Devils Drop Game Against Admirals

Published on January 18, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


ALBANY, N.Y. -- In the past two weeks, the Albany Devils and Norfolk Admirals have proven that no lead is safe. Back on Jan. 6, the Devils erased a 4-0 deficit in the third period for a 5-4 overtime win. Wednesday night at the Times Union Center, the Admirals fought back from a 3-1 hole after the first period for a 5-4 victory.

"I'm sure they weren't happy with their first half of the game or their first period," head coach Rick Kowalsky said. "They are a team, when they are committed, that doesn't give you a lot of ice."

Stephane Veilleux highlighted the Devils offensive efforts with three first-period goals. Chad Wiseman was credited with Albany's fourth goal.

"I've never been a goal scorer; I'm a worker," Veilleux said. "I play at both ends of the ice - offensively and defensively - and it's always nice to chip in offensively. It gives you confidence, but you have to play both ends of the ice well."

The Devils (17-14-5-3) entered the night trailing the Connecticut Whale by two points for the Northeast Division lead. After a 4-2 loss by the Whale at Portland, no ground was made.

"We had a lot of time to come back and show some resiliency," Veilleux said. "I think we proved it in Norfolk - on the road even. We couldn't do it again tonight, but we have to regroup tomorrow and get back at it. It's a race to the playoffs."

The loss to Norfolk (24-13-1-2) ended the Devils six-game point streak and halted their four-game win streak against the Admirals. The visitors used goals from Matt Fornataro, Evan Oberg, Mark Barberio, Michel Ouellet and Mike Angelidis.

Angelidis netted the game-winning goal with a deflection at 16:36 of the second period with assists to Mike Kostka and Jean-Philippe Cote.

In goal, Keith Kinkaid made 21 stops. He entered the night with a 3-0-0 record, a 0.67 goals-against average and a .977 save percentage against Norfolk. At the other end, Dustin Tokarski made 24 saves for his 17th victory of the season.

Next up, the Devils make the short trip north to take on the Adirondack Phantoms for the fifth game of the Time Warner Cable Cup. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. and fans can listen to the action on 104.5 "The Team" ESPN Radio or online at ahllive.com

Notes: Matt Anderson did not dress in tonight's game, leaving defenseman Peter Harrold as the only Devil to appear in all 39 games this season ... With Jacob Josefson and Brad Mills departure to New Jersey and Matt Anderson and Stephen Gionta both not dressing, Chad Wiseman was moved into a center position. The normal left-winger played between Vladimir Zharkov and Nick Palmieri ... The last time a Devils player registered a hat trick was when Chad Wiseman scored four goals in the third period against Bridgeport on Mar. 9, 2011 ... The Devils suffered their first loss when leading after the first period. They are now 6-1-0-0 ... Three Stars: 1. Stephane Veillexu (ALB), 2. Mark Barberio (NOR), 3. Mike Kostka (NOR).

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American Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2012


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