Phantoms Stomp Senators

Published on March 16, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Five different Adirondack Phantoms lit the lamp including two players scoring their first ever in the AHL as Adirondack cruised to a 5-2 victory over the Binghamton Senators Wednesday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Harry Zolnierczyk scored his first professional goal in just his fourth game and Cullen Eddy scored his first ever in the AHL and second as a pro.

It was the Phantoms second win in a row as they improved to 8-3-5 in their last 16 games. The Phantoms are 17-10-8 under Head Coach Joe Paterson. It was the second time in a row the Phantoms have defeated the Senators by a 5-2 score having also won by that margin on February 27 at the GFCC.

Michael Ryan (18), Tom Sestito (13) and Ben Holmstrom (13) were the other scorers for Adirondack as Michael Leighton made 21 saves for his second win in a row.

Leighton made 11 saves in the first period to hold Binghamton in check in a 0-0 deadlock. In the closing minute, Michael Ryan cruised past all three lines rushing into the zone and blasted a shot across Barry Brust for a power play goal giving Adirondack a 1-0 lead at the first break. Michael Leighton had given the puck to Ryan to record his first assist of the season.

Binghamton's Roman Wick on the power play tied the score at 1-1 early in the second period on a cross-ice feed by Corey Locke.

Adirondack regained the lead at 2-1 at the 4:49 mark of the second period. Harry Zolnierczyk scored his first pro goal as he picked up a rebound from his own shot in the left wing circle and sent one past Senators goaltender Barry Brust. The Zolnierczyk goal was assisted by Rob Bordson and Stefan Legein.

Less than 2 minutes later, Adirondack extended their lead to 3-1. On a shot from the right point, Cullen Eddy scored his first AHL goal putting it five-hole past Brust. Eddy had scored a goal in October with Greenville in the ECHL but this was his first as a Phantom in his 33rd game.

Denis Hamel just missed extending the lead to 4-1 when he crushed one off the post. A couple minutes later, Roman Wick cut the Adirondack lead to 3-2 poking it off the stick of a Phantoms defenseman and into the net. His shorthanded tally was his second of the game and 16th of the season.

The Phantoms had an opportunity to extend their lead back to two with the puck knocked out in front of an open net to Mike Testwuide. A play that looked like a sure thing for Testwuide's 13th goal of the season was somehow broken up at the last minute by defenseman Geoff Kinrade's terrific diving stop in the slot while Sens goalie Barry Brust was still behind the net.

Adirondack racked up 20 shots in the 2nd period after mustering only four shots in the first.. It was the most shots in a 2nd period by the Phantoms this season eclipsing their total of 17 shots on goal on November 19th at Charlotte.

Adirondack regained a two-goal lead on Tom Sestito's second as an Adirondack Phantom and 13th of the season. After Denis Hamel picked off a Barry Brust pass, he deked the sprawling goaltender but missed the open net sending it off the outside of the post. Tom Sestito picked up the loose puck behind the net and centered a pass that went off a Senators defender and into the net for a 4-2 lead.

Ben Holmstrom added an empty net goal from the right wing wall from deep in the Phantoms zone to give Adirondack the 5-2 victory. Holmstrom's 13th goal of the season came unassisted and shorthanded.

Adirondack is 3-3-1 against Binghamton this year including 3-0-1 in Glens Falls. The two teams have one more matchup on April 9th in Binghamton.

The first of a three-game road-trip begins on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. against the Toronto Marlies. The road-swing also includes Tuesday and Wednesday night games down south at the Charlotte Checkers and Norfolk Admirals.

Adirondack returns home on Friday, March 25 as they host the Hershey Bears. SuperFan Cameron Hughes will be back to fire up the crowd so get ready to make some noise and get some T-shirts.

Phantoms Notes: Forwards Matt Clackson and Luke Pither along with defensemen Matt Walker and Logan Stephenson were the Phantoms scratches. Jonathon Kalinski did not return to the game after the first period. Rookie defenseman Oliver Lauridsen made his pro debut. The 6'6" blue-liner out of St. Cloud State University was signed to an Amateur Try-out Contract earlier in the week and has also signed on for an entry-level contract with the Flyers system for 2011-12.

UPCOMING GAMES

Saturday, March 19th, 3:00 p.m. - Adirondack Phantoms at Toronto Marlies

Tuesday. March 22nd, 7:00 p.m. - Adirondack Phantoms at Charlotte Checkers

Wednesday, March 23rd, 7:15 p.m. - Adirondack Phantoms at Norfolk Admirals

Friday, March 25, 7:30 p.m. - Hershey Bears at Adirondack Phantoms - The return of SuperFan Cameron Hughes firing up the crowd. Make some noise and get some T-Shirts!

Saturday, March 26, 7:00 p.m. - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Adirondack Phantoms - The return of SuperFan Cameron Hughes firing up the crowd. Make some noise and get some T-Shirts! Post-game concert with Isaiah 6.

Join us at the Glens Falls Civic Center for exciting Adirondack Phantoms hockey, the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Discount rates are available for groups of 15 or more. Save off the individual ticket price by asking the Phantoms about their great group rate packages and flex-packs.

Come watch future NHL stars and up-and-coming Flyers prospects. Get your tickets at the Phantoms office inside the Glens Falls Civic Center, online at ticketmaster.com, or by calling the Phantoms at 518-480-3355.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 16, 2011


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