Pharm Stories: Adirondack Phantoms Suffer Tough Week

and the Adirondack Phantoms have lost four of their last five games. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

You know how the Philadelphia Flyers have been one of the hottest teams in the National Hockey League lately? Of course you do! They’re good. Kind of. And they’re fighting for their playoff lives.

The younger brother up in Adirondack didn’t quite catch that hot streak that their older brother has, with the Phantoms having gone 1-3-1 this past week stretching to Mar. 1. That includes a 9-3 pounding at the hands of the Providence Bruins in their most recent game this past Sunday.

Losing isn’t new for the Phantoms. They lost all but two games in February. They’ve lost 12 of 15 since February 1. Things are ugly in Glens Falls, N.Y.

The Phantoms split a home and home against the Syracuse Crunch March 1st and 2nd, losing 5-4 in OT and winning 3-0 the next day. In the loss, the Phantoms battled back from a 4-1 deficit to score three time sin the 3rd period thanks to goals from Kyle Flanagan, Mark Alt, and he game-tying goal from Tye McGinn with only three minutes remaining in regulation. However the excitement was short lived, as the Crunch’s Richard Panik scored on the power play to eliminate the Phantoms come-from-behind aspirations.

Adirondack exacted revenge on Syracuse the next day in Glens Falls, as Phantoms goaltender Yann Danis stopped all 19 shots he faced for a 3-0 shutout to crunch the Crunch. Goals from McGinn, Bruno Gervais and Matt Matczak powered the Phantoms.

Things turned ugly over this past weekend for coach Terry Murray‘s boys in purple and white  orange and black (sad). The Phantoms gave up 18 goals in three games (!!!!). That’s not good.

On Friday, the  AHL’s top team, the Manchester Monarchs, surged to a 4-2 victory at home over Adirondack.  After allowing the first four goals of the game to the Monarchs, three of which came from a Brian O’Neill hat trick, the Phantoms used power play goals from Gervais and Kris Newbury to cut the 4-0 deficit. But was to no avail, as the Monarchs J.F. Berube stopped 30 of 32 shots to seal the victory.

Saturday wasn’t any better for Adirondack. The Phantoms scored on the power play three times, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Northeast Division leader Springfield 5-3. Gervais earned his third goal in three games for the Phantoms. Brandon Manning and Nick Cousins also scored in the losing effort. Goaltender Danis (20 saves on 24 shots) was pulled in favor of Carsen Chubak (Nine saves on 10 shots) for the second straight game. Starting goaltender Cal Heeter was called up to the Philadelphia Flyers to serve as back up while Ray Emery recovers from a lower body injury. Tye McGinn and Oliver Lauridsen both left the game with injuries.

The worst was on Sunday. Three games in three straight days caught up(?) to the Phantoms, as Providence put on a 9-3 pounding in Providence. The Phantoms penalty kill, ranked 3rd in the league, didn’t kill anything. They allowed four goals on five Bruin power plays. Bruins rookie Alexander Khoklachev, who was just announced as AHL Player of the Week, had five points in the game (four assists, one goal). Providence scored 9 times on 41 shots. Once again, the Phantoms pulled their goaltender in favor of their back up for the third straight game. This time Chubak was pulled for Danis, with Heeter still in Philadelphia. Chubak allowed four goals on 20 shots, while Danis blocked 16 of 21 shots faced and allowed five goals. Adirondack threw 33 shots on net at Bruins goaltender Malcom Subban who turned away 30 of those shots.

The nine goals allowed against Providence was the most goals allowed in Phantoms history.

Jason Akeson has been a lone standout during a tough season. He currently has 52 points, and is on pace to break Jonathan Matsumoto’s record of 62 points in one season. He is also only 10 assists shy of Eric Gustafsson’s single season assists record of 44, with Akeson having 34 helpers.

The other bright spot? They don’t play until Friday, March 14! It’s needed after three games in three days…except that’s happening again this weekend. Friday they’ll take on the Hartford Wolfpack in Connecticut. They’ll then take on rivals Hershey Bears and Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday and Sunday respectively, both on the road.