Hamel Scores 317th But Phantoms Take First Loss

Published on October 15, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Syracuse, NY- Behind a three-goal first period and a hat trick by Kyle Palmieri, the Crunch handed the Phantoms their first loss of the season, 6-2, on Saturday night in Syracuse.

Denis Hamel's second-period goal was a bright spot for Adirondack, with the power-play tally coming as the 317th AHL goal in his career. By reaching 317 AHL goals, Hamel passed current Washington Capitals head coach and former Adirondack Red Wing Bruce Boudreau for sole possession of 15th place in AHL history. Meanwhile, Hamel is now just eight scores behind former Adirondack Red Wing Glenn Merkosky for 13th all-time, with Fred Thurier (319 goals) and Bruce Cline (321 goals) also within his sights.

Hamel's goal came as part of a 1-of-5 effort on the power play for the Phantoms, who have scored on the man advantage in each of their first three games. Overall, Adirondack is 5-of-17 (29%) when up a man.

Brayden Schenn also continued his fine early-season play on Saturday. Entering the night near the league's lead in points, Schenn scored his fourth goal in the last two games in the third period, and now has six points (4g, 2a) in three games this season. With an assist on Schenn's third-period goal, Eric Wellwood got his fourth assist of the weekend, while Erik Gustafsson got his second assist in as many days.

However, the Crunch received a hat trick from Kyle Palmieri, as well as strikes from Rick Schofield, Sean Zimmerman and former Phantom Patrick Maroon.

Adirondack dominated the season series last year over the Crunch seven games to one which included an impressive 4-0 mark in Syracuse. But the Crunch served notice that they intend for this Empire State rivalry to be more competitive this season by taking the first of the ten games scheduled between the two games in 2011-12.

Syracuse's first four goals were scored past Jason Bacashihua, who took the loss in his Phantoms regular-season debut. After relieving Bacashihua in the second period, Michael Leighton made 10 saves in 35:13 of playing time.

With 36 saves on 38 shots, the winning goalie for Syracuse was Jeff Deslauriers, who has 20-career NHL wins with the Edmonton Oilers.

The key to the Crunch's second straight (2-0-0) victory was a solid first period. Syracuse's game-opening goal came 4:54 into the first period, and was scored by the team's leading point getter from last season and Saturday's first star of the game, Kyle Palmieri. Palmieri, a former first-round draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks, beat Bacashihua after getting set up by Nick Bonino, a product of Boston University.

The Crunch upped their lead to 3-0 by scoring twice in 28 seconds, at 11:01 and 11:29 of the first period. Rick Schofield and Sean Zimmerman were the two goal scorers, and each player's marker was his first of the season.

In the second period, where the Phantoms entered the night outscoring their opponents by a 5-2 clip, Adirondack emerged from the dressing room carrying the play. At 4:31 of the middle stanza, Denis Hamel scored the Phantoms' first goal by jamming in his own rebound from in close to the Syracuse goal, while Brayden Schenn and Jason Akeson were also in the crease jamming at the puck.

However, Palmieri stopped the Phantoms' momentum by scoring for the second time in the game 16 seconds after Hamel had brought Adirondack to within two.

In the third period, the Crunch went ahead 5-1 when former Phantom Patrick Maroon scored a power-play goal with his team on a 6-on-4 man-power advantage, as Deslauriers had vacated his net for an extra skater due to a delayed penalty call.

Brayden Schenn scored with a hard wrist shot at 12:50 of the third period to bring the Phantoms to within three goals. However, Palmieri completed his hat trick just 1:05 later and the Crunch skated away with a 6-2 victory.

This was the first of ten meetings between the Phantoms and Crunch this season. Syracuse invades the Glens Falls Civic Center for the first time on Friday, November 11. Adirondack returns for their next visit to Syracuse on Saturday, November 18.

While the Phantoms drop to 2-1-0, they remain just one of two teams in the Northeast Division (Springfield) with multiple wins this season. Adirondack looks for more when they visit the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.

Scratches in the game for Adirondack included: Oliver Lauridsen, Andy Bohmbach, Shane Harper, Garrett Klotz, Cullen Eddy, Jon Kalinski and Johan Backlund.

The game was the opener of a five-game road-trip for the Phantoms. Next weekend, Adirondack plays at Portland, Albany and Rochester on consecutive nights.

Adirondack's next home games are October 26 through 29 when they play three games in four days in a Halloween Week homestand.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 15, 2011


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