Phantoms Win 4th Straight
November 3, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release
Petr Straka scored the first two goals of his professional career and Chris VandeVelde added another as the Adirondack Phantoms completed a perfect three-for-three homestand with a 3-1 victory over the Albany Devils on Saturday night. Adirondack's fourth straight win improves the team's overall record to 5-4-2 and gives the Phantoms a winning mark for the first time since they began the season 1-0.
Yann Danis turned aside 25 of 26 Albany Devils shots for the win seemingly picking up where Cal Heeter had left off. Both goalies have allowed exactly one goal in each of the four victories as the Phantoms have won by scores of 3-1, 2-1, 3-1 and 3-1 again.
The unsung heroes of the streak are most certainly the boys on the penalty kill. The Phantoms again buckled down every time they faced the disadvantage and have now held their opponents to 1-for-26 over the past four games after turning in a perfect 4-for-4 PK on Saturday.
After the game, hundreds of fans stayed late for postgame photographs with the players in an annual event. And this photo session was particularly enjoyable as the fans were able to take advantage of the opportunity to personally congratulate their favorite players on their success this week. And they also were able to gather around Cal Heeter and sing an impromptu Happy Birthday to him...which Cal gladly conducted.
Saturday was perhaps the best overall game of the season for the Phantoms who led 3-0 after two periods and were dominant in both frames outshooting the Devils 27-13. Albany's chances were minimal although Yann Danis did come up with a big save on a Reid Boucher breakaway in the second period when Adirondack was still clinging to a 1-0 lead.
Petr Straka, a rookie from the Czech Republic who scored 41 goals in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last year, rushed into the zone on a breakout pass from Ben Holmstrom and quickly found he was on a two-on-one with Nick Cousins speeding up the middle. Straka gave it over to Cousins who declined to take his shot and instead slipped it right back to Straka on the right-wing for the easy back-door tap-in. The team saved the puck for Straka who didn't take nearly as long to notch his second career goal.
At 10:52 of the second period, Straka found himself alone in front of the net picking up the reboun of a Mark Alt slapshot that had handcuffed Albany goalie Maxime Clermont. Straka converted to extend the lead to 2-0. Nick Cousins again received an assist on the play.
And in the closing minute of the middle period, Chris VandeVelde would smartly deflect a right-point slapshot from Kris Newbury for his third of the year. The goal came just a couple minutes after Jason Akeson's high-slot blast on a 5-on-3 power play rang off the right post and out. VandeVelde's goal was 5-on-5 and partly resulted from the momentum the Phantoms had gained on the previous power plays.
Mike Hoeffel was able to jam in the rebound of a Tim Sestito wrap around try at 2:55 into the third to get the Devils on the board. Albany forged ahead with 13 total shots in the third period to match their output from the previous two periods combined. But the Devils never seemed to seriously threaten to make it a one-goal game as the Phantoms were able to control the Albany desperation attack down to the final buzzer.
Adirondack outshot the Devils 30-26. The Phantoms were 0-for-5 on the power play while Albany was 0-for-4. The Northway Rivalry series is now even at 1-1. Game #3 out of 12 between the Phantoms and Devils will take place next Saturday evening at Times Union Center in Albany.
It was the last home game for the Phantoms for three weeks. Adirondack does not return for games at the GFCC until November 22-23.
At the second intermission, John Ray and Sons presented a check for over $15,000 to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure. The check was representative of the number of gallons of fuel delivered by the company's pink truck. Now in the fifth year of the program, John Ray and Sons have donated over $70,000 to the cause.
The game was also Adirondack Youth Hockey Association Night featuring dozens of kids from local hockey programs who have been inspired by the excitement generated of Phantoms hockey.
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American Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2013
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- Phantoms Win 4th Straight - Adirondack Phantoms
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