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Back-to-Back Shutouts, 6th Straight Win

November 9, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


This time it was Yann Danis' turn to dazzle. The veteran goalie steered aside 28 Albany Devils shots for Adirondack's second shutout win in a 2-0 decision at Times Union Center on Saturday evening. The Phantoms extended their win streak to six games.

Less than 24 hours after Cal Heeter notched his first career shutout at Springfield on Friday, Danis picked up his 18th career professional shutout with 28 saves, many of which weren't quite routine. Included in his career shutout totals are 15 in the American Hockey League and also three shutouts in the NHL.

Rob Bordson (5th) and Ben Holmstrom (3rd) scored late in the first period about four minutes apart to provide the offense.

It was not exactly the easiest of shutouts for the 32-year-old who was AHL Goaltender of the Year (Baz Bastien Memorial Award) two seasons ago with Oklahoma City. Danis made a sparkling glove save with 5:45 left in the second period on a partial breakaway by Harri Pesonen. And with four minutes remaining, Danis faced a penalty shot from Chris McKelvie and was able to preserve the shutout with a right-leg kick stop.

The penalty-shot save was not only exciting to preserve the shutout streak but, more importantly, prevented the Devils in their late, comeback efforts.

"No question, that's a critical part of the game," Phantoms head coach Terry Murray said. "You still have four minutes left. And you get a save like that to keep it two-nothing, it was absolutely huge. You gotta look at your goaltender at the end of the night when it's a shutout. He did a real good job."

"I was happy to make the same. Obviously, it was a crucial time in the game," Yann Danis said of his big penalty-shot save. "I really wanted to make that save to keep us in it so I'm glad I was able to make it."

It is the first time since April of 2011 for the Phantoms to record consecutive shutouts. Michael Leighton did it back-to-back against Syracuse and Rochester that time. The Phantoms' shutout streak now stands at 137 minutes going back to early in the third period last Saturday in Glens Falls when Albany's Mike Hoeffel scored in a 3-1 Phantoms' win.

This streak is somewhat special though in that it is two different goalies recording the consecutive blankings. Heeter and Danis seem to feed off each others' success.

"Right now we're playing some good hockey," Danis said. "You know, I'm just trying to keep up with Heets (Cal Heeter). Obviously he got the shutout (Friday) night. I'm just trying to help the team to win and it feels good to win."

Adirondack's penalty kill excelled again and had to get through over a minute of 6-on-4 at the end to finish off this blanking. Albany was 0-for-4 on the power play. The Phantoms have successfully killed 25 consecutive opponent power plays to inch up towards 90% on the season with a chance to pass Norfolk for the top penalty kill in the league.

And indeed, the Phantoms are one of the hottest teams in the league with a six-game winning streak that dates back to October 26. Adirondack has allowed one goal or fewer in each game of the streak and have surrendered a total of four goals in the six wins. It is the longest winning streak for the Phantoms franchise since the Philadelphia Phantoms won six straight in March, 2009.

When you're on a roll, sometimes it seems things work out. "It's in the locker room," Murray said. "You're feeling good. When the going gets hard, you're traveling, you've got three (games) in two-and-a-half days, you find a way to dig in. And you find a way to get the job done and that's what we're hoping the case is tomorrow. The dressing room is close. The bench is really into it. There's a lot of communication, a lot of talk, a lot of help on the ice with good talk. I think when you have communication in the pro game it goes a long way."

Rob Bordson opened the scoring with a little help from the Albany defense. Tyler Brown rushed into the zone up the right wing on a 3-on-2 and connected with Bordson on the other side. Bordson was trying to give it back to Marcel Noebels back on the right of the goal for a strong scoring opportuniuty but the puck went straight into the net off a defenseman's stick. Bordson leads the team with five goals. It was Rob Bordson's 112th consecutive game with the Phantoms in a streak that dates back to February 24, 2011 when he rejoined the team.

About four minutes later, it was another bouncing puck that found its way through Albany goalie Scott Wedgewood. Mark Alt's shot went off the stick of Nick Cousins and then was chopped down by Ben Holmstrom to bounce through Wedgewood. The double-deflection worked for Holmstrom's third of the year.

Adirondack had to battle through a a second-period surge from Albany in which they caught iron once, were denied on a breakaway, and had several other close calls.

Perhaps the most dramatic moment was with four minutes left when McKelvie was tripped on a shorthnaded breakaway and awarded a penalty shot. With Adirondack's shutout streak on the line, Danis made the big save. And then made a couple more in the 6-on-4 attack in the final minute.

As always when the Phantoms play their Northway rivals, a large contingent of Phantoms fans descended on the Times Union Center to cheer for the Men in Orange. And the gathering was boosted even more with the excitement of the team's win-streak.

The Phantoms play their third road game in less than 48 hours on Sunday at 3:00 when they travel to Bridgeport, CT to take on the Sound Tigers. The last seven game win streak for the Phantoms' franchise was December 5-19, 2008 as the Philadelphia Phantoms. The last time the Phantoms had a win streak of eight games or longer was in October and November 2004 when the team won 17 in a row early during a season in which the Phantoms would eventually win the Calder Cup. That 17-game win streak had been the all-time record in the AHL until two seasons ago when the Norfolk Admirals 28-gamer broke their mark.

Adirondack is currently in their longest stretch between home games, 20 days. The Phantoms next play at home on November 22 on Scoville Diamond Dig Night and November 23 on Youth Jersey Night presented by Glens Falls Hospital. Fans can bring a bag of canned goods to either game that weekend to receive a free ticket for the upcoming game on Wednesday, November 27. Call the Phantoms for tickets and further information at 518-480-3355.



American Hockey League Stories from November 9, 2013


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