Glens Falls, NY – The Adirondack offense powered the team to a second straight victory, as they defeated the San Antonio Rampage by a final score of 7-6 in front of 2,429 at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Wednesday evening.
The Flames’ offense scored seven goals for the second consecutive game, following last Saturday’s 7-3 win over Rochester. Forward Ben Hanowski, who returned from an injury to play in his first game since October 10, led the way with four points (2-2-4). Corban Knight also netted two goals, while Garnet Hathaway, Michael Ferland and Max Reinhart had a goal and an assist apiece. Goaltender Joni Ortio made 36 saves to earn his third win of the season.
The Rampage started things off early as they scored just 2:11 into the first period. Defenseman Steven Kampfer notched his third of the season on a tap-in in front of Ortio, completing a tic-tac-toe passing play from Brett Olsen and Mike Mancari.
Adirondack responded at the 7:05 mark of the opening stanza. Hanowski scored his first goal of the season as he put the puck between the legs of San Antonio netminder, Michael Houser. Ferland earned the primary assist on the play and defenseman Ryan Culkin drew the secondary assist on the power-play goal.
Ferland made his second appearance on the score sheet in as many goals, as he followed up his own shot that was turned aside by Houser with the rebound goal. Kenny Agostino and Bill Arnold were credited with the assists on Ferland’s tally, his fourth of the season.
The Flames added their third of the period when Hathaway potted his second of the season on a backdoor, cross-crease pass from Reinhart. The goal came on the power play just as the first penalty of a two-man advantage expired. Defenseman John Ramage also notched an assist on the goal, which was scored at the 12:25 mark of the first. The Flames ended the opening period with a 3-1 lead and a franchise high of 17 shots on net in a single period.
The Rampage came out firing to start the middle frame. After a lengthy video review by the officials, Brett Olson was awarded a goal as he beat Ortio in a net mouth scramble. Bobby Butler and Logan Shaw recorded the assists on the goal, scored at the 3:33 mark of the period.
Just over three minutes later, with the Rampage on a power play, Rocco Grimaldi took a cross-ice pass from Blake Barlett and quickly rang the puck over the shoulder of Ortio, off the bar and into the net. Drew Shore picked up the secondary assist on Grimaldi’s third marker of the season, which occurred at the 6:59 mark of the second period.
Not even a full minute later, Hanowski scored his second goal of the game as he dove through the air to deflect a David Wolf pass past Houser. The goal gave Hanowski just the second multi-goal game of his AHL career, the first since his league debut on October 4 of last season with the Abbotsford Heat.
Less than two minutes later, veteran Shane O’Brien recorded his second goal of the season on the power play with a blast from the point that beat a screened Ortio. The goal came at 9:39 and center Vincent Trocheck had the lone assist on the man advantage marker.
With exactly nine minutes to play in the second, Shaw picked up his second point of the night, fourth of the season as he put home a rebound off of a Drew Shore shot. The goal gave the visitors their only lead of the evening as they led Adirondack 5-4.
The advantage would be short lived, however, as Hanowski collected his third point of the night as he sent a pass to the point, which Knight fired towards the goal. The puck defected off the maze of bodies in front of the net and past Houser to tie the game at five all, 15:06 into period number two. Bryce Van Brabant got his third point over the last two games with the secondary assist. San Antonio fired 19 shots on Ortio in a middle period that saw six total goals.
Max Reinhart continued the goal parade to start the final period of play, when he whistled his first goal of the season past Houser from the left-wing circle on the power play. The assist, which was recorded by Hanowski, was his fourth point of the evening.
San Antonio responded yet again when Butler threw a shot from behind the cage, which caught a piece of Ortio and trickled into the net. O’Brien and Olson each picked up their second points on the night, with the assists on the play at 4:13 of the third.Knight scored the final goal of a wild contest at the 7:05 mark of the third as he took a behind-the-back pass from Sven Baertschi and beat a sprawled out Houser. The goal, which was Knight’s second of the game and third of the season, was also assisted on by Hathaway. The Knight tally put the Flames up 7-6, the eventual final score.
The Flames are back in action this Saturday as they welcome the Utica Comets to town. The Flames will be in search of their third win in a row with puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Tickets are still available for Saturday’s home contest. Visit the Flames box office, call 518-480-3355, or order online at glensfallscc.com to see the Flames take on the Comets.
Adirondack Flames Hockey • Fired Up
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