Greetings from the Glens Falls Civic Center, where the Adirondack Phantoms (19-24-2-1) and Albany Devils (20-17-1-8) are on the ice for pre-game warm-ups. This game marks the beginning of one of Adirondack's most grueling stretches of the season, which is outlined in today's game preview.

If they're serious about a playoff push, I'd say this one is a must-win. Albany is 6-1-0-1 against Adirondack this season, and 14-16-1-7 against the rest of the American Hockey League. They need to beat teams like this one if they're going to climb up in the standings. Scott Munroe, fresh off a 42-save performance in a 6-1 rout of Syracuse Sunday, gets the start in net for Adirondack tonight.

Albany counters with Jeff Frazee, which is a break from the norm. Albany has gone with Keith Kinkaid in six of the eight meetings between the team, and he's gone 4-1-1 against Adirondack.

But Frazee has put up better numbers against the Phantoms, going 2-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .957 save percentage. They've also got a couple new players from the last time these teams met Jan. 26 in Albany. Andrei Loktionov, who Terry Murray coached in Los Angeles, has joined the team via a trade. Cam Janssen joined the team after clearing waivers, which he was placed on to make room at the NHL level for Calder Trophy finalist Adam Henrique.

Albany has one to scratch between Tim Sestito and Mike Sislo. Garrett Roe returns for Adirondack. Defenseman Matt Konan is back from the flu and will replace Jeff Dimmen in the line-up.

ALBANY
F: Whitney-Zalewski-Anderson
Wiseman-Loktionov-Tedenby
Pesonen-D. Zajac-Sestito/Sislo
McKelvie-Wohlberg-Janssen
D: Kelly-Burlon
Urbom-Hrabarenka
Gelinas-McPherson
G: Frazee
Kinkaid

ADIRONDACK
F: Sim-Roe-Akeson
Wellwood-Bordson-Harper
Noebels-Mangene-Johnston
FitzGerald-Slater-Laliberte
D: Manning-Eddy
Gustafsson-Konan
Lauridsen-Syvret
G: Munroe
Heeter

Referee: Trent Knorr. Linesmen: Steeve Lemay, Frank Murphy.