Phantoms Weekly

February 28, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


The Hockey Hall of Fame Dinner is on Saturday, March 12th at 4:30 p.m. in Heritage Hall where the 2011 Inaugural Class will be officially inducted into the Adirondack Hall of Fame. Adirondack Hall of Fame Inductees Hugo Belanger, Barry Melrose and Jody Gage will be on hand. That night, the Phantoms host the Hershey Bears for a 7:00 pm face off at the Civic Center and the 2011 Hall of Fame Class will be honored throughout the game. The Phantoms will also be wearing special jerseys, commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the American Hockey League.

Tickets for the event are $30 or a table of 10 for $250. If you have any questions regarding the event, call Anne Porreca at 791-4248 or email her at anneporreca@msn.com.

End of Winter Sale!

The Adirondack Phantoms are having an end of the winter sale! Both online and at the Phantoms games, you can save 25% off select Phantoms memorabilia while supply last (March 1st through March 20th) http://shopphantomshockey.com/. If you have any questions, contact Tim Dinan at the Phantoms office for more details.

Gustafsson Makes NHL Debut & Andrew Rowe Returns

Defenseman Erik Gustafsson was returned on loan to the Adirondack Phantoms, the AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, prior to the game on Sunday.

This was the second NHL call-up for Gustafsson. He made his NHL debut on Saturday night in Ottawa where he logged over 16 minutes of ice-time against the Senators. In his first call-up to the NHL on December 29, Gustafsson spent five days with the Flyers before being returned to Adirondack on January 3, but did not appear in any of the three games the Flyers played while he was on the roster.

Gustafsson, 22 (12-15-88), was signed by the Flyers as a free agent on March 3, 2010. He is tied for the team-lead in scoring with five goals and 30 assists for 35 points in 54 games. The 30 assists rank first among AHL rookies.

In addition, Andrew Rowe has been returned to the Adirondack Phantoms following his weekend stint with the Greenville of the ECHL. In three games with the Road Warriors, Rowe recorded a goal and an assist. This season with Adirondack, he has seven goals and 12 pts in 49 games.

Phantoms Upcoming Games

Saturday, March 5 - Adirondack at Albany - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 6 - Albany at Adirondack - 3:00 p.m.

2010-11 Record:

20-31-3-6, 49 points (Home 11-14-2-3, Road 9-17-1-3)

Adirondack Phantoms Team Leaders

Games: Ben Holmstrom (60)

Goals: Denis Hamel (18)

Assists: Erik Gustafsson (30)

Points: Denis Hamel and Erik Gustafsson (35)

Plus/Minus: Mike Testwuide (2)

Penalty Minutes: Zac Rinaldo (225)

Power Play Goals: Denis Hamel (8)

Short-handed Goals: Jonathon Kalinski (2)

Game-Winning Goals: Erik Gustafsson, Denis Hamel, Luke Pither, Michael Ryan and Greg Moore (2)

Shots: Denis Hamel (181)

Saves: Johan Backlund (630)

Wins: Johan Backlund (7)

GAA: Michael Leighton (2.26)

Save Percentage: Michael Leighton (0.922)

Week 21 Schedule

All games are broadcast LIVE on Classic Hits Q-101.7 FM by Adirondack Phantoms voice, Bob Rotruck, and can be heard free over the Internet at www.phantomshockey.com and can be viewed via internet pay-per-view video on www.ahllive.com.

Home-and-Home Series between the Phantoms and Devils This Weekend

Saturday, March 5 - 5:00 p.m. - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

@ Albany Devils (22-32-1-3, 48 pts)

7th Place in East Division, Eastern Conference

Sunday, March 6 - 3:00 p.m. - Glens Falls Civic Center - Glens Falls, NY

vs. Albany Devils

Promotion:Family Fun Pack Night for Just $39.00 (Includes: 3 Tickets, 3 Sodas, 3 Hot Dogs, 1 popcorn and 1 program) and a Post-Game Skate with the Phantoms sponsored by Glens Falls Hospital

This will be the seventh and eighth meetings between the Phantoms and Devils. The Time Warner Cable Cup Series is tied at 3-3 midway through the Northway Rivalry. Adirondack has recorded 8 of a possible 12 points though in the series. Adam Henrique has a team-high 19 goals while Matt Anderson leads the Devils in assists (25) and points (43). Albany is carrying three goaltenders right now; Jeff Frazee (9-11-0-3, 2.75 GAA, .905 save percentage), David Caruso (5-6-0, 3.85 GAA, .875 save percentage) and Mike McKenna (8-16-0-1, 3.86 GAA, .881 save percentage). This season against Adirondack, Frazee is 2-2-0-1 while Caruso is 1-0-0-0. On special teams, the Devils are 29th on the power play (12.4%) and dead last on the penalty (75.7%). Albany is 4-5-1-0 in their last 10 games and are currently on a 3-game losing streak.

Week 20 Game Results

February 25, 2011 - Adirondack 1 @ Hamilton 4

Danny Syvret scored the lone goal for Adirondack at the Bell Centre on Friday night in front of almost 15,000 fans. The recently acquired Nigel Dawes scored his 28th goal of the season to open the scoring for Hamilton early in the first. Eric Wellwood had an opportunity to tie the game later on in the period as he was rewarded with a penalty shot but was denied by Bulldogs netminder Curtis Sanford. After Syvret's ninth goal of the year early in the second period, Hamilton fought back four minutes later with. J.T. Wyman's 13th of the season to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. Then, Aaron Palushaj scored twice in the third period, on the power play, to score his 11th and 12th goals of the season. Johan Backlund got the start and made 25 saves. Adirondack went 0-for-2 on the power play while Hamilton finished 2-for-5.

February 26, 2011 - Worcester 1 @ Adirondack 2 (SO)

Greg Moore score the Phantoms lone tally in regulation and then notched the game-winner in the shootout while Michael Leighton made 38 saves and 5 of 6 in the shootout to earn his fifth win of the season. Adirondack opened the scoring 1:59 into the second period. As Danny Syvret drove to the crease, Greg Moore threw one towards the net and snuck it five-hole past Sharks netminder Darren Machesney to give Adirondack a 1-0 lead. It was Moore's first goal since January 21 against Wilkes-Barre Scranton. Worcester would tie the game at 1-1 as Jamie McGinn blasted a one-timer from the high slot past Leighton. The game would go into the shootout where Moore worked his magical move of "forehand to backhand" in the sixth round. Leighton would seal the game for Adirondack making a glove save to lead the Phantoms to an exciting victory. It marked the fourth time in five games that the Phantoms have gone to the shootout. The Phantoms improved to 4-6 in the shootout

February 27, 2011 - Binghamton 2 @ Adirondack 5

The Adirondack Phantoms capped off a 3-game weekend with a 5-2 victory over the Binghamton Senators on Sunday afternoon at the Glens Falls Civic Center, ending the Sens 11-game point streak. With the win, Adirondack has points in nine of their last ten games. Adirondack opened the scoring at 9:05 of the first period on the power play. Logan Stephenson scored his second goal of the season as he beat Senators goaltender Garrett Zemlak on a shot from center point to give Adirondack a 1-0 lead. Less than six minutes into the second period, Adirondack extended their lead to 2-0. After gaining position in front of the Senators net, Zac Rinaldo scored his third goal of the season as he re-directed a Danny Syvret shot from the left point. It was Rinaldo's first goal since October 12 against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins. Just 57 seconds into the third period, Binghamton cut the Adirondack lead to 2-1. On a 2-on-1, Kaspars Daugavins fed Roman Wick who scored his 15th goal of the season beating Phantoms goaltender Michael Leighton. Ryan Keller on the power play scored his 24th goal of the season as he re-directed a Derek Smith shot from the right circle to tie the score at 2-2. Binghamton came into the game with the AHL's best power play unit. Adirondack would battle back with three unanswered goals in the final 13 minutes. While 4-on-4, Ben Holmstrom scored the eventual game-winner as he walked out from the left boards and stuffed it past Zemlak to score his 10th of the year and give Adirondack the 3-2 lead. Mike Testwuide sealed the game for Adirondack with 1:30 remaining as he backhanded a rebound top shelf giving the Phantoms a 4-2 lead. It was Testwuide's eighth of the year assisted by Ryan and Holmstrom. Denis Hamel added an empty netter late to score his 18th goal of the season and close a perfect weekend on home-ice for the Phantoms. Phantoms netminder Michael Leighton made 25 saves to earn his second consecutive win and sixth of the season while Senators goaltender Garrett Zemlak in his AHL debut stopped 24.

Phantoms Quick Hits

-Since being assigned to Adirondack from the Philadelphia Flyers on January 4, Leighton has posted a 5-4-3 record while Johan Backlund is 4-2-0-3 since returning from injury on January 8.

- In the month of February, Leighton went 4-0-1-2 with a 1.68 GAA and .938 save percentage with 2 shutouts while Backlund went 1-2-0-1 with a 2.80 GAA and .898 save percentage.

-Adirondack finished the month of February 5-2-1-3.

-Adirondack has recorded points in 9 of their last 10 games (5-1-4).

-Danny Syvret is on a 4-game point streak (3 goals, 3 assists).

-Mike Testwuide has 6 goals and 5 assists over the last 11 games.

Phantoms Reebok/AHL Player of the Week (Week 20):

#49- Michael Leighton - G - 2 GP (2-0-0, 1.44 GAA, .955 save percentage)

Sat, Feb.26 vs. Worcester: W 2-1 in SO, stopping 38 of 39 in regulation and 5 of 6 in the shootout

Sun, Feb. 27 vs. Binghamton: W 5-2, stopping 25 of 27

The Petrolia, Ontario native led Adirondack to a 2-0-0 record on home-ice this weekend. He made 38 saves in regulation (18 in the 2nd period) and then turned aside 5 of 6 in the shootout to carry the Phantoms to a 2-1 victory on Saturday night over the Sharks. On Sunday, Leighton made 25 more saves to earn his second consecutive win and sixth of the season.

Phantoms Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for February

#49 - Michael Leighton - G (4-0-1-2, 1.68 GAA, .938 save percentage, 2 SO)

SYR at ADK 2/4 29:32 8 saves/9 shots

ADK at HAM 2/5 60:00 20 saves/20 shots W 4-0 SHUTOUT

ADK at WBS 2/12 59:57 28 saves/28 shots W 1-0 SHUTOUT

BNG at ADK 2/13 61:27 21 saves/25 shots L 4-3 OT

CHA at ADK 2/19 65:00 26 saves/28 shots L 3-2 SO

ADK at ALB 2/20 65:00 29 saves/32 shots L 4-3 SO

WOR at ADK 2/26 65:00 38 saves/39 shots W 2-1 SO

BNG at ADK 2/27 60:00 25 saves/27 shots W 5-2

Adirondack Phantoms Recent Transactions...

Feb 24 - Andrew Rowe (RW) Loaned to Greenville (ECHL)

Feb 25 - Erik Gustafsson (D) Recalled by Philadelphia (NHL)

Feb 27 - Erik Gustafsson (D) Returned on Loan to Adirondack (AHL)

Feb 28 - Andrew Rowe (RW) Returned to Adirondack (AHL)

Phantoms Practice Schedule this Week

Tuesday, February 28: Practice at 10:00 a.m. (PRACTICE RINK)

Wednesday, March 1: Practice at 10:00 a.m. (PRACTICE RINK)

Thursday, March 2: Practice at 10:00 a.m. (PRACTICE RINK)

Friday, March 3: Practice at 10:00 a.m. (PRATICE RINK)

Saturday, March 4: Game @ Albany Devils at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 5: Game vs. Albany Devils at 3:00 p.m.

Monday, March 6: Practice at 10:00 a.m.

UPCOMING GAMES

Saturday, March 5, 5:00 p.m. - Adirondack Phantoms at Albany Devils - Time Warner Cable Series (Series tied at 3-3)

Sunday, March 6, 3:00 p.m. - Albany Devils at Adirondack Phantoms - Family Fun Pack ($39), 3 tickets, 3 sodas, 3 hot dogs, 1 popcorn, 1 program - Continuation of the Time Warner Cable Cup Series - Post-Game Skate with the Phantoms

Friday, March 11, 7:30 p.m. - Albany Devils at Adirondack Phantoms - $2 Pizza Slices - Time Warner Cable Cup continues...

Don't be left out! Tickets for all Phantoms games are on sale now. 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.

The AHL is celebrating their 75th anniversary season and is the top development league for the NHL. More than 85 percent of today's NHL players are American Hockey League graduates and more than 6 million fans attend AHL games every year.

Come watch future NHL stars and up-and-coming Flyers prospects with exciting Adirondack Phantoms hockey! A variety of ticket packages for all the fast-paced action are on sale now. The Phantoms selection of discount ticket packages includes 3-packs, 6-packs, 12 and 22 Select Plans, full season plans and Flex Packs. Choose the plan that works best for you! 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.



American Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2011


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