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Frostbite can clinch playoff spot this week

March 8, 2005 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Adirondack Frostbite News Release


The Frostbite started the week off slow falling in a shootout to the Elmira Jackals Wednesday and Port Huron Beacons Friday before taking out the Western Division leading Fort Wayne Komets. Wednesday, Adirondack was down 2-1 until a minute left in regulation when Scott Drevitch tied the game on a power play goal. In the shootout Elmira's Derek Campbell won it in the ninth round to end their 11 game losing streak. Friday the Frostbite and Beacons battled back and forth all evening long before heading into the shootout where the Beacons scored on their first three shots on the way to the victory. Saturday was a playoff like atmosphere at the Civic Center in front of 4,521 fans. The Frostbite took the 1-0 lead on Ryan Bennett's team leading fifth shorthanded goal, before the Frostbite scored three times in the third period including the game winner from Bob Rapoza on the way to the 4-2 victory.

Frostbite – 2 vs. Elmira – 3 (SO)
Wednesday, March 2nd
The Adirondack Frostbite collected a point on Wednesday night falling 3-2 to the Elmira Jackals in a shootout. The Frostbite now have a record of 39-15-7 good for 85 points. The Frostbite opened the scoring in the first period when David Burgess scored his 19th goal of the season assisted by Bennett at 10:54 of the opening period. The Frostbite took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. In the second period, Jason Sessa scored a pair of goals, the first tally at 2:10 of the middle period tying the score at 1-1, followed by a second goal at 7:12 of the second period. In the third period, Adirondack tied the score with 1:01 remaining in regulation when Drevitch scored his 12th marker of the year on the power play evening the score at 2-2. In the shootout, Sessa and Frostbite forward Justin Kelly exchanged goals before Campbell scored the eventual game-winning goal in the extra round of the shootout.

Frostbite – 3 vs. Port Huron 4 (SO)
Friday, March 4th
For the second straight game, the Adirondack Frostbite collected a point in the standings, this time losing in a shootout 4-3 to the Port Huron Beacons Friday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Despite the defeat, Adirondack continues to have a seven point lead on the Danbury Trashers for first place in the Eastern Division. The Frostbite opened the scoring in the first period when Burgess scored his 20th marker of the season 6:20 into the first period assisted by Trevor Segstro and Bennett. The Beacons responded with two quick goals of their own when Josh Tataryn converted at 11:31, followed by Trevor Edwards at 13:10 of the opening period. In the second period, the Beacons expanded their lead to 3-1 when Kyle Sheen scored his seventh goal of the year at 2:36. The Frostbite started their comeback at 9:58 of the middle period when Greg Koehler scored his 31st tally of the season assisted by Hugo Belanger and Kelly. Adirondack tied the score at 3-3 when Segstro converted at 14:04 of the second period. The two teams played a scoreless third period before Port Huron outscored the Frostbite 3-1 in the shootout.

Frostbite – 4 vs. Fort Wayne – 2
Saturday, March 5th
The Adirondack Frostbite, tonight known as the "Mulleteers" scored three times in the third period including an empty net goal to give the Frostbite a 4-2 victory over the Fort Wayne Komets. 4,521 fans showed up to get their Barry Melrose Bobblehead Dolls and see the top two teams in the league go head-to-head. Adirondack got goals from Bennett, Segstro, Rapoza and Belanger on the way to the win. The Frostbite led 1-0 after the second period when Bennett scored his fifth short-handed goal of the season. He is now on a six game goal scoring streak. In the third period the Komets tied the game at one before Segstro extended his goal scoring streak to five straight games. The Frostbite added two more insurance goals from Rapoza and Belanger, both of whom had two point nights. With the win the Frostbite have improved to 40-15-8, 88 points on the season to keep the best overall record in the league, four points ahead of Muskegon and Fort Wayne.

TEAM NOTES:
IN THE HUNT: Heading into the week the Frostbite are seven points ahead of Danbury for first in the East and have the best record in the UHL, two points better than the Muskegon Fury. Right now the Frostbite have two games in hand on Danbury and one on Richmond. The Frostbite are 27 points up on the third place Richmond RiverDogs. Adirondack has the third best home record and best road record in the league. Only seven points separate the Frostbite from the sixth place team overall.

SCORING LEADERS: Heading into tonight Hugo Belanger leads the league in scoring with 82 points. Belanger is three points ahead of RIchmond's David Hymovitz. Belanger also has the third best shooting percentage in the league converting 20.1%. The Frostbite have two other players in the top 20 in scoring: Greg Koehler is fourth with 77 points, while Sylvain Cloutier sits tied for 16th with 63 points. Koehler sits tied for second in the league in power play points with 35.

STREAKING: The Frostbite are on a season high ten game home point streak. The Frostbite are 26-3-5 when scoring first and 26-0-0 when leading after the second period. Adirondack has the second best goals for per game average at 3.41. Trevor Segstro is on a five game goal scoring streak. The Frostbite are third in the league in shots against per game allowing on average 27.54 Ryan Bennett is on a six game point scoring streak.

DREVITCH ON THE D: Scott Drevitch is tied for first amongst defenseman in scoring with 48 points. He is tied with Missouri's Mat Snesrud. Drevitch also leads all blueliners in goals, power play goals with seven and power play points with 26. He leads the league in shots with 193. Bob Rapoza has moved into the top 20 amongst defensive scorers as well. He sits tied for 16th with 26 points.

RECORD BREAKING: Bob Rapoza is a point away from 300 on his career and played in his 600 pro game Saturday. After picking up two assists Saturday Drevitch remains in ninth on the Adirondack (UHL) All-time Points list with 104 points and tied for 10th on the Adirondack (UHL) All-time Power Play Goals list. Cloutier is five games away from 800 and six assists away from 300.

MATHEMATICS: Coming into tonight's game all but three teams in the league could mathematically still catch the Frostbite. Adirondack eliminated Elmira, Kansas City and Motor City last week. Three down, ten to go. Every team is also still mathematically alive to make the playoffs. The Frostbite can clinch a playoff spot this week with a win Wednesday against Richmond and either one victory or one RiverDogs loss over the weekend.

GREAT GOALTENDING: Despite Frostbite goalie Derek Gustafson missing over a month of action he sits just outside the top ten in goals against average at 2.69 and is still in the top five in the league in wins with 26. Kris Tebbs is third in the league in shootout save percentage at 78.9%.

OUT OF THE BOX: Coming into the week the Frostbite are last in the league in penalty minutes averaging only 18.9 per game. Adirondack is also last in the league in minors and second to last in the league in majors. Despite all of this Scott Page leads all rookies in penalty minutes with 191 and majors with 25.

SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS: Heading into the week the Frostbite have the second best power play in the league converting 21.6% of the time. The Frostbite have the best road power play in the league converting 23.3% of the time. Adirondack's penalty kill unit has improved over the last few weeks as well moving up to fourth in the league.

CLOSE CALLS: This season the Frostbite have been involved in 33 games where they either won or lost by a goal. In those games the Frostbite are 21-4-8. Only six times this season have the Frostbite either won or lost by four goals or more.

ROOKIE ON THE RISE: Bennett remains in fifth amongst all rookies in scoring with 41 points. Bennett is also fourth amongst rookies in assists with 24, third amongst rookies in shots with 157, tied for first in plus/minus at +21 and leads all rookies in shorthanded goals with five.

TRANSACTIONS:
Wednesday, March 2nd – Adirondack Frostbite right wing Frank Bakrlik was placed on a two game league suspension.
Wednesday, March 2nd – Adirondack Frostbite goaltender Derek Gustafson was activated from the 21-Day Injured Reserve.
Wednesday, March 2nd – Adirondack Frostbite right wing Justin Kelly was activated from the 21-Day Injured Reserve.
Friday, March 4th – Adirondack Frostbite right wing J.F. Labarre was activated from league suspension.
Saturday, March 5th – Adirondack Frostbite right wing Frank Bakrlik was activated from league suspension.

THE UPCOMING WEEK:
Adirondack vs. Richmond – Wednesday March 9th
The Adirondack Frostbite will play its 16th of 17 games this season against the Richmond RiverDogs Wednesday, nine at home and eight on the road. The Frostbite are 9-4-2 against the RiverDogs this season, winning their last match-up 5-3. Justin Kelly leads Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Richmond with 17 points (7g, 10a). Ryan Prentice leads the RiverDogs in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with 16 points (6g, 10a). Adirondack all-time is 13-17-6 against Richmond.

Adirondack at Danbury – Friday, March 11th & Saturday, March 12th
The Adirondack Frostbite will play its 15th and 16th of 17 games this season against the Danbury Trashers Friday and Saturday, nine at home and eight on the road. The Frostbite are 8-5-1 against the Trashers this season, winning their last match-up 2-1. Hugo Belanger leads Adirondack in head-to-head scoring against Danbury with 20 points (5g, 15a). Bruce RIchardson leads the Trashers in head-to-head scoring against the Frostbite with 16 points (5g, 11a). Adirondack all-time is 8-5-1 against Danbury.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE:
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9th Richmond at Adirondack 7:05 pm Glens Falls Civic Center
FRIDAY, MARCH 11th Adirondack at Danbury 7:30 pm Danbury Ice Arena
SATURDAY, MARCH 12th Adirondack at Danbury 7:00 pm Danbury Ice Arena

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