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Devils Jump Back Into Playoff Hunt

March 23, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


After falling at Hartford, 1-0, on Wednesday, the Lowell Devils thrust themselves back into the playoff race with home wins over Hershey on Friday and Worcester on Saturday. This week, the Devils face the three teams they are chasing in the Atlantic Division standings. Lowell will host Manchester on Tuesday before traveling to battle Portland on Friday and Worcester on Saturday. The Devils wrap up the weekend at home on Sunday with an out-of-division match-up versus the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Rewind:

Wednesday, Devils 0 vs. WOLF PACK 1

Brodie Dupont's goal at 19:02 of the first period would be the only one of the contest, as the Lowell Devils fell to the Hartford Wolf Pack, 1-0, at the XL Center. Wolf Pack goalie Miika Wiikman was perfect in net as Hartford held Lowell to just 18 shots. Jeff Frazee lost for the first time this season when allowing only one goal as he finished with 28 saves.

Friday, DEVILS 2 vs. Bears 1

The Devils held the league's most potent offense to just one goal as they edged the Hershey Bears, 2-1, at the Tsongas Arena. Though Jay Beagle gave Hershey the lead at 13:59 of the first, Brad Mills knotted the score with 2:40 left until intermission. After a scoreless second, Olivier Magnan's second tally of the year at 3:53 of the final frame proved to be the game-winner. Jeff Frazee tied a team season high with 43 saves in the game.

Saturday, DEVILS 3 vs. Sharks 0

Jeff Frazee made 43 saves for the second night in a row and picked up his third shutout of the season in 3-0 victory over the Worcester Sharks at the Tsongas Arena. Lowell gathered a goal a period as Rod Pelley gathered the deciding tally at 9:55 of the first, followed by markers by Nicklas Bergfors and Jon DiSalvatore. The Devils penalty kill was perfect for the third straight game, going 6-for-6 against the Sharks.

In the Standings

With two big wins at home this weekend, the Devils were able to inch back into the playoff hunt. At 31-30-2-6 and 70 points, Lowell has a game in hand and currently sits only a point behind the fifth-place Worcester Sharks (34-33-1-2) and three points out of the fourth playoff spot occupied by the Portland Pirates (32-29-3-6). One point ahead of the Pirates in third place are the Manchester Monarchs with a record of 33-29-0-8. The Hartford Wolf Pack (40-26-3-3) and Providence Bruins (39-25-2-5) have pulled away from the pack in the battle for the division crown. The Bruins trail the Wolf Pack by one point with a game in hand. The Springfield Falcons have been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention and are in seventh place at 22-38-7-4.

Around the Horns

The Devils are clicking at 95.5% on the penalty kill (21-for-22) in their last five home games...Lowell is 11-1-0-2 at home when allowing two goals or less...The Devils are one of three teams in the AHL that have not lost in regulation when leading after two periods (20-0-0-2; Grand Rapids & Milwaukee)...Vladimir Zharkov is tied for fifth among rookies with a +19 plus/minus rating.

Frazee's Fantastic

Jeff Frazee has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Mar. 22, 2009. In three games, Frazee turned aside 114 of 116 shots for a 0.67 goals-against average and a .983 save percentage. Frazee made 28 saves in a 1-0 loss at Hartford on Wednesday night, then followed up with a 43-save effort against the league's top-ranked offense in Lowell's 2-1 win over Hershey on Friday. Frazee finished the weekend with his third shutout of the season, stopping 43 more shots to lead the Devils to a 3-0 win over Worcester. In addition, he has allowed only four goals in his last four home games and is 15-5-5 at the Tsongas Arena this year with a 2.24 GAA and a .948 save percentage.

Coming Up

The Devils will look to close the gap in the Atlantic this week with games against the three teams directly ahead in the standings. Lowell hosts Manchester on Tuesday for their final meeting this year at the Tsongas Arena. The Devils broke a three-game skid against the Monarchs with a 3-1 win on March 13. Manchester is winless in its last five matches (0-3-0-2).

Lowell then makes its final trip of the season to the Cumberland County Civic Center to face the Portland Pirates on Friday. Portland has won three straight against Lowell including a pair of 6-1 victories on their home ice this month. The Pirates have lost three in a row overall and five of their last seven. Jeff Frazee is 4-1-1 against Portland with a 2.86 GAA and a .923 save percentage.

The Devils and Sharks wrap up their season series on Saturday at the DCU Center. Lowell has registered a four-game point streak versus Worcester (3-0-1-0) to even up the season series at 4-4-1-0. The Sharks have also lost three consecutive games, recording only one goal during that span. Nicklas Bergfors has notched three goals and eight assists in nine games against Worcester this season.

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers come to town on Sunday to complete the Devils' weekend. Lowell is looking for its first win against Bridgeport this season, having gone 0-2-1-1 in the season series thus far. The Sound Tigers have won 11 of their last 14 to take a one-point lead in the East Division. Goaltender Nathan Lawson is 6-0-2 in his last eight starts and has not lost in regulation since February 8.

Promotions/ In the Community

Wednesday, March 25

Stephen Gionta and Devil Dawg will be visiting and reading to patients in the pediatric wing of Lowell General Hospital from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Friday, March 27

Devil Dawg will be greeting students at 8:30 a.m. as they the start their day at the Sparhawk School in Amesbury, MA.

Saturday, March 28

Devil Dawg will be in Worcester to help the Sharks' mascot, Finz, celebrate his birthday during their game versus the Devils at 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 29 - Devils vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 4:00 p.m.

Post-game team autograph session

Post-game skate, sponsored by Eastern Bank

Leaders for Lowell

Goals: Nicklas Bergfors (19)

Assists: Jon DiSalvatore (29)

Points: Jon DiSalvatore (47)

PIM: Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (193)

Plus/Minus: Vladimir Zharkov (+19)

Wins: Jeff Frazee (25)

G.A.A: Jeff Frazee (2.60)

Save %: Jeff Frazee (.922)

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