Kalinski Scores Game-Winner in Return

Published on November 4, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


During the Phantoms' hot start in October, two players conspicuously absent from the action were Garrett Klotz and Jon Kalinski who were both out with injuries. Friday night in Springfield it was Klotz and Kalinski who carried the offensive load. Both scored their first goals of the season to provide Adirondack all the offense it needed in a 2-1 win over the Springfield Falcons at MassMutual Center as the Phantoms moved into first place in the Northeast Division.

"It's nice to see Klotz get a goal," remarked Joe Paterson on the performance of Friday night's goal scorers. "He's a big, strong player who missed some time and it's big whenever he can chip in offensively. And Kalinski has been out so long. He's a great penalty killer and he made a big play intercepting that pass, and that was the goal that won the game tonight."

Playing in his first game after sitting out all of October with injury, Kalinski intercepted a late first period pass and raced in for a shorthanded breakaway goal that proved to be the game-winner.

With the win, the Phantoms improve to 7-3-1 and into a tie with the Connecticut Whale for first place in the Northeast Division. The Phantoms, Whale and Norfolk Admirals are tied for the second most points in the Eastern Conference with 15. The St. John's IceCaps are first in the conference with 17 points.

Although Adirondack's defense limited Springfield to a very tidy 21 shots, Michael Leighton was beaten just once and was the winning goalie. Leighton is now 6-2-0 for the season, and improved his already-impressive road statistics to a 1.83 goals-against average and .930 save percentage away from the Glens Falls Civic Center.

"Our overall defensive game has gotten better and better. It isn't just one guy, but a guy who I thought did a real nice job tonight was Tyler Brown. He broke up a lot of their chances," said Paterson. To go along with his fine defensive play, Tyler Brown has a goal and an assist in eight games, a season after he had 25 goals and 32 assists for the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers.

The losing goalie for the Falcons was Danny Taylor who allowed two goals on 22 shots but made a number of tremendous saves particularly in the third to keep Springfield in the game.

Having their three-game win-streak snapped, the Falcons fell to 6-6-0 and are now three points behind the Phantoms in the Northeast Division standings.

It took the Phantoms 2:37 to open the night's scoring. Following a blocked shot by Marc-Andre Bourdon which foiled a Springfield rush, Garrett Klotz and Tye McGinn were sprung on a 2-on-1 in the opposite direction. Carrying the puck down the right side, Klotz elected to shoot it himself, and he found his mark between Taylor's arm and body.

Six minutes later, former Boston College scoring star Cam Atkinson tied the game with a power-play goal, by firing a low shot through Leighton's legs while sliding through the slot on one knee. Assists went to Springfield's top two point scorers for the season, Nick Drazenovic and Martin St. Pierre.

The Phantoms regained their one-goal lead with 30 seconds left in the first period, when Jon Kalinski intercepted an errant pass by Springfield defenseman David Savard and ripped a shot over Taylor's glove hand, while on an uncontested, shorthanded breakaway.

Over the final two periods, the Phantoms smothered the Falcons' offensively, only allowing 12 shots en route to a 2-1 win.

The final shot totals were 24 for the Phantoms and 21 for the Falcons.

Springfield was 1-of-6 on the power play. The Phantoms were 0-of-4, but scored a shorthanded goal. Adirondack has scored a power-play goal in 9 of 11 games this season and have special-teams goals in every game they have played. In the only two games the Phantoms haven't scored on the power play, their game-winning goal has come shorthanded.

The Adirondack Phantoms remained unbeaten all-time against Springfield sporting a 5-0-0 record against the Falcons. The second game of the four-game divisional rivalry series will take place on Friday, November 25 at the Glens Falls Civic Center when the Falcons travel to the North Country for a Black Friday encounter.

This was Adirondack's lone game over a 13-day stretch from October 30 to November 11 in one of their least busy sections of the schedule. The Phantoms now have another week off between games before returning to action with a two-game homestand next Friday and Saturday against Syracuse and Toronto.

The Phantoms scratches were Dan Jancevski and Mike Testwuide. Eric Wellwood was also not in the lineup, having been called up to Philadelphia earlier in the day.

Friday night's game is Veteran's Appreciation Night with free admission for all active and retired military when accompanied by a paid-admission (must purchase special package by Thursday. Saturday's game is Phantoms Youth Jersey Night for the first 1,000 kids (age 14 and younger) presented by Glens Falls Hospital.

Upcoming Events

Monday, November 7, 7:00 - "Phantoms Power Hour" LIVE from McGinny's Tavern. Player guests: #18 Tyler Brown and #38 Jason Akeson.

Friday, November 11, 7:00 - Syracuse Crunch at Phantoms. Veterans Appreciation Night. Free admission to all active duty and military personnel when accompanied by paid admission. Must purchase in advance by Thursday, November 10. $2 draft beer specials: Bud Light and Labatt Blue Light. Saturday, November 12, 7:00 - Toronto Marlies at Phantoms. Youth Jersey Giveaway night for first 1,000 kids (age 14 and younger) courtesy of Glens Falls Hospital.

Get great savings and have fun with your friends, family or co-workers by bringing your group of 15 or more fans to enjoy fast-paced, hard-hitting Phantoms hockey. Call the Phantoms to find out more at 518-480-3355 and check the team's website at phantomshockey.com. Catch all the action of Phantoms hockey all season long on the team's flagship station, Classic Hits Q101.7 and on phantomshockey.com. Bob Rotruck has the broadcast coverage 30 minutes prior to game-time with Countdown to Faceoff.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2011


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