbotsford to 1-for-8 on the man advantage.
The back to back wins send the Phantoms into their holiday break on a positive note. Adirondack does not return to action until Sunday, December 26 at the Binghamton Senators.
The Phantoms struck early for the 1-0 lead as they turned on the Heat in the Abbotsford zone. On Abbotsford's first power play of the night, Michale Ryan picked up a Heat turnover in the neutral zone and raced in for a shot on Heat netminder Leland Irving. After a rebound try by Hamel was also steered away, Ryan was able to force a backhander between the legs of Irving and roll it into the back of the net for the team's first "true" shorthanded tally of the year. The Phantoms only other shorthanded goal was scored by Eric Wellwood into an empty net with a pulled Syracuse goalie on December 10.
The Phantoms had a 13 shot barrage in the first period with four power plays but Irving was able to keep the score at 1-0.
Adirondack's fourth power play would carry over into the second period and the Phantoms would strike again. Hamel took a Ben Holmstrom feed in the high slot and had time to tee up and fire in his 11th goal of the season and 301st of his career for a 2-0 lead. Hamel has four goals in his last three games.
It turned out to be the only shot in the second period for Adirondack who were outshot in the middle frame by the Heat 10-1. Abbotsford had four power play in the second period including a pair of 5-on-3's. They hit a crossbar on one shot but were unable to push anything past Riopel.
Abbotsford got on the board early in the third when Matt Keith scored his team leading 12th goal of the season. It came moments after Denis Hamel missed on a breakaway with his drive sailing over the right shoulder of Irving.
The game featured a few scraps and some big hits. Andrew Rowe got crunched by Bryan Cameron between the two team's benches in the third period. Cameron was assessed a game misconduct as well as a five minute major for boarding. The Phantoms ensuing power play wouldn't go the distance however as Joonas Lehtiviouri was called for a hold in his own zone partway through.
Adirondack was 1-for-7 on the power play while Abbotsford went 1-for-8.
The Heat outshot the Phantoms 27-23 on the night.
Phantoms Upcoming Games
Sunday, December 26 - Adirondack at Binghamton - 5 p.m.
Tuesday, December 28 - Adirondack at Syracuse - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, December 29 - Manchester at Adirondack - 7 p.m.
Don't be left out! Tickets for all Phantoms games are on sale now. Discount rates are available for groups of 15 or more. Save off the individual ticket price by asking the Phantoms about their great group rate packages.
The AHL is celebrating their 75th anniversary season and is the top development league for the NHL. More than 85 percent of today's NHL players are American Hockey League graduates and more than 6 million fans attend AHL games every year.
Come watch future NHL stars and up-and-coming Flyers prospects with exciting Adirondack Phantoms hockey! A variety of ticket packages for all the fast-paced action are on sale now. The Phantoms selection of discount ticket packages includes 3-packs, 6-packs, 12 and 22 Select Plans, full season plans and Flex Packs. Choose the plan that works best for you! Get your tickets at the Phantoms office inside the Glens Falls Civic Center, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling the Phantoms at 518-480-3355.
American Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2010
- Whale Ride the Wave - Connecticut Whale
- Rivermen Work Past Grand Rapids 2-1 - Peoria Rivermen
- Checkers Cruise Past B-Sens - Binghamton Senators
- LaBlanc Stays White Hot with OT Winner - Rockford IceHogs
- Rivermen Drift Past Griffins 2-1 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Sound Tigers Take Down Sharks 7-2 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Aeros Shut out by Moose - Houston Aeros
- Admirals Rebound to Defeat Devils 5-1 - Norfolk Admirals
- Hamilton Slips by Texas with a 3-2 OT Win - Texas Stars
- MacLean Makes History in Rampage 4-2 Win Over Barons - San Antonio Rampage
- Back to Back: Riopel Leads Phantoms to Victory - Adirondack Phantoms
- Moose Blank Aeros 1-0 - Manitoba Moose
- Bulldogs Outshine Stars with 3-2 Overtime Win - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Crunch Topple First Place Penguins - Syracuse Crunch
- Wolves Snow Milwaukee, 5-1 - Chicago Wolves
- Extra, Extra, Read All About It - Manchester Monarchs
- Checkers Double up Sens for Seventh Straight Road Win - Charlotte Checkers
- Admirals Fall to Wolves - Milwaukee Admirals
- Phantoms Edge Heat 2-1 - Abbotsford Heat
- Sharks Sink 7-2 in Bridgeport - Worcester Sharks
- Swift Scores Again But Devils Lose - Albany Devils
- Monarchs Nip Pirates - Portland Pirates
- Amerks Sweep Marlies with 6-5 Shootout Win - Rochester Americans
- Anaheim Assigns Right Wing Dan Sexton - Syracuse Crunch
- Texas Stars Gameday Notes - Hamilton at Texas - Texas Stars
- Crunch Recall Left Wing Eric Lampe - Syracuse Crunch
- Blues Assign Nikita Nikitin to Peoria - Peoria Rivermen
- Barons Notes for December 18 - Oklahoma City Barons
- B-Sens Assign Goaltender Mike Brodeur to Elmira - Binghamton Senators
- Heat fall 5-2 in Wilkes-Barre - Abbotsford Heat
- Moose rally past Aeros - Houston Aeros
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