Akeson Stuns Albany in Phantoms 2-1 Win

A thrilling finish to today's AHL game at the Times Union Center in Albany, NY.

With time running out and the game tied 1-1 between the Albany Devils and Adirondack Phantoms, Jason Akeson found a puck in the slot and snapped one past Devils goaltender Scott Wedgewood with 20.5 seconds left in regulation, snapping the Phantoms three-game losing streak in a 2-1 win this afternoon.

More on Akeson. The goal was Akeson's team-leading 14th of the season and his 5th game winner (all in the last 11 games). He now has 35 points (14G-21A) in 40 AHL games this season, good for 14th in the league in scoring. Akeson also has seven goals in his last nine games.

This afternoon's goal came at crucial moment in a big game for the Phantoms, looking to right the ship and make a push toward the playoffs heading down the stretch. If the Phantoms are looking for continued success, as they return home to host the Hartford Wolfpack on Sunday, Akeson will need to continue to play well like he has over the last month or so.



Albany took a 1-0 lead late in the first period on a power play goal by Mike Sislo. Adam Larsson and Reid Boucher picked up the assists on Sislo's 12th of the season. The Devils had the early jump in the first frame, followed by a response by the Phantoms before the late push in the first period to get the home team out in front.

From there, it was much of a goaltender's duel between Cal Heeter and Scott Wedgewood for the Phantoms and Devils, respectively. Heeter finished with 27 saves on 28 shots to improve to 14-13-0 on the season. Wedgewood stopped 20 of 22 for the Devils in the loss.

The Phantoms got on the board late in the 2nd period when Marc-Andre Bourdon fed a pass to Tye McGinn in the slot with 1:09 left in the middle frame to even the score at 1-1. For Bourdon, it was his first game action in over 14 months. After a 114-game absence recovering from a concussion he suffered back in 2012, Bourdon was back on the ice and playing hockey. A truly remarkable comeback and a feel-good story for the Phantoms organization.

The Phantoms return home for a Sunday afternoon matinee with the Hartford Wolfpack, while the Albany Devils play host to the Binghamton Senators tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. EST.