Back to Back Shutouts for Leighton
Published on February 12, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
Michael Leighton turned aside 28 Penguins drives including 10 in the third period as Adirondack hung on for their second shutout victory in a row with an exciting 1-0 decision at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Saturday night.
It was Leighton's second consecutive shutout and the 31st of his AHL career. Leighton won 4-0 at Hamilton last Saturday with a 20 save performance. It was the Phantoms' third shutout of the season with the other taking place on December 28 at Syracuse by Nic Riopel.
Adirondack consecutive road wins were against teams in first place in the North and East Divisions respectively.
Erik Gustafsson scored late in the first period on a drive deflected by former Philadelphia Phantom and Flyer Jesse Boulerice. The deflection caught Penguins goalie Brad Thiessen off-balance andd bounced in short-side for the lone tally of the evening for either side. Thiessen had two shutouts this week and took the loss for only the fifth time this season in falling to 21-5-0.
The Phantoms improved to 11-7-3 under Head Coach Joe Paterson with two of those wins coming against the first place Penguins. Adirondack is 13-7-3 in their last 23 games dating back to December 17. The Phantoms have also won three of their last four and they are also 4-2-0 in their last six games.
The Phantoms were able to hang in there against the WBS attack especially in the third when the Penguins turned on the pressure. While Adirondack was outshot 10-1 in the final frame which included several impressive Leighton stops, it was the team's defense that again deserved credit for breaking up other opportunities and keeping the Penguins team from getting too close.
Adirondack had a great opportunity to build on their 1-0 lead late in the first period when the Penguins took three consecutive two minute minor penalties. But Adirondack failed to convert on their two minutes of 5-on-3 time and was unable to finish on the subsequent 5-on-4 carrying over to the second period as well.
Then in was Adirondack's turn to step it up on the penalty kill through much of the second period. The Phantoms had clear after clear and the Penguins weren't able to get much.
Adirondack opens a four game homestand Sunday at 5:00 against the Binghamton Senators. It is the Phantoms' first Sunday home game of the season. Adirondack has played nine Sunday games so far this season, all on the road.
Phantoms Notes: Scratches for Adirondack included Marc-Andre Bourdon, Michael Ryan, Cullen Eddy and Zac Rinaldo.
Sunday, February 13, 5:00 - Binghamton Senators at Adirondack Phantoms - Family Fun Pack ($49), Scoville Jewelers Most Romantic Moment Contest
Wednesday, February 16, 7:00 - Syracuse Crunch at Adirondack Phantoms - Check it Out Night! Ticket discounts with your library card.
Friday, February 18, 7:30 - Connecticut Whale at Adirondack Phantoms - $1 Hot Dogs
Saturday, February 19, 7:00 - Charlotte Checkers at Adirondack Phantoms - Papa John's T-Shirts (First 2500 Fans)
Sunday, February 20, 4:00 - Adirondack Phantoms at Albany Devils
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 February 12, 2011
- Bacashihua Leads Monsters To Shootout Win - Cleveland Monsters
- Moose raise Mike Keane's #12 to MTS Centre Rafters - Manitoba Moose
- Rampage Drop 5-0 Decision To Moose - San Antonio Rampage
- Moose Roll Rampage 5-0 On Mike Keane Night - Manitoba Moose
- Falcons Dominate Bruins 8-2 - Springfield Falcons
- Stars slip past IceHogs - Texas Stars
- Down Two But Not Out - Manchester Monarchs
- Griffins Fall to Monsters in Shootout, 2-1 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Tokarski, Admirals Shut Down Crunch Again - Norfolk Admirals
- Devils Burn Checkers, 4-3, In Overtime - Charlotte Checkers
- Devils Rebound Late, Defeat Charlotte In OT 4-3 - Albany Devils
- Back to Back Shutouts for Leighton - Adirondack Phantoms
- Manchester erases two-goal deficit with six unanswered for the win - Bridgeport Islanders
- P-Bruins Fall To Falcons 8-2 - Providence Bruins
- Bulldogs Defeated 3-2 By Americans - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Rochester's power-play goes two-for-three in road victory - Rochester Americans
- Castonguay Signs PTO With Sound Tigers - Bridgeport Islanders
- Whale Bounce Back Strongly - Connecticut Whale
- Texas Stars Game Notes - Texas Stars
- Dallas Assigns Wathier - Texas Stars
- Panthers Call for Callahan; Comrie Reassigned to Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Wolves Release Miller - Chicago Wolves
- Hurricanes Reassign Brett Carson to Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- Falcons Host the Bruins Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Aeros Maintain Hold on 1st with 4-3 Shootout Win - Houston Aeros
- Stone hat trick leads Heat to win - Abbotsford Heat
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