FLAMES BLOW AWAY WOLVES IN THE WINDY CITY

Chicago, IL – The Adirondack Flames extended their winning streak to five games this afternoon in front of 13,690 fans at Allstate Arena in Chicago, as they silenced the Wolves by a 4-1 final.

It was a big day for the Flames’ power play, as they went three-for-six with the man-advantage. Emile Poirier scored twice in the victory, while Garnet Hathaway and Mark Cundari both added tallies of their own. Defenseman Ryan Culkin and winger Sven Baertschi both registered multiple assists, as Joni Ortio made 30 saves to earn his league leading 14th win of the season.

The Flames jumped out to the 1-0 lead at 16:32 of the first stanza, as they cashed in with the man-advantage after Jake Chelios was assessed a minor-penalty for hooking. Hathaway collected a rebound off of a Culkin point shot and buried it on the backhand to open the scoring. The goal, which came on the power play, was the rookie forward’s sixth of the campaign and was assisted by Culkin and Baertschi.

As the game progressed into the second period, both the Flames and the Wolves had big opportunities, as Baertschi was robbed on a breakaway by Chicago netminder Jordan Binnington and the Wolves hit two posts. But thanks to strong play from both Ortio and Binnington between the pipes, the second frame was a scoreless one. Ortio turned aside all seven shots directed his way, while Binnington stopped five.

The Flames doubled their lead to 2-0 at 4:24 of the third period when Emile Poirier intercepted the puck at the Chicago blue line, raced in alone on Binnington, faked left, deked right and slide the puck past the left pad of the Chicago netminder for a highlight reel tally. The goal for Poirier, which was his seventh of the season, was unassisted after the turnover.

The Wolves struck back just 63 seconds later, however, to pull within one, as Colin Fraser netted his fifth goal of the season. Rob Bordson rushed into the Adirondack zone, and put a backhand shot on net from the lower right circle. Ortio made the initial save but the rebound found its way right to Fraser, who put the puck past Ortio to cut the Flames lead in half. Jani Hakanpaa was credited with the secondary assist on the lone Wolves goal.

The Flames regained the two-goal lead with a two-man advantage at 9:25 of the final stanza, when Cundari collected his second goal of the season. The Flames’ defenseman took a pass from Culkin at the point, faked a shot, moved left towards the slot between the circles and ripped it past Binnington. Baertschi earned the secondary assist on Cundari’s marker for his second point of the game.

With just over three minutes to play in the game, Poirier sealed the deal when he blasted a slap shot from the top of the left circle past Binnington, to put the Flames up by three. The goal for Poirier, which was his second of the game and eighth of the season, was assisted by Wotherspoon and Cundari.

The Flames conclude their four-game road trip on Friday with a 7:00 p.m. tilt against the Rochester Americans, as they will be in search of their sixth win in a row. Adirondack returns home the following day, Saturday, for a matchup against the Utica Comets on Teddy Bear Toss Night. Tickets are still available for that contest and all remaining Flames’ home games. Visit the Flames box office, call 518-480-3355, or order online at glensfallscc.com to be a part of Saturday Night is Hockey Night in Glens Falls.

Adirondack Flames Hockey • Fired Up​