Hartford Wolf Pack Edged By Adirondack Phantoms, 3-2

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -Glens Falls, NY, October 23, 2009 - David Laliberte had a goal and two assists, and Jon Matsumoto added a goal and an assist, as the Adirondack Phantoms handed the Hartford Wolf Pack their third straigt loss, 3-2, Friday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

It was the first-ever meeting between the Wolf Pack and Phantoms in Glens Falls.  P.A. Parenteau and Dane Byers scored power-play goals for the Wolf Pack, and Corey Locke had two assists.

The Phantoms jumped on top only 1:20 into the game, taking advantage of a Wolf Pack defensive breakdown.  Patrick Maroon circled the Hartford net and centered to Laliberte, who was wide-open in front of the net and easily beat Wolf Pack goaltender Chad Johnson.

Hartford replied on a power play only 4:07 later, at 5:27, on a power play.  Locke found Parenteau in the left-wing circle with a pass from behind the net, and Parenteau snapped a shot past Phantom netminder Johan Backlund on the short side.  It was Parenteau's fifth goal of the season, tying him with Locke for the team lead.

The Wolf Pack gave up an early goal again in the second period, with Matsumoto socring on a partial breakaway at 2:26 on a shot past Johnson's catching glove.  The Phantoms then made it a 3-1 lead at 11:13 on a power-play, as Oskars Bartulis blasted in a slapshot through a screen from the left point.

Hartford got that back on a power play of their own just 1:01 later, as Byers notched his first goal of the season.  Stationed right in front of Backlund, Byers jammed in a rebound off of assists from Locke and Ilkka Heikkinen.

The Wolf Pack dominated the third period, outshooting the Phantoms 11-5, but could never manage an equalizer against Backlund, who finished the game with 26 saves.  Johnson made 24 stops in the Wolf Pack net.

The loss dropped the Wolf Pack to 2-5-0-0 on the season, headed into a home game Saturday night at the XL Center vs. Lowell (7:00 faceoff).

Hartford Wolf Pack 2 At Adirondack Phantoms 3
Oct 23, 2009 - Glens Falls Civic Center

Hartford 1 1 0 - 2
Adirondack 1 2 0 - 3

1st Period-1, Adirondack, Laliberte 1 (Maroon, Matsumoto), 1:20. 2, Hartford, Parenteau 5 (Locke, Sanguinetti), 5:27 (pp). Penalties-Soryal Hfd (fighting), 3:35; Klotz Adk (fighting), 3:35; Clackson Adk (holding), 3:56; served by Hillier Hfd (bench minor - too many men), 10:24; Hillier Hfd (tripping), 12:41; Laliberte Adk (hooking), 14:14; Kolanos Adk (cross-checking), 19:59.

2nd Period-3, Adirondack, Matsumoto 2 (Laliberte, Maroon), 2:36. 4, Adirondack, Bartulis 2 (Bourdon, Laliberte), 11:13 (pp). 5, Hartford, Byers 1 (Heikkinen, Locke), 13:14 (pp). Penalties-Urquhart Hfd (roughing), 4:49; Marshall Adk (roughing), 4:49; Mormina Adk (roughing), 4:49; Parenteau Hfd (tripping), 9:44; Bartulis Adk (interference), 13:05; Locke Hfd (roughing), 19:20.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Curry Adk (hooking), 5:22; Lehtivuori Adk (interference), 13:13; Byers Hfd (hooking), 17:16.

Shots on Goal-Hartford 10-7-11-28. Adirondack 13-9-5-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 2 of 6; Adirondack 1 of 5.
Goalies-Hartford, Johnson 2-3-0 (27 shots-24 saves). Adirondack, Backlund 3-2-0 (28 shots-26 saves).
A-4,062
Referees-Francis Charron (46).
Linesmen-Chris Low (88), Rich Patry (52).

Commissioner Bud Selig shaved drug suspensions of players and broke the rules of MLB. Will Manny Ramirez and three others do a year? What will happen to dozens of minor league players whose records, teams, and leagues are affected? Read the whole story at SZ ( www.mlnsports.com).