Johan Backlund Earns Shutout For Adirondack Phantoms In 5-0 Win Over Syracuse Crunch

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com -GLENS FALLS, NY – Jon Matsumoto had two goals and one assist and Johan Backlund made 20 saves for his first career AHL shutout as the Adirondack Phantoms rolled over the Syracuse Crunch 5-0 Sunday afternoon at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

The Phantoms had been struggling in the first period of their last few games and were looking for a better start against a physical Syracuse lineup.  Garrett Klotz got Adirondack going early in the game as he scored at 6:01, lifting his shot over goalie Dan LaCosta for his second goal in three games; the assists went to Jon Matsumoto and Matt Clackson – his first point of the year.  Adirondack out-shot the Crunch 12-5 in the first period and clearly set the tone with a high-energy start.

Matsumoto doubled the Phantoms lead at 5:18 of the second period, the first of two goals on the night for Adirondack’s point-leader.  Matsumoto was awarded a penalty shot after he was hauled down on a short-handed breakaway; he took the ensuing shot well by beating LaCosta up over his blocker for a 2-0 lead and the Phantoms’ first short-handed goal of the season.

Adirondack pulled away in the third period as they found the net three more times.  Ryan Dingle scored his first goal in a Phantoms’ jersey as he took a pass from captain Jared Ross, skated down the right wing and snapped a wrist shot into the twine at 4:36.  Ross then set up Jason Ward at 13:45, making a beautiful cross-ice pass to Ward for a one-timer into the net and a 4-0 lead.  Adirondack limited the shots on goaltender Johan Backlund, but he was called on to make some big saves, including a fantastic save as he denied Derek MacKenzie’s short-handed breakaway late in the game.  Matsumoto finished off the scoring with his second goal of the game, his fourth of the year, as he skated out of the corner and scored at 15:49 to complete the 5-0 win.  Clackson recorded his second assist of the night on the goal and Oskars Bartulis also tallied an assist as seven different Phantoms players found the score sheet on Sunday.

Johan Backlund stopped all 20 shots he faced to record his first career AHL shutout, helping Adirondack improve to 5-4-1-0 on the year.  Dan LaCosta took the loss as he made 38 saves on 43 shots as Syracuse fell to 4-5-1-1 this season.  The Phantoms out-shot the Crunch 43-20 and went 0-for-10 on the power play; Syracuse was 0-for-4 on the man-advantage.

The Phantoms return to the ice on Wednesday, November 4^th for a special school-day 11:00 am face off against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Arena at Harbor Yard.  Adirondack’s next home game is on Friday, November 13^th against the Binghamton Senators at 7:30 pm at the Civic Center.

The Time Warner Cable Cup Four-Pack is now on sale at the Phantoms office, starting as low as $56.  2009-10 Phantoms full and partial season ticket packages are still available for the 2009-10 season presented by Bud Light.  For more information please contact the Adirondack Phantoms at (518) 480-3355 or online at www.phantomshockey.com.

FINAL BOX SCORE

Syracuse Crunch 0 At Adirondack Phantoms 5 - Status: Final
Nov 1, 2009 - Glens Falls Civic Center

Syracuse 0 0 0 - 0
Adirondack 1 1 3 - 5

1st Period-1, Adirondack, Klotz 2 (Matsumoto, Clackson), 6:01. Penalties-Pelletier Syr (slashing), 6:43; Stephenson Adk (elbowing), 13:02; Picard Syr (roughing, roughing), 18:51; Marshall Adk (roughing), 18:51; Roy Syr (boarding), 19:18.

2nd Period-2, Adirondack, Matsumoto 3   5:18 (sh ps). Penalties-Sestito Syr (interference), 2:36; Dingle Adk (hooking), 5:18; Clackson Adk (interference), 7:43; Marshall Adk (tripping), 8:03; Harvey Syr (roughing), 17:42; Roy Syr (roughing, fighting), 17:42; Nodl Adk (boarding), 17:42; Stephenson Adk (fighting), 17:42; Sigalet Syr (fighting), 19:23; Legein Adk (fighting), 19:23.

3rd Period-3, Adirondack, Dingle 1 (Ross, Ward), 4:36. 4, Adirondack, Ward 2 (Ross), 13:45. 5, Adirondack, Matsumoto 4 (Clackson, Bartulis), 15:49. Penalties-Liffiton Syr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:42; Sestito Syr (interference, fighting, game misconduct - persisting a fight), 16:27; Stephenson Adk (instigating, fighting, game misconduct - instigator (last 5:00)), 16:27; LaVallee-Smotherman Syr (misconduct - unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:45; Mirasty Syr (instigating, unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct - unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:45; Ross Adk (roughing), 16:45; Clitsome Syr (hooking), 17:18.

Shots on Goal-Syracuse 5-8-7-20. Adirondack 12-13-18-43.

Power Play Opportunities-Syracuse 0 of 4; Adirondack 0 of 10.

Goalies-Syracuse, LaCosta 3-4-1 (43 shots-38 saves). Adirondack, Backlund 4-2-0 (20 shots-20 saves).

A-2,941

Referees-Chris Brown (86).
Linesmen-Mike Emanatian (69), Steeve Lemay (64).

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).