Devils Banish Phantoms 5-3

Published on December 2, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


LOWELL, MA - Brad Mills scored two goals, including one of two shorthanded goals scored by the Devils, as Lowell beat the Adirondack Phantoms 5-3 Wednesday night at Tsongas Arena.

Starting with the opening face off the Phantoms played with a high tempo, but the Devils were able to match their energy in a very balanced first period. Lowell spent more time in the penalty box, giving Adirondack three power plays and yet it was the Devils that capitalized while being a man down. Marc-Andre Bourdon mishandled a pass at the left point, allowing Brad Mills to speed away on a shorthanded breakaway. Mills skated from the right wing across the front of goaltender Nic Riopel and lifted a backhand shot over Riopel's right leg pad at 16:58 for an unassisted shorthanded goal and a 1-0 Lowell lead.

The Devils exploded for four goals in the second period, starting with Nick Palmieri's fifth goal of the season at 2:40, where he simply poked in a rebound. Adirondack got on the board to cut Lowell's lead to 2-1 less than a minute later when Stefan Legein finished off a beautiful passing sequence between Jared Ross and Danny Syvret at 3:27; Legein's seventh goal of the year. But Mills would make it 3-1 for the Devils with his second goal of the night at 5:29, knocking home another rebound at the edge of the crease. Alexander Vasyunov scored at 8:40 to extend the Lowell lead to 4-1 and again Adirondack would answer back. Patrick Maroon made a smart pass from the left wing right onto the stick blade of David Laliberte, who in one motion received the pass and shoveled it passed the glove side of goaltender Jeff Frazee at 9:42. But the Devils would add one more goal before the period ended as Patrick Davis tallied the team's second shorthanded goal of the night at 18:38 for a 5-2 Lowell advantage after forty minutes of play.

Phantoms leading scorer Jon Matsumoto game Adirondack some life when he cranked home a power play goal at 7:59 of the third period, assisted by Laliberte and Syvret, cutting the Devils lead to 5-3. The Phantoms pushed for more, pulling Riopel with three minutes left while on the power play, but could not close the gap.

Jeff Frazee stopped 31-of-34 shots and earned the win as Lowell improved to 13-9-3-0 on the season. Nic Riopel took the loss making 32 saves on 37 shots as Adirondack fell to 9-10-1-0. The Devils out-shot the Phantoms 37-34 and went 0-for-2 on the power play; Adirondack was 1-for-8 with the man-advantage.

Adirondack now travels to Philadelphia as they will host the Norfolk Admirals on Friday, December 4th at 7:00 pm at Wachovia Center, home of the Flyers. The Phantoms next home game at the Glens Falls Civic Center is another Time Warner Cable Cup showdown with the Albany River Rats on Saturday, December 5th at 7:00 pm.

Phantoms Holiday Packs are currently on sale at the Phantoms office. Give the gift of Phantoms hockey this year with four Flex tickets and an autographed commemorative game program, all packaged in a Phantoms hockey sock, suitable for hanging on your mantel, for just $49. For more information please contact the Adirondack Phantoms at (518) 480-3355 or online at www.phantomshockey.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2009


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