Phantoms Weekly

Published on December 10, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Last Week's Results

Wednesday, December 4 - Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 - Adirondack Phantoms 0

Friday, December 6 - Adirondack Phantoms 3 - Hartford Wolf Pack 0

Saturday, November 7 - Adirondack Phantoms 3 - Utica Comets 1

This Week

Friday, December 13 (7:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Hartford Wolf Pack

Saturday, December 14 (7:00) - Manchester Monarchs at Adirondack Phantoms

Upcoming

Having completed a four-game homestand and a busy stretch of seven home games in just 16 days, the pace slows down a little bit for the Adirondack Phantoms who have just two games this week and only one at home.

The Phantoms travel to Hartford, CT on Friday night for Game 4 out of 10 in the regular season series between the AHL affiliates of the Flyers and Rangers. Adirondack returns home for a Saturday night game against the Eastern Conference front-running Manchester Monarchs, affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings. That will be the Phantoms' last home game before the Holiday Break. Adirondack doesn't return for another Glens Falls engagement until the Saturday after Christmas on December 28.

Saturday night's game features a postgame open skate for the fans with all of the Phantoms players. Fans must bring their own skates in order to participate.

The Phantoms won back to back games last weekend to push their record back over the .500 mark 11-10-2. With 24 standings points, the Phantoms three points behind the St. John's IceCaps for the 8-spot in the Eastern Conference standings that represents the playoff cutoff. The Phantoms also have two games-in-hand on St. John's as Adirondack has played 23 games so far this year while St. John's point-total comes in 25 games played.

Adirondack Phantoms (11-10-2, 24 points)

Phantoms Leaders

Goals: Chris VandeVelde (7), Rob Bordson (5), Petr Straka (5)

Assists: Jason Akeson (13), Bruno Gervais (8)

Points: Jason Akeson (17), Chris VandeVelde (13), Bruno Gervais (12), Rob Brodson (12)

PIM: Kris Newbury (72), Oliver Lauridsen (70), Brandon Manning (69)

GAA: Cal Heeter (2.14)

Sv Pct: Cal Heeter (.926)

Wins: Cal Heeter (7)

Milestones

Rob Bordson - Has played in 123 consecutive ADK Phantoms games dating back to 2/24/12

Ben Holmstrom - Became the second player ever (with Jason Akeson) to record 100 career points with the Adirondack Phantoms when he scored his "Teddy Bear Goal" on December 7 vs. Utica.

Kris Newbury - 696 career professional games. 6 away from 700 milestone.

Transactions

December 9 - Tye McGinn (LW) Recalled by Philadelphia Flyers

December 6 - Doug Clarkson (F) Loaned to Reading (PA) Royals (ECHL)

Saratoga Spine Player of the Week - Ben Holmstrom

The Phantoms' captain, Ben Holmstrom, is the Saratoga Spine Player of the Week. Holmstrom's 100th career point came in the form of the team's "Teddy Bear Goal" on Saturday night against the Utica Comets. The first goal of the game brought over 1,000 teddy bears raining down onto the ice at the Glens Falls Civic Center to benefit the Salvation Army.

Holmstrom joins Jason Akeson as the lone members of the Adirondack Phantoms' 100-Point Club. His 40 career goals are second-most just eight behind Denis Hamel for the all-time lead.

In his third season as captain of the team, Holmstrom is also the all-time games leader in Adirondack Phantoms history with 204.

Adirondack Phantoms Record Book Snapshot

Career Points

1. Jason Akeson 125

2. Ben Holmstrom 100

3. Denis Hamel 96

4. Erik Gustafsson 95

5. Danny Syvret 88

6. Mike Testwuide 70

7. Eric Wellwood 66

7. David Laliberte 66

9. Garrett Roe 65

10. Jon Kalinski 63

Cal is "Heeting" Up Again

Cal Heeter is putting together another streak that is almost exactly the same as his four-game stretch at the beginning of the month of November.

November 30 through December 7 - 4 games (2-2), 89 saves, 92 shots, 0.75 GAA, .967 save percentage

October 26 through November 8 - 4 games (4-0), 125 saves, 128 shots, 0.75 GAA, .976 save percentage

In just the past four games, Heeter has lowered his season goals against average from 2.66 to 2.14. He was previously outside the top 20 in the league in that statistic and now rates fourth overall. His save percentage has improved from .913 to .926 over his current run to move him into fifth in the AHL in that department.

Penalty Kill Specialists

Perhaps Adirondack's strongest and most consistent department this season has been their penalty kill. The Phantoms rate third (out of 30) in the AHL at 88.2% trailing only Springfield (90.3) and Norfolk (89.6). Adirondack's home penalty kill is tops in the league at 93% having allowed just three power play goals in the Glens Falls Civic Center all season.

First Goal Importance

It's not quite a "sure thing" but it's pretty darn close. Whether the Phantom score first or not has been the most telling sign of the final result. Adirondack is 10-1-1 when they score the first goal of the game but are only 1-9-1 when they do not.

Last Week

Wednesday, December 4: Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 - Adirondack Phantoms 0

Cal Heeter was tremendous yet again. On almost any other night his performance would have been could enough for the win. But the offensive support fell short and Sound Tigers' goalie Kenny Reiter recorded his first career shutout in a 1-0 nailbiter at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Anders Lee scored the lone goal of the game for either team about midway through the second period following an intercept by Ryan Strome and then a couple of rebounds.

The Phantoms had a faint hope that perhaps they had dramatically tied the score when the red light went on with only three seconds remaining. But the puck had hit the post and bounced out. The game was the fifth 1-0 final played in Adirondack Phantoms' history and their second such decision in a row.

Friday, December 6: Adirondack Phantoms 3 - Hartford Wolf Pack

This time the Phantoms were on the winning side of the shutout decision. Cal Heeter's second career shutout was his first in Glens Falls with a 24-save masterpiece over the Hartford Wolf Pack. His best save of the night was a sliding stop to his left to deny Shawn O'Donnell on the back-door of a rebound of a slapshot from former teammate Danny Syvret.

The Phantoms needed the big performance from the 25-year-old goalie out of St. Louis. Several minutes into the third period, Adirondack's lead was still only 1-0. Tye McGinn opened the scoring three minutes into the game with his fifth goal of the year. Brandon Alderson added an important power-play tally eight minutes into the third and then Chris VandeVelde's team-leading seventh goal came in the form of a late empty-netter.

Saturday, December 7: Adirondack Phantoms 3 - Utica Comets 1

Ben Holmstrom's goal a couple minutes into the second period made it rain teddy bears inside the Glens Falls Civic Center. The annual Teddy Bear Toss Night to benefit the Salvation Army produced over 1,000 stuffed animals launched onto the ice by our fans. And that was really just the beginning of the fun. Jason Akeson set up Kris Newbury on a 3-on-1 rush on the power play. And Akeson scored one for himself from the left-circle snapping a drive through the glove of Utica goalie Joe Cannata.

Heeter was almost-perfect in this contest but gave up a lone goal to Darren Archibald off an intercept in the second period. Adirondack held their opponents to a season-low 19 shots. It was the first AHL game between Adirondack and Utica in almost 20 years. On February 26, 1993 the Adirondack Red Wings defeated the Utica Devils 7-3 at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Upcoming Opponents

Hartford Wolf Pack (9-12-2, 20 points) - Affiliation, New York Rangers

Friday, December 13 (7:00) - XL Center, Hartford, CT

This is the fourth out of 10 for the Phantoms and Wolf Pack to face each other this year; the most times ever the Phantoms have seen the affiliates of the New York Rangers in a single season. Adirondack is 1-1- against Hartford this year. The Phantoms lost a shootout in their only previous visit to Hartford this season on October 11 in just their second game of the year.

Hartford is struggling of late and have been battling injuries and call-ups. The Wolf Pack have lost five straight and have gone 2-11-1 in their last 14 games. This all comes shortly after the Pack began the season in first place with a six-game point streak and 5-0-1 record.

Gone from the team are young talents J.T. Miller, Chris Kreider and goaltender Cameron Talbot all to the New York Rangers. Also gone now is 35-year-old feisty veteran Arron Asham who was called up this week after appearing in the game in Glens Falls last Friday.

Rookie Danny Kristo out of the University of North Dakota is the "Leader of the Pack" scoring 10-8-18. Veteran Aaron Johnson (almost 300 NHL games mostly with Columbus) on the blueline has 3-14-17. Their top goalie now is 6'8" tall Jason Missiaen who has gone a disappointing 2-8-1, 3.75, .864.

This is the 17th season of the Hartford Wolf Pack who began in 1997-98 after the city lost their NHL Hartford Whalers franchise (moved to become the Carolina Hurricanes). John Paddock (former Phantoms head coach and current Flyers assistant coach) led Hartford to a Calder Cup championship in 2000.

Ken Gernander is in his eighth season as head coach of the Wolf Pack after serving as captain for the Rangers top affiliate in Hartford and previously in Binghamton for 10 years.

Former Flyers and Phantoms on the Wolf Pack

Former Flyer on the Wolf Pack is Darroll Powe who also played for the Philadelphia Phantoms for one full season in 2007-08 and parts of a couple others. The Princeton University product has a total of 95 games played with the Phantoms scoring 15-19-34. He also played in 204 games for the Flyers from 2008-11 scoring 24-21-45. In total, Powe has 329 career NHL games with Philadelphia, Minnesota Wild and the Rangers.

The Wolf Pack have gone 2-8-1 in their last 11 games with part of their struggles due to the call-ups of goalie Cameron Talbot and young star Chris Kreider.

Defenseman Danny Syvret was traded to the Rangers' organization in exchange for Kris Newbury this past summer. This game will be Newbury's first return visit to the XL Center where he had played for most of the last four seasons. Syvret played in 220 games for the Phantoms' franchise including 142 with Adirondack. Syvret's 89 points with the Adirondack Phantoms rate fifth-most all-time and his assist total of 68 is third highest trailing only Jason Akeson and Erik Gustaffson. Syvret's 146 career points with the Phantoms' franchise is 11th all-time tied with Colonie, NY native Craig Darby.

Manchester Monarchs (16-5-5, 37 points) - Affiliation, Los Angeles Kings

Saturday, December 14 (7:00) - Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, NY

This will be Manchester's lone appearance in Glens Falls this season. The Monarchs are tops in the Eastern Conference in total points with 37 although Springfield actually has the best win-percentage with four additional games in hand. The Monarchs went 1-1-1 last weekend beginning with a humiliating 7-2 loss at the Providence Bruins on Friday. Manchester has only one win in their last four games.

The Monarchs raced out to the best start in the history of their franchise with an eight-game point streak and 5-0-3 record.

Jordan Weal (4-17-21) and Brandon Kozun (6-14-20) are the team's top scorers. Kozun has posted three straight 20-goal seasons in the AHL. Tanner Pearson was the team's Round 1 selection in 2012 and scored 19-28-47 last year. Derek Forbort on defense is another first-round choice of the Kings from 2010 out of the University of North Dakota.

Martin Jones (9-2-2, 2.24, .927) has been one of the top goalies in the league but is currently up with Los Angeles. Just this past Friday, Jones posted a shutout against the New York Islanders in only his second career NHL game. Jean-Francois Berube (7-4-2, 2.57, .911) has since taken over the reigns.

Manchester, NH is enjoying the 13th season of their AHL franchise who began in 2001-02. Former long-time Clarkson University bench-boss Mark Morris is the eighth-year head coach of the Monarchs.

Upcoming

Tuesday, December 10 (7:00) - Phantoms Power Hour LIVE at Recovery Sports Grill

Player Guests This Week: Ben Holmstrom and Brandon Manning

Friday, December 13 (7:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Hartford Wolf Pack

Saturday, December 14 (7:00) - Manchester Monarchs at Adirondack Phantoms

Friday, December 20 (7:30) - Adirondack Phantoms at Norfolk Admirals

Saturday, December 21 (7:15) - Adirondack Phantoms at Norfolk Admirals

Thursday, December 26 (7:00) - Adirondack Phantoms at Springfield Falcons

When you order your tickets in advance, you save! Call the Phantoms at 518-480-3355

25 Terrific Seasons

Glens Falls is celebrating its 25th season hosting an AHL team and in so doing now joins an elite group of just 9 other active markets who can make such a claim. It's a great hockey tradition with an old-school feel that began with the Adirondack Red Wings in 1979. In their 20-year tenure at the Glens Falls Civic Center through 1999, the Red Wings won four Calder Cups. The Adirondack Phantoms began play in Glens Falls in 2009-10 and are in their fifth season bringing exciting AHL action to the North Country.

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