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Phantoms Burned by Devils Shorties

February 21, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


A pair of shorthanded goals for the Albany Devils made the difference on Friday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center as the Phantoms fell by a 4-2 final. Kyle Flanagan led the Adirondack attack with a goal and an assist while Tyler Brown added two helpers and Matt Mangene scored the team's other goal.

Mike Sislo paved the way for Devils with a couple of goals as Albany took the lead in this year's Northway Rivalry series 6 games to 5 and in the all-time series 23-22.

Adirondack was missing several key players during the game who were serving suspensions of vairous lengths stemming from last Sunday's brawl at the Portland Pirates. Forced to sit out for this one were Ben Holmstrom, Tye McGinn, Kris Newbury, Zack FitzGerald and Cal Heeter. Holmstrom and McGinn only have one-game suspensions so both are eligible to return for Adirondack's upcoming game on Saturday in Philadelphia in Bridgeport. Without those key players, the Phantoms struggled on their many power-play opportunities finishing 0-for-7.

The Phantoms wore terrific looking Stars and Stripes jerseys to commemorate the Olympic Games and the fans got going with the bidding in the postgame auction during their chance to own a piece of history and the one-time game-worn uniforms.

Stefan Matteau dashed around the Phantoms defense and straight at Yann Danis on a mini-breakaway to give the Devils the initial lead 8:32 into the game. The young, speedster was able to convert on Albany's first shot of the game and Albany enjoyed a 1-0 advantage at the first intermission despite a dominant frame by the Phantoms with a 9-3 shot advantage.

Adirondack struck back quickly to open the second when Mark Alt's wrister from the right point was neatly deflected by Kyle Flanagan in the slot for a five-hole bouncer through winning goalie Keith Kinkaid.

The Phantoms continued momentum and looked to be in good shape to break the tie when Petr Straka was knocked down on a high stick by Matteau. But the beginning of Adirondack's four minutes of power-play time would begin badly when Mike Sislo would scoop up a bouncing puck and race past Jason Akeson on the point for a breakaway on Danis. Sislo's first of the game and 14th of the season was converted five-hold on Danis at exactly two minutes into the period to give Albany a huge lift.

The Devils successfully killed the rest of the Phantoms four minutes which included a scintillating save by Keith Kinkaid to his left to kick out a back-door connection attempt between Straka and Cousins. It was Kinkaid's best save at the game and even though it happened early in the second period it was another big life for the Devils who had scored a pair of goals on just their first four shots of the game.

Rod Pelley would fly up the right-wing boards on another shorthanded rush for Albany. This one was late in the second period and he was joined by Mike Sislo for a 2-on-1. While Danis was keeping an eye on Sislo crashing up the middle, Pelley snuck a backhander top-shelf short-side over Danis' left shoulder to extended the lead to 3-1 in the closing minute of the middle frame.

Sislo would score again five minutes into the third with a drive along the ice from the slot right off a faceoff win. After Danis was beat on his left-skate side, head coach Terry Murray opted to make the move and bring rookie goaltender Carsen Chubak off the bench in relief who held the Devils scoreless the rest of the way on the three shots he faced.

Kyle Flanagan's drive off Kinkaid would be scooped up by Matt Mangene in the slot who then picked up another rebound, this time of his own shot off the pads. Mangene's second backhander snuck past Kinkaid and brought the Phantoms back into the game at 4-2 but with only 9:08 remaining.

The hard-charging Phantoms carried the play the rest of the way but were unable to get closer despite a 6-on-4 extra-attacker power play for the final 1:29 of the game.

The Phantoms carried the play for much of the beginning and the end of the contest. But two costly mistakes in the middle proved to be too much for the team to overcome in the limited time available. Adirondack was 0-for-7 on the power play while they held the Devils to 0-for-4. But the Devils banged in two shorthanded goals to make the difference. Adirondack out-shot the Devils 32-23 in the game.

The Adirondack Phantoms and Albany Devils will meet just one more time this year when the Devils return to the Glens Falls Civic Center for their final trip on April 6.

The Phantoms return to action Saturday night in Philadelphia against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7:30. Adirondack's next home game is Sunday, March 2 at 5:00 against Syracuse with a Postgame Open-Skate with all the players as part of a Sunday Family Fun Day. Purchase your Sunday Family Fun Pack for only $43: 3 tickets, 3 hot dogs, 3 sodas, 1 large popcorn, 1 program. Call the Phantoms to order your Sunday Family Fun Day Package at 518-480-3355.

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