AHL Rochester Americans

Phantoms Power-Play Spooks Amerks In 3-1 Win

Published on February 10, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... The Rochester Americans' quest for 2,000 wins took another detour tonight after falling short in a 3-1 decision to the Adirondack Phantoms at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The Phantoms scored a goal in each period, including two on the power-play, to earn their first win against the Amerks this season and improve to 24-23-2-2. With the loss the Amerks fall to 30-20-2-0 on the campaign.

The game marked Rochester's first trip back to the Glens Falls Civic Center in 11 years since the 1999 postseason against the Adirondack Red Wings before the team ceased operations.

Jonathon Kalinski, Jason Ward and Sean Curry each contributed single goals while Phantoms goaltender Johan Backlund made 25 saves to collect his 15th win of the season.

Second-year forward Michal Repik potted Rochester's lone goal of the night as rookie netminder Alexander Salak turned away 22 saves in the losing effort.

Adirondack got on the board first late in opening frame as Kalinski beat Salak to give the hometown Phantoms a 1-0 lead. His sixth goal of the season came unassisted at 14:45 of the first period.

The Phantoms took a 2-0 lead on the power-play just 3:40 into the second stanza as Ward converted on the man-advantage after Amerks forward Michael Duco was sent off for a high-sticking infraction. Adirondack captain Jared Ross and Mika Pyorala each received helpers on Ward's ninth of the season.

Repik put the Amerks within one goal in the closing ticks of the period to cut the deficit 2-1, but that was all the offense Rochester could muster through 40 minutes of play. David Brine picked up the lone assist on the play.

The Phantoms power-play struck once again in the final frame to reclaim their two-goal lead after Graham Mink was called for hooking at 15:44. Adirondack needed all but eight seconds on the man-up opportunity as Curry netted just his second of the season at 15:52, assisted by 2010 AHL All-Star Jon Matsumoto and Patrick Maroon.

Rochester remains two wins away from capturing its 2,000th win in the 54-year history of the franchise. The Amerks will become just the second team in the AHL and only the eighth team in North American hockey history to collect 2,000 wins. In addition to all the founding original six members of the NHL, the only other AHL team to accomplish the feat is the defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears. The 10-time league champs claimed their 2,000th win at the tail-end of the 1993-94 season.

Rochester returns home on Friday, February 12th as it closes out its season series with the Abbotsford Heat. The 7:05 p.m. contest will be the fourth and final get-together for the North Division rivals this season. Fans can tune into the live broadcast on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The game will also be televised live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet Channel 26.

The game falls on the next installment of the Amerks Dollar Dogs ‘N' Drafts promotion. Friday night, and now during every Friday night home game for the rest of the season, fans can take part in the "Dollar Dogs ‘N' Drafts" promotion. Fans will be able to purchase Zweigle's Hot Dogs and Draft Beers for just $1 each!

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American Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2010


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