Four Game Win Streak Halted

Published on April 8, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Adirondack's four game win streak came to a halt in a 4-1 setback at the Manchester Monarchs Friday night. The Phantoms were beginning a three game road trip entirely against playoff-bound teams to conclude the 2010-11 regular season. Adirondack had their chances but couldn't solve Manchester goalie Martin Jones who made 32 saves on 33 shots to preserve the win.

Brandon Kozun led the way for Manchester with a pair of goals. Adirondack's lone tally came off the stick of Mike Testwuide for his 18th of the year. Johan Backlund made several dazzling saves in net but a Monarchs surge late in the third period made the difference for the insurance goal.

Manchester raced out to a 2-0 lead with goals three minutes apart midway through the first period. Kozun was rushing up the middle and chipped a centering feed past Backlund for the first goal of the night and his 22d of the year. Patrick Mullen would carry the puck beyond the goal-line and his attempt to center in across went off the back of Backlund's leg and into the cage for a 2-0 advantage.

It was at that point that Adirondack would press the issue and mostly dominate the play in the Manchester zone. Erik Gustafsson's drive from the left circle was blocked down by Jones but Testwuide was in the slot to knock in the rebound to get the Phantoms on the board at 2-1.

Adirondack outshot the Monarchs 12-7 in the first period and then would blast away with a 16-8 shots advantage in a scoreless second period.

Backlund and the Phantoms would kill off back-to-back power plays midway through the third to keep the Phantoms alive in the game.

Then Rob Bordson would connect cross-ice with Denis Hamel sneaking in behind the Monarchs defense but his breakaway opportunity was steered away by Jones. A few second later Backlund would make his best stop of the night with a spectacular lunge to his left grabbing a Kozun drive in his glove that appeared to be a sure-thing goal.

But a minute later Kozun would pounce on a turnover in the Phantoms end and shoot one home from the right circle with 5:24 remaining. Adirondack had a late power play and pulled Backlund to set up a 6-on-4 opportunity but John Zeiler was able to race past the Phantoms D and walk it into the empty net for the final score of the evening.

The Phantoms are now 8-5 in their last 13 games after having their four game win streak stopped. Adirondack's record under Head Coach Joe Paterson is 24-15-8.

The season-ending road trip heads down to Binghamton on Saturday against the Senators. The last game of the year is Sunday at 3:00 against the AHL leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins whom the Phantoms have defeated three consecutive times.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 8, 2011


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