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Danis Terrific in Goalie-Duel Shootout Loss

March 14, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Goaltender Yann Danis was spectacular in an impressive bounce-back performance and could hardly have done much more to earn the Phantoms a difficult road victory. But a late Hartford comeback including a tying goal by an ex-Phantom burning his former teammates would lead the host Wolf Pack to a 2-1 shootout victory over Adirondack on Friday night at XL Center.

Long-time Phantom Danny Syvret scored the game-tying goal on a late power-play with just 3:44 to go setting up Danny Kristo's game-winner in the fifth round of a shootout that would be the only goal scored by either side. Syvret played over 200 games for the Philadelphia Phantoms and Adirondack Phantoms prior to being dealt to the Rangers organization last summer in exchange for Kris Newbury. Speaking of Newbury, the Phantoms played their first game since the veteran center was dealt to Hershey in exchange for Derek Whitmore. And the 29-year-old Rochester native, Whitmore, looked impressive in his Phantoms debut buzzing all over the Hartford zone on a line with Ben Holmstrom and Nick Cousins. Whitmore had arrived to Hartford just two hours before game-time and exchanged several handshakes in the locker-room just trying to get to know the names and faces of his new teammates.

Chris VandeVelde scored his 10th of the season just 5:36 into the game on assists by Tye McGinn and Jason Akeson. It was a nice pickup off the end-boards by Akeson of a VandeVelde shot to set him up for his third shot of the shift. Akeson's 35th assist and 53rd point this year places his nine away from Jon Matsumoto's team-record 62 points in a single season in 2009-10.

The way Danis was playing, it looked like he was going to make the 1-0 lead hold up through the duration and potentially secure his 20th career shutout and his second of the month. But Akeson was tagged for a hooking call late in the third which the team took exception too and Syvret was able to blast home the tying tally from the left point rocketing straight out off the back of the mesh. Syvret's eighth of the season was his third against the Phantoms and is not the first time he has burned his former team with a late play.

Nick Cousins had two golden opportunities in the second period but just missed on extended Adirondack's lead. On a tipped puck right in front of the Hartford, crease, Cousins carried a little wide to the right of a partly open net and tried to extend the lead past and behind eventual winning goal Dov Grumet-Morris but his shot from over there was a bit off-target and hit off the outside of the iron and out.

Later, Jason Akeson set up Cousins rushing up the middle into the zone. Cousins went wide to the right of Grumet-Morris and induced the veteran goaltender to bite and go down. Cousins thought he could sneak the puck right around the back of the right skate Grumet-Morris but the veteran goaltender was able to recover backwards and barely made the nice kick-save to again rob Cousins.

Another great chance for the Phantoms late in the third period when Adirondack was still ahead 1-0. Derek Whitmore gained extra time by not charing straight to the net when he carried into the zone during a line change. He then found defenseman Steven Delisle screaming up the middle and Whitmore hit him perfectly for a partial breakaway but Grumet-Morris would slide to his left and make another good stop.

Back on Adirondack's end, it was one impressive stop after another for Yann Danis who certainly found his groove again off a rough stretch less weekend. The 2011 AHL Goalie of the Year (Pieri Memorial Award) showed his brilliance on some impressive kick stops of J.T. Miller, Dylan Mcilrath, Jesper Fast, and others. He probably made more quality saves than Grumet-Morris in this one but there was no doubt that both netminders were exceptionally strong in this one.

The great goalie-duel harkened back to the Ivy League rivalry between this pair of 32-year-old netminders. Dov Grumet-Morris out of Harvard and Yann Danis out of Brown would have first encounter each other over a decade ago when both were just getting started in their college careers.

Hartford out-shot Adirondack 34-25. The Wolf Pack were 1-for-5 on the power play while the Phantoms finished 0-for-2. Adirondack and Hartford finish off their 10-game season rivalry series next Saturday night in Glens Falls.

The Phantoms continue their busy travel weekend Saturday night at the Hershey Bears (Washington) and Sunday afternoon at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NY Islanders). The Saturday night game at Giant Center in ChocolateTown will be reunion of ex-Phantoms Kris Newbury against his former team in their first encounter since he was loaned to Hershey on Wednesday in exchange for Derek Whitmore's arrival with the Phantoms. Whitmore in turn will be seeing his teammates of just three days prior for the first time as well.

Adirondack's next home games are Saturday, March 22 and Sunday March 23 at 5:00. The March 22 game is Firefighters Appreciation Night and the March 23 game is a Sunday Family FunDay featuring a postgame skate with the Phantoms players. Call the Phantoms for tickets and Sunday Family Fun-Packs at 518-480-3355.

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