GLENS FALLS -- Now that's the way to start a rivalry. If all 12 games between the Adirondack Phantoms and the Albany River Rats go the way the one did Saturday night at the Civic Center, there may not be a fingernail left between Albany and Plattsburgh by spring.

Score the first chapter for Albany. Jerome Samson's goal from the left slot 2:21 into overtime gave Albany a 2-1 win over Adirondack and sent most of the standing-room-only crowd of 4,912 home unhappy.

Though the rivalry game saw some chippiness, Albany coach Jeff Daniels instructed his team to focus like it was any other road game. "We play our game," said Daniels, whose team pushed its record to 4-1. "We're not here to put on a show."

The Phantoms were all out to force overtime after trailing 1-0 through two periods.

Twenty-nine times the Phantoms threw the puck at Justin Peters, from every angle and area of the ice. The 30th was one of the simplest: a fluttering puck from Krys Kolanos at the point that sneaked through Peters' legs to tie the game at 1 with 2:25 left in the game.

By getting the game into overtime, the Phantoms salvaged a point against a division foe.

"We felt like we should have won that game in regulation," Albany defenseman Bryan Rodney said. "We kind of gave them a point there. We wanted to make sure we were going to get that second point, because these all add up in the end."

The Phantoms came into the game with an offense that has been anemic thus far. Despite a lineup that looks potent on paper, Adirondack scored just nine goals in their first four games. Only two AHL teams had fewer.

Top-line centers Jared Ross and Jon Matsumoto, who each scored more than 20 goals last season, haven't found the back of the net yet.

The Phantoms struggled to click again on Saturday.

Nothing typified the Phantoms' frustration more than in the second period. They came out with energy and dominated the period, outshooting the Rats 13-4, but had nothing to show for it on the board despite two power-play chances.

The power play, which converted on its only chance Friday, hasn't been a help. They came in with the 21st-ranked power play in the league, and after going 0 for 5 against Albany, the Phantoms dropped to 2 for 23 for the season.

Like the win against Hershey, defense carried the Phantoms.

A night after stopping 26 of 27 shots in a 2-1 win over Hershey, Johan Backlund was sharp again, stopping 26 of 28. But the best goaltending of the night came at the other end, where Albany's Peters allowed just the one to slip through on 32 shots.

The Phantoms spent too much time in the penalty box in the first, but it didn't bite them. They killed four River Rats power plays, including one that spanned the first and second periods.

But the Rats led 1-0 after the first on a late-period hustle play by Nick Dodge. After defenseman Brett Bellemore split defenders carrying the puck through the zone, Dodge took the puck off his stick and flung a sudden shot past Backlund.

They didn't strike again until Samson's game-winner in overtime.

"This was a big win for us tonight," Rodney said.

Loose pucks: For the first time this season the Phantoms dressed the traditional six defenseman. Mike Ratchuk, Logan Stephenson and Marc-Andre Bourdon were the defensive scratches.

Albany 1 0 0 1 - 2

Adirondack 0 0 1 0 - 1

First Period - 1, Albany, Dodge (Bellemore, Pistilli), 1:40. Penalties - Albany, Olson (fighting), 2:26; Adirondack, Clackson (fighting), 2:26; Albany, Rodney (slashing), 4:22; Adirondack, Bartulis (tripping), 6:19; Albany, Fitzgerald (roughing), 9:09; Adirondack, Maroon (roughing-unsportsmanlike conduct), 9:09; Adirondack, Mormina (interference), 15:19; Adirondack, Bartulis (holding), 19:48.

Second Period - None. Penalties - Albany, Bellemore (hooking), 9:13; Albany, Fitzgerald (cross-checking), 18:34.

Third Period - 2, Adirondack, Kolanos (Bartulis, Maroon), 17:35. Penalties - Albany, Paiement (tripping), 4:07; Adirondack, Marshall (delay of game), 9:49.

Overtime - 3, Albany, Samson, 2:21. Penalties - None.

Shots on Goal - Albany 10-4-12-2-28. Adirondack 11-13-6-2-32.

Power Play Opportunities - Albany 0 of 5; Adirondack 0 of 5.

Goalies - Albany, Peters (32 shots-31 saves). Adirondack, Backlund (28 shots-26 saves).

Referee -Chris Ciamaga. A - 4,912.