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Munroe Magnificent in 19th Career Shutout

November 3, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Scott Munroe stopped 26 Albany Devils' drives on his way to his 19th career American Hockey League shutout as the Phantoms prevailed 4-0 on Saturday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Perhaps the best and most complete team effort of the year was led by four different goal-scorers, three of which were on special teams. Sean Couturier shorthanded, Ben Holmstrom and Erik Gustafsson on the power play, and Shane Harper at even-strength, all lit the lamp in front of a noisy and raucous contingent of 4,355 fans enjoying the performance.

The blank-sheet was the 11th as a Phantom for Munroe who had 10 with the Philadelphia Phantoms from 2006-09 and was also his 67th career victory with the franchise putting him just four away from Antero Nittymaki for second place all-time. Munroe had five shutouts last season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Adirondack's win evens the Time Warner Cable Cup series at one game each with 10 more still to go in the Northway rivalry. Round 3 comes up next Saturday when the Phantoms head back to the Times Union Center in Albany.

Fans arrived early to receive Phantoms Team Posters courtesy of Glens Falls Printing and stayed late for a rare autograph session post-game featuring the whole team. It was truly a great night for Phantoms fans from start to finish.

Munroe was the #1 Star of the Game and was happy to be given the early lead to work with. Some of his best work came early in the second period when Adirondack's lead was 1-0.

"Well, they made a bit of a push," Munroe said. "And that's what you got to do sometimes...make the key saves. And they had a couple of power plays and even the 5-on-3 in the third. We did a good job of killing those off. If they had scored a goal early in the second then it's a different game. That's what you gotta do is handle those pushes."

Along with Munroe's goaltending which included several spectacular saves, the Phantoms' special teams were key. Not only did Adirondack go 2-for-5 on the power play, they also added a shorthanded goal while holding Albany to 0-for-7 on the man-advantage.

Early in the third period when the score was 2-0, Adirondack had to kill four consecutive minutes of back-to-back Albany power plays. And later in the third when they extended their lead to 3-0, the Phantoms knocked off 1:40 of 5-on-3 time in which the Devils had a fine opportunity to climb back into the game.

"Special teams are big part of the game and they were very important tonight...absolutely." said Phantoms head coach Terry Murray. "Penalty killing I thought did a very good job and that starts with the goaltender. Munroe made some big stops at the right time. And we capitalized on the power play. I thought Holmstrom's goal was just a tremendous effort. Simple play, get pucks to the net."

The Phantoms outshot Albany 32-26 as they improved to 4-5-0 on the regular season with a split of their weekend homestand.

Sean Couturier struck in the first period when Brayden Schenn's nice dish across the neutral zone set Couturier free on the shorthanded breakaway. After getting Devils' goalie Keith Kinkaid to commit to a poke-attempt, Couturier was able to go around the netminder's left-skate and casually slip it around him and into the back of the net for his second goal of the season and Adirondack's second shorthanded tally of the year.

While it was Couturier's first goal since Opening Night, it was his eighth point in his last four games. The 19-year-old talent who was the eighth overall pick in the 2011 draft now has one goal and seven assists over that stretch.

It was the first time Adirondack had scored the first goal of the night and it came as a result of what was likely their best overall start of the season right from the drop of the puck.

Leading 1-0, Adirondack went on the power play in the second period and Matthew Ford's shot was blocked down by Kinkaid but with Zac Rinaldo creating traffic in front, Ben Holmstrom was able to grab the loose biscuit and fling it home past the sprawled Kinkaid on his right-handed forehand.

Adirondack carried the 2-0 lead into the third period and then killed four minutes straight of Albany power-play time to wild cheers from the crowd who recognized the clear importance of the hustle and determination of the Phantoms' defenders.

Then it was Adirondack's turn to get the advantage and they would strike again. After Sean Couturier's drive from the right-circle pinged off the post, Erik Gustafsson found himself with an opportunity in the left-circle and snapped home a 5-on-3 goal short-side on Kinkaid for his first score of the year.

Down to four minutes left and Shane Harper would have a rebound chance wide of Kinkaid that we would tuck in for his second goal of the season making the score 4-0. While the Phantoms were celebrating their goal, Matthew Corrente of the Devils took exception to the home team's revelry and started a challenge with Erik Gustafsson that developed into a line-brawl.

Albany's frustrations were apparent throughout and that combined with the loud fan-base created a recipe for early-season intensity that is certain to get even more heated up in the upcoming 10 encounters between the two foes.

The game was Adirondack's last at home for the next 19 days. The annual rodeo event and other concerts taking place at the Glens Falls Civic Center mean the Phantoms will be spending most of their upcoming practices at the rec-center on Fire Road.

The Phantoms embark on a five-game road trip beginning next Friday at the Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. Adirondack is back in the area for a Saturday night game at the Albany Devils.

Adirondack's next home is Wednesday, November 21, the day before Thanksgiving, against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Phantoms are also at home on Black Friday against Norfolk and the day after that, Saturday, November 24 against Hershey.



American Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2012


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