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Phantoms Bitten by Falcons

March 26, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Adirondack Phantoms just weren't able to get their offense rolling on Wednesday night as they dropped a 3-0 decision at the Springfield Falcons. Cal Heeter was stellar in net in the losing effort with 34 saves on 37 shots including many that came with high-traffic in front.

The Phantoms had some big power-play opportunities early in the game with back-to-back four-minute stretches on the man-advantage at the end of the first period and beginning of the second period but they were unable to break Jeremy Smith who would record his first shutout of the season with a 28-save gem.

Andrew Joudrey, Ryan Craig and Jake Hansen all scored for the division-leading Springfield Falcons, affiliates of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Adirondack will have their chance to avenge this decision with a Saturday night rematch in Glens Falls on Fan Appreciation Night.

The Phantoms were without a couple of their top power-play producers. Tye McGinn is up with the Philadelphia Flyers and Jason Akeson missed this one as the latest victim of the flu-bug that has gone around to a few others on the team. That perhaps made a difference as well. Akeson had been the last player to have played every game this season but his streak ended due to the illness.

Adirondack did receive some good news for their recently beat-up lineup though. Petr Straka at forward and Steven Delisle at defense both returned to action for the first time in a few weeks. Both players hardly looked like they had missed a day and both generated some quality scoring chances for the Phantoms.

The first of the power-play chances for the Phantoms came late in the first period, when Springfield center Jake Hansen was whistled for a double-minor for hooking and boarding after a mix-up with Mark Alt along the side boards.

The Phantoms had a few scoring chances close to the net, but were largely shut down on the four-minute power play by an aggressive Falcons penalty killing unit. They did not have to wait long to get their second extended man advantage.

Just 30 seconds into the second period, two minutes after their first four-minute power play ended, Joudrey was also called for a double minor after drawing blood from Nick Cousins with a high stick. The Phantoms went right back to work.

Adirondack looked much better the second time around, finding creative ways into the zone and setting up for prolonged periods of time. They had several quality shots from in close, but goalie Jeremy Smith and the Falcons were able to stave off the attack long enough to kill both penalties.

A fifth and final power play for the Phantoms early in the third period also proved to be unsuccessful. The Phantoms had been red-hot on the power play with 15 conversions in a 10-game stretch but now find themselves in a mini-slump with an 0-for-13 drought in their past two games.

Springfield did not fare much better on their power plays, but the one they did score in five chances proved to be all they would need.

Halfway through the first period, on Springfield's first power play of the game, they capitalized and took the lead for good. Carter Camper collected the puck in the right-wing corner, and whipped a pass out to the slot right onto the stick of the streaking Andrew Joudrey. Joudrey was able to beat goaltender Cal Heeter for his 12th goal of the season, giving Springfield a 1-0 lead.

The Falcons added another goal in the second period after gaining some momentum from the aforementioned kill of Joudrey's double minor.

Immediately after Joudrey came out of the box, the Falcons surged into the Phantoms end, and attacked with energy. Cal Heeter made some tremendous saves, including a robbery of Sean Collins in front of the net, but the Falcons were eventually able to squeak one by to extend their lead to 2-0. Joudrey tried a back-hander from just above the goal line, which eluded Heeter as it skipped out the other side. Waiting with a wide-open net was Craig, who pounced on the puck for his 16th of the season. Both Craig and Joudrey finished with a goal and assist apiece in the win.

Late in the third period, the Phantoms almost cut the margin to 2-1 when Steven Delisle's hard slapper handcuffed Jeremy Smith and was tumbling in midair right in front of Ben Holmstrom on the corner of the crease. The captain took a big swing and the spinning puck but was unable to blast it into the partly open net. The puck somehow ended up in the corner and Springfield's two-goal lead was preserved.

Right on the other side of that it turned into a two-goal swing when Jake Hansen would blast in the rebound of a Lukas Sedlak slapshot for the Falcons. Adirondack was inches away from closing the margin to 2-1 but instead found themselves in a 3-0 deficit late in the game and Smith was able to preserve the shutout from there.

The Phantoms are now 3-3-1 against the Falcons this season. Springfield out-shot Adirondack 37-28.

Adirondack travels to Syracuse for a Friday night game and then returns home Saturday for Fan Appreciation Night against the Falcons with hundreds of great prizes being given away throughout the evening as we thank the fans for their wonderful support of the Adirondack Phantoms for the past five seasons. Purchase your tickets in advance to save: 518-480-3355.

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