Phantoms Win Behind Gustafsson's Five Points

Published on December 10, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


Rookie defenseman Erik Gustafsson had a part in every Phantoms' goal as Adirondack rolled to a 5-2 victory at the Syracuse Crunch Friday night. "Gus" finished with one goal and four assists to set a Phantoms season-high for points in a game while the Phantoms tied a team high for most goals in a game this season.

Denis Hamel (7th), Mike Testwuide (1st), Erik Gustafsson (3rd), Michael Ryan (2nd) and Eric Wellwood (7th) all the lit the lamp for the Phantoms triumph while rehabbing goalie Michael Leighton turned aside 28 of 30 Syracuse shots. The Phantoms went 3-for-6 on the power play and held the Crunch to 0-for-4 including a crucial kill of a long 5-on-3 in the 3rd period when Syracuse had their best chance to climb back into the game.

Adirondack improved to 2-0-0 against Syracuse this season. Gustafsson extended his hold the team's scoring lead now with 20 points.

Nicolas Deschamps scored on a breakaway for Syracuse early in the 2nd period to stake the Crunch to the initial 1-0 lead. It was a chip forward by former Phantoms David Laliberte that led to the goal.

But the Phantoms would storm back a couple minutes later as Denis Hamel would deflect a 5-on-3 power play drive of Gustaffson's through Crunch netminder J.P. Levasseur to tie the game at 1-1.

A couple minutes after that Mike Testwuide would finish a breakaway by roofing a backhander for his first professional goal. The play was set up by Dan Jancevski's long stretch pass.

Former Phantom Pat Maroon would spin at his bench and hit Josh Green rushing into the zone who was able to tie the game at 2-2. But 30 seconds later, Maroon would get called for a tripping penalty and just five seconds after that Gustafsson would blast a center-point slapshot off the base of the right-wing post and into the goal for a 3-2 advantage on what would prove to be the game-winning tally.

Denis Hamel hit Michael Ryan on a cross-ice feed to begin a 3rd period power play and Ryan buried his first ever goal as a Phantoms to extend the lead to 4-2. It was Ryan's first goal as a Phantom and second goal of the season in his fist game back following a two week layoff to injury.

Adirondack scrambled, fought and clawed through a 5-on-3 penalty kill midway through the third and Syracuse missed out on their best chance to close the gap. Bordson and Jancevski came out of the box after the Phantoms killed the 1:30 stretch on the 2-man disadvantage and the Phantoms still had the two goal lead.

Syracuse would have a 2-man advantage again late in the 3rd period when they went on the power play and pulled their goalie for an extra attacker. But Gustaffson was able to chip the puck out of the zone and Michael Ryan got the puck out in front to Eric Wellwood for the easy 4-on-6 empty-netter to seal the win.

Denis Hamel and Eric Wellwood remain tied for the team lead in goals as they both picked up their 7th of the season.

Hamel recorded his 297th career goal and is just three goals shy of becoming only the 19th AHL'er to reach the 300 goal club.

The Phantoms added Brendan Connolly to the team on a PTO from their ECHL affiliate in Greenville. It was Connolly's first AHL game of his career and he came close to scoring on a couple of occasions. Connolly is the scoring leader for Greenville with 13 goals and 28 points.

The Flyers assigned 6'4" defenseman Matt Walker to the Phantoms on a conditioning assignment and he played his first game in a Phantoms uniform. Walker, 30, has played over 300 NHL games including last season with Tampa Bay. He also played four seasons with St. Louis. Walker played in four preseason games with the Flyers before he had surgery on his hip in October.

Adirondack's next home game is Saturday, December 11 against the Portland Pirates featuring the team's first annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans get to bring their teddy bear donations for the Salvation Army to the game and throw them on the ice after the Phantoms score their first goal.

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.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 10, 2010


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