Devils Rally, Win in OT
December 17, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
NORFOLK, VA - Matt Anderson sent the game into overtime and Vladimir Zharkov won it for the Albany Devils, 4-3, Friday evening at the Norfolk Admirals. Zharkov scored on a rebound with 2:41 remaining in OT to stop a three-game skid for the Devils and improve them to 12-16-0-0. Norfolk is now 17-6-5-1.
Things look dim for Albany, which trailed 2-0 early and 3-2 with 2:03 remaining. Anderson netted the tying goal in front, burying a rebound try off a Stephen Gionta try. Immediately after, the Devils were given a 5-on-3 power-play opportunity that carried into the overtime period.
The Admirals successfully killed the disadvantage, but Zharkov found the puck off Norfolk netminder Dustin Tokarski's pad for his seven goal of the season. David McIntyre had the original try and was awarded the assist.
Michael Swift and Tyler Eckford also had goals for Albany and Gionta and Anderson registered multiple points.
It was a game of strange bounces, and the Admirals jumped out to an early lead. Moments after Jeff Frazee made a sprawling save in desperation, he was beaten on a rebound try by James Wright 2:38 into the game. Matt Fomataro and Ty Wishart helped on the goal.
Then nearly two minutes later, Johan Harju had a centering pace redirected by a Devil into the Albany net to make it 2-0 at 5:04 with assists going to Chris Durno and Wishart.
Albany had an answer, which came of the reverse side of Swift's stick blade. Patrick Davis, playing in his first game since Dec. 3, skated behind the Norfolk net and managed to find Swift in the slot at 12:55. His backhander beat Tokarski high. Swift has been a staple on the score sheet with a point in seven of the last nine and nine points in the last 12.
A gaffe by Tokarski at 2:45 of the second pulled the score even. Eckford let one fly from the red line for a dump in try on net and the Admirals' netminder whiffed on the routine save. Anderson and Gionta were the other Devil benefactors as they earned the assists on the play.
Norfolk was able to carry a 3-2 lead into the third period thanks to Alex Berry's clearing pass/shot from the right corner that snuck past Frazee at 15:56.
The two teams each had nine shots in the third period, but the Devils owned a 4-0 advantage in the extra frame. Albany remains undefeated in overtime and joins Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as the only teams to yet to lose in OT or in a shootout.
Between the pipes, Frazee made 30 saves on 33 shots and helped Albany kill off all six Norfolk power plays. Tokarski had 27 stops on 31 shots as the Admirals denied five Devils man-up chances.
These two teams, which dropped the gloves four times during the game, will meet again on Saturday, Dec. 18 at 7:15 p.m.
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