Devils Lose Against Phantoms

Published on April 7, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


ALBANY, N.Y. - Joe Whitney had a pair of goals, but the Albany Devils lost to the Adirondack Phantoms, 5-3, Saturday at the Times Union Center in front of 4,731 fans. The Phantoms' Matthew Ford had a hat trick and scored the game-winning goal at 9:53 of the third period.

Albany never led during the game, but early in the second Brad Mills beat Adirondack's Michael Leighton while playing down five-on-three to give the Devils a 2-1 lead. However during Mills' wraparound attempt, Leighton shook off his helmet, which had come unclipped on the previous opportunity. The puck found its way between the netminder's legs for what appeared to give the Devils go-ahead goal.

After conversing, the officiating crew reversed the call because of Leighton's helmet falling off his head.

"He allowed it," said head coach Rick Kowalsky of the official's initial call on the ice. "The guys closest to it and the linesman make the call. The linesman told him his helmet was off while Mills was behind the net, which was clearly not the case. Mills was in the process of wrapping it around and Leighton threw his helmet off. The Boston Bruins got scored against last year in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Tim Thomas had no mask on.

"He made the right call and was overruled by his linesman."

Moments later, the Phantoms Matthew Ford converted on the five-on-three power play, giving his team a one-goal lead 47 seconds into the period.

Albany eventually responded with a Whitney goal at 14:38. He redirected a Dan Kelly slap shot for his 14th goal of the season and first since Mar. 2.

"We did a lot of good things these last two nights," Whitney said. "We didn't get the results and it's just a few little things that we need to clean up. It could have gone the other way."

The game didn't stay tied for long because Rob Bordson tipped a Dan Jancevski shot behind Jeff Frazee at 19:28 of the second. Then Ford completed his hat trick on a puck-handling mishap at 9:53 of the third.

Whitney chipped in his second of the night at 19:52 of the third, but Mike Testwuide capped the scoring with an empty-net goal at 19:57.

"I thought we stuck with it, but it came down to our inability to score," Kowalsky said.

Jeff Frazee made 17 saves. His night included denying Ford on a shorthanded breakaway early in the game and then denied Denis Hamel in tight at 17:00 of the second.

At the other end, Michael Leighton turned away 37 shots for his 27th victory of the season.

The Devils remain at home with three games next weekend to conclude the regular season. Norfolk arrives at the Times Union Center Friday for a 7 p.m. contest.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2012


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