FLAMES COME UP SHORT IN 5-2 LOSS TO TORONTO

Glens Falls, NY – The Adirondack Flames fell to the Toronto Marlies on Saturday evening by a final score of 5-2 in front of an over capacity crowd of 5,087 at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

Adirondack’s goals came from Turner Elson and Mark Cundari, who added to his offensive run in tonight’s game. Both players have scored eight points in seven games. Devin Setoguchi also recorded an assist in his first game back with the Flames since Dec. 12. Brad Thiessen finished the game with 21 saves on 26 shots. Doug Carr entered the game following the Marlies’ fifth goal, and recorded 10 saves.

Toronto opened the scoring less than 10 minutes into the opening period when Matt Frattin netted his 16th goal of the season. Frattin, who was on the receiving end of a perfect cross-ice feed from Viktor Loov, made no mistake when he lifted the puck up and over Flames goalie Brad Thiessen to put the Marlies in front. Brendan Mikkelson was credited with the secondary assist on the goal, which came in the waning seconds of a power play.

The Marlies then doubled their lead just 1:10 later as Loov beat Thiessen with a wrist shot from the point that made it through traffic in front. The goal for Loov, which was his fifth of the year, came at 10:35 in the first period and was assisted by Brendan Leipsic and Byron Froese.

It was the Flames’ turn for a push of their own a mere 54 seconds after the Marlies extended their lead to 2-0. Turner Elson pulled Adirondack within one when he registered his 12th goal of the season. As the Flames possessed the puck in the offensive zone, Devin Setoguchi collected the puck behind the Toronto net. He circled around in front, saw Elson cutting in and fired a pass right onto the stick of his line mate. Elson made a quick move and beat Bibeau to light the lamp. Elson’s tally came at 11:29 of the opening frame, and was assisted by Setoguchi and McGrattan.

Adirondack erased the deficit completely just 72 seconds into the second stanza, as Mark Cundari scored for the second game in a row with a shot from the point. Skating with the man-advantage, Adirondack cycled the puck around the offensive zone and when it made its way to Cundari at the point, he wound up and fired a blast past Bibeau and into the net. The marker was Cundari’s fifth of the 2015 campaign, and was assisted by Stevenson and Baertschi.

Toronto regained the lead 4:06 into the final period when blueliner Brendan Mikkelson whistled a blistering wrist shot over Thiessen’s glove from the top of the far circle. Mikkelson received the puck from Josh Leivo at the blue line, and quickly fired the puck on net. The goal for Mikkelson, his seventh of the season, was assisted by Leivo and Greg McKegg.

It only took 12 seconds for the Marlies to strike again, as they extended their lead to two. This time it was defenseman Andrew MacWilliam who found the back of the net after winger Connor Brown fed him the puck. MacWilliam beat the Flames netminder glove side from the bottom of the left circle to earn his third goal of the season. Brown was credited with the lone assist on the tally.

The Marlies continued their offensive effort at 6:18 in the third, when recent acquisition Brendan Leipsic scored his ninth goal of the season, pushing Toronto to a 5-3 lead. Leipsic sprung on a breakaway from the blue line and caught a leading pass from Byron Froese. The winger went forehand-backhand to complete the play, which gave Toronto a three-goal lead. Froese and Loov were both credited with the assists on the goal.

The Flames return to action next Saturday in Hamilton, as they will kick off a three game trip across the border in Canada. The Flames won’t return to the Civic Center until Tuesday, March 10 when they will again faceoff against the Hamilton Bulldogs. That day will be a Great Meadow Federal Credit Union Tuesday. Discounted tickets will be available at all three G.M.F.C.U. Branches, located in Granville, South Glens Falls and Comstock. Tickets are still available for that night, and all remaining Flames home games. Visit the Flames box office, call 518-480-3355, or order online at glensfallscc.com.

Adirondack Flames Hockey • Fired Up

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