Phantoms Point Streak Ends at Seven

Published on February 25, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


In front of almost 15,000 fans at Bell Centre in Montreal, the Adirondack Phantoms had their seven game point streak come to a close in a 4-1 loss at the Hamilton Bulldogs. It was Adirondack's first regulation loss in three weeks dating all the way back to February 4.

Danny Syvret (9th) scored the lone goal for the Phantoms. It was the third goal in the last two games for the Adirondack defenseman. The Phantoms had several other terrific scoring opportunities but were denied every time but Hamilton goaltender Curtis Sanford. The game concludes the season series between the two teams with Adirondack finishing the season 1-2-1 against Hamilton.

Hamilton's new acquisition from the Chicago Wolves, Nigel Dawes, put the Bulldogs on the board in the first period with his 28th goal of the year and first for Hamilton.

Adirondack came back with several fine opportunities including a couple of close range shots by Denis Hamel. Eric Wellwood had a breakaway turned aside by Sanford and in the process was hooked by Frederic St. Denis. But Wellwood's penalty shot attempt late in the first period was turned away off the blocker of Sanford.

Eric Wellwood would spin in the right wing corner and fire a nice feed across to Danny Syvret atop the left-wing circle early in the second period. Syvret hesitated and then snapped his shot off the underside of the netting to the far-post side to even the game at 1-1.

Andrew Conboy dug to the puck away in the corner and got it out in front for J.T. Wyman midway through the 2nd who snapped home his 13th of the year blocker side on Backlund to push the Bulldogs back out in front at 2-1.

Late in the second period the Phantoms would buzz with several close-range chances on Sanford. A shot that was blocked down was spinning in the blue paint for Logan Stephenson crashing the net. As he got there to chip it in, Sanford extended his right leg and kicked it away just off his skate for one of his best saves of the evening.

Aaron Palushaj scored early in the 3rd period on the power play to extend the lead to 3-1 and then sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 30 seconds remaining.

Earlier in the game, Matt Clackson dropped the gloves with Hamilton's Jimmy Bonneau in an energetic bout late in the first period that saw both combatants land several solid blows. It was one of the most entertaining fights of the season for the Phantoms and put a charge into the large Montreal Canadiens fan-base cheering on the Bulldogs. Clackson led in the fight early connecting several times in a row before Bonneau worked his right free and was able to come back with some punches at the end.

One of the best Phantoms on the ice might have been Ben Holmstrom who made some fine passes and nicely dug away several pucks in battles along the boards.

Before the game, defenseman Erik Gustafsson was recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers and is expected to make his NHL debut Saturday night in Ottawa when the Flyers take on the Senators.

Earlier in the week, Matt Walker was sent back to Philadelphia due to a lower body injury. Andrew Rowe was loaned to Greenville (SC) of the ECHL for some extra playing time and more minutes on the ice this weekend. And Stefan Legein was returned from his loan to Greenville and played his first game back with the Phantoms.

Phantoms Notes: Official scratches for the game included Marc-Andre Bourdon and Matt Walker. Gustafsson was removed from the Phantoms roster before the game and therefore was technically not a "scratch."

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American Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2011


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