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Matt Read Scores Game-Winner

April 9, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Boosted by an enthusiastic contingent of fans who traveled down from Glens Falls, the Adirondack Phantoms rallied for a 2-1 victory Saturday to spoil Binghamton's Fan Appreciation Night contest. Matt Read nothced the game-winner with 6:06 remaining to break the late 1-1 tie. Michael Ryan scored his team leading 26th goal in the contest while Johan Backlund was impressive with 27 saves on 28 B-Sens shots.

After the game, Backlund came back out when he was announced as the #2 star and showed his appreciation for the Adirondack cheerers in the corner by clapping his stick into his glove held up high over his head. Matt Read was the #1 star and also turned to the Phantoms following stationed at the Adirondack entrance and saluted the crowd.

Adirondack finished the season with a 4-3-1 record against Binghamton after starting the season series with 0-3-0 mark against the East Division rivals.

Matt Read has proven to be quite the impressive prospect in the Flyers system. He picked up his 6th goal in just 10 games as a pro including his second late game-winner. Read also broke a late tie a couple weeks ago in an exciting 3-2 win in Glens Falls over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Ryan stayed hot with his 8th goal in just the last six games. Denis Hamel led the team lead in goals over Ryan 25-22 a few days ago but Ryan has surged in front with his hat trick on Wednesday followed by another one in this game.

Much of the game was a goaltender's clinic between last year's Adirondack MVP, Johan Backlund, and this year's Binghamton MVP, Barry Brust. Both goalies made some terrific saves. Brust stopped multiple breakaway chances for Hamel and Wellwood to keep his team in front or even.

The victory combined with Albany's shootout loss pushes the Phantoms two points ahead of Albany in the East Division standings with just one game remaining. Adirondack is 5-1 in their last six games and are also 9-5 in their last 14. The Phantoms are now 25-15-8 under Head Coach Joe Paterson and are 27-15-8 since December 17.

Binghamton struck first early in the 2nd period on Roman Wick's one-timer from the right circle on the power play.

After numerous close calls the Phantoms would finally get one past Brust late in the 2nd period. Kevin Marshall's slapshot was blocked down by Brust but found the stick of Michael Ryan on the right side of the crease who tapped in the game tying tally.

The 1-1 deadlock would remain for much of the third until the Phantoms aggressiveness of the forecheck would pay off in the form of the game-winner. Rob Bordson got to it in the right-wing corner and rifled it to Read in the slot who shot it five-hole on Brust with 6:06 remaining.

Backlund came up with a couple big saves late and the Phantoms defense killed the Senators 6-on-5 attack over the last 80 seconds to preserve the win.

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.

The season comes to a somewhat bittersweet end Sunday afternoon at 3:00 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton against the league-leading Penguins who are 57-21-1, 115 points. Adirondack has won the last three meetings against the Penguins to pull to within 3-4 in the season-series. The Phantoms won their last game down in Wilkes-Barre in a 1-0 classic between Michael Leighton and Brad Thiessen on February 12.

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