Pens Nip Phantoms in Season Finale

Published on April 10, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Adirondack Phantoms were on a roll in the closing days of their second season but it ended with a 4-2 loss at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Sunday afternoon. The Penguins scored three goals in the final 10 minutes to overcome a 2-1 Phantoms lead.

Rather appropriately, the Phantoms kept on coming and working and battling in the final 15 seconds of the game with a couple of good shots at Brad Thiessen as the final moments of 2010-11 ticked away.

Adirondack went 5-2 in their last seven games to finish the year which included a spectacular seven game home-ice win streak. The Phantoms were 9-6 in their last 15 games and ended up with a 25-16-8 mark under Head Coach Joe Paterson who took over in late December.

For the final game, the Phantoms were led by Matt Read with yet another goal and also an assist. Read had seven goals and 13 points in just 11 games since signing with the Flyers organization out of Bemidji State (Minn.) a few short weeks ago. Rob Bordson scored his 8th of the year for Adirondack.

Denis Hamel dropped off to Bordson midway through the first period for a one-timer from the top of the right circle past the left skate of Brad Thiessen staking the visitors to a 1-0 advantage. Hamel's assist was good for his 50th point of the year (25 goals and 25 assists) giving him the Phantoms point title over Erik Gustaffson by one point. Michael Ryan's 26 goals pushed him ahead of Hamel by one in that category.

Nick Petersen capitalized on a rebound late in the first period on the power play to tie the game at 1-1 into the first intermission.

Matt Ryan jumped on a giveaway right in front of the net and spun around to slam it through Thiessen allowing the Phantoms to regain the lead at 2-1 midway through the 2nd period.

The Phantoms clung to the lead for the rest of the second and for the first ten minutes of the third as Johan Backlund made several fine saves scrambling back and forth across the blue paint. The Penguins were finally able to break through on their 13th shot of the period when Chris Collins would tie the game from the right circle on a give from Zach Sill.

The Pens kept on coming and at the 14:14 mark it would be Ryan Schnell chipping a Joey Mormina give upstairs over the shoulder of Backlund for the eventual game-winner.

Nick Petersen raced up the right wing and drove straight to the net where he was able to flip it past the prone Backlund at 16:05 for the game's final score.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton outshot the Phantoms 21-5 in the final period. The Penguins finished the year with the best record in the AHL but only won the season series over the Phantoms 5 games to 3.

The Penguins outshot Adirondack 40-25. The Phantoms were 0-for-1 on the power play while the Pens finished 1-for-2.

Mike Testwuide won a tight race for the rookie goal-scoring crown on the team with 18. Eric Wellwood and Ben Holmstrom had 16 each. Testwuide scored 15 goals in the last 32 games of the year after only scoring three goals in his first 34 games. His second half scoring outburst was indicative of the entire team's success past the midway point as they continued to push past their opponents and rack up 27 wins since December 17.

It's a bittersweet finish to the season for the team and their fans who wish they could see more Phantoms hockey. But we'll have to wait until October and we look forward to seeing you back at the Glens Falls Civic Center then.

It's been an amazing turnaround in the second half of the season and everyone with the Phantoms are excited to get back at it in 2011-12. Thanks to you fans for cheering so hard for the team all year long and continuing to support exciting Phantoms hockey in Glens Falls. The difference you make is huge and we can't wait to see (and hear!!) you again next season.

Phantoms notes: Scratches for the Phantoms included Stefan Legein, Harry Zolnierczyk and Zac Rinaldo as well as Matt Walker, Oliver Lauridsen, Tom Sestito and Logan Stephenson.

The last jersey auction of the season running on ebay. Place your bids for your the Phantoms black game-worn jerseys before Tuesday. A link to the auction is available in the upper-right corner on phantomshockey.com.

Phantoms Season Tickets for 2011-12 are on sale now! Full season ticket holders get an Adirondack Phantoms stadium blanket while supplies last and also will be in the Phantoms mug club for $1 sodas and coffees in Heritage Hall all season long. Call (518) 480-3355 or log on at phantomshockey.com

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American Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2011


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