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Phantoms Think Pink

January 25, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Adirondack Phantoms sported special pink jerseys to benefit breast cancer awareness and treatment at the C.R. Wood Cancer Center at Glens Falls Hospital as they raised thousands of dollars in their post-game jersey auction. It was the seventh meeting of the season between the Phantoms and Devils for the Time Warner Cable Cup as the Devils topped the Phantoms 4-1 on "Pink it the Rink Night" in front of another near-sellout crowd of 4,633.

Breast cancer survivors were on hand to be acknowledged with a huge ovation in the first period and to join alongside the players live afterwards during the post-game jersey auction on the special night.

It was a one-goal game in the third period when Adirondack would come their closest to tying the score but Harry Zolnierczyk's penalty shot opportunity past Keith Kinkaid bounced off the inside of the post and just deflected away.

The large crowd boosted the Phantoms and helped give them a chance for a big comeback.

"We like playing here," Zolnierczyk said. "It was a great turnout again tonight. The fans were great. The noise was there. Just before the penalty shot, it was exciting. We were right there the whole game. Two shifts kind of get away from us."

"I liked the first period, both teams played well moving the puck," Phantoms head coach Terry Murray said. "They just kept coming at us in the second and third (periods) and we couldn't handle it. Too many breakdowns low in our zone."

Joe Whitney, who scored 2 goals against the Phantoms last week, scored two more in this one as well. He gave the Devils the initial lead as he scored on a one-time pass from Steve Zalewski with 7:24 left in the first period.

Matt Anderson made it 2-0 midway in the second period.

Matthew Ford scored the for the Phantoms 11:16 into the second period. Tyler Brown set up Danny Syvret with a shot that was deflected by Ford in front of Albany goalie Keith Kinkaid. Ford's goal came on the power play marking the fifth straight game that the Phantoms have scored at least one on the man-advantage.

With the score at 2-1 with 13:41 left in the third period, Harry Zolnierczyk sped through the defense on a breakaway and was slashed by an Albany player as his attempt was steered away. Zolnierczyk was awarded a penalty shot with a second chance to tie the score, but the shot bounced off the post behind Kinkaid and away.

"I did exactly what I wanted to do, "Zolnierczyk said. "I did the move. I had him beat. I just hit the post. It was kind of unlucky that it hit the post. It almost felt that was the turning point there when that didn't happen."

Indeed.

Shortly after that, the Devils would score back-to-back goals to put the game away.

Joe Whitney scored his second goal of the game when Steve Zalewski took the puck from behind the net and got it to up to Whitney who shot it in right in front of Boucher with 9:14 left in the third to make the score 3-1.

With 7:00 left in the third the Devils scored again when Kelly Zajac got a rebound past Boucher for the 4-1 final.

The result ended a streak of seven consecutive one-goal games for the Phantoms. It was the fifth game in eight days for Adirondack and their next contest, Saturday at 2:00 at Albany, will be the team's sixth game in nine days leading into the AHL All-Star Break

A slightly new-look Adirondack lineup hit the ice featuring the return of David Laliberte with his first game as a Phantom in over two years. Laliberte signed an AHL contract with the Phantoms the day before after beginning the season on the shelf recovering from his knee injury and then getting in five games with Trenton.

Erik Gustafsson and Matt Konan both returned for their first games in several weeks as they both entered the lineup in the same game for Adirondack.

Brian Boucher in net for the Phantoms was playing his first game at the Glens Falls Civic Center since 1999 when the Philadelphia Phantoms played here against the Adirondack Red Wings.

Veteran defenseman Andreas Lilja left the Phantoms to rejoin Philadelphia after his four-game stint with Adirondack. And Mike Testwuide missed the game with an injury that he sustained on a hit in Wednesday night's battle at Connecticut.

Phantoms injured captain Ben Holmstrom was back in the building to support his teammates. He has been rehabbing from his ACL injury he suffered on December 8. "Going good," Holmstrom said. "It's a process. I'm about five weeks in but it's coming along."

The Phantoms will take on these same Albany Devils Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in Albany. The Phantoms will return home next Friday, February 1 as they take on the Norfolk Admirals. For tickets, call the Phantoms at 518-480-3355.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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