Devils Drop Two Down South
March 9, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
The Lowell Devils were swept in a two-game road set this past weekend against the Norfolk Admirals and now find themselves in sixth place in the Atlantic Division. Though five points out of the final playoff spot, the Devils have four opportunities this week to climb the standings. Lowell hosts Bridgeport on Tuesday before opening a four-game road stretch with games this weekend against Manchester, Portland and Providence.
Rewind:
Friday, Devils 1 vs. ADMIRALS 4
The Devils failed to capitalize on eight power play chances, while Blair Jones notched two goals to pace the Admirals to a 4-1 victory. Jones struck first at 7:16 of the opening period, while Alexander Vasyunov fired back for Lowell with 2:18 left until the intermission. Justin Keller put Norfolk back in front in the second period while Jones also added his second of the night. Riku Helenius repeatedly denied the Devils, making 31 saves in the game.
Saturday, Devils 1 vs. ADMIRALS 2
Justin Keller's 5-on-3 power play goal in the second period was the go-ahead marker that gave Norfolk a 2-1 win over Lowell. After a scoreless first, Blair Jones gave the Admirals the lead 2:23 into the second on the man-advantage. Ten minutes later, Nicklas Bergfors tied the game for Lowell with his 16th goal of the season. Keller provided the game-winner with 2:54 remaining until the second intermission. Jeff Frazee made 22 saves in the loss.
In the Standings
The Hartford Wolf Pack (35-24-3-3) have won eight of their last ten games to reach 76 points and pull into a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division with the Providence Bruins (35-24-2-4). Four points behind in third place with a record of 33-26-0-6 are the surging Manchester Monarchs. The Portland Pirates (30-24-3-6) are three points behind Manchester with two games in hand. Also with two games in hand, but trailing Portland by only two points are the Worcester Sharks at 32-28-1-2. The Devils have as many as three games in hand on teams ahead of them in the standings and are five points out of the fourth and final playoff spot. Sitting in seventh place are the Springfield Falcons at 19-37-7-2.
Around the Horns
For the first time this season Jeff Frazee lost in regulation when allowing two goals or less as the Devils fell to Norfolk on Saturday, 2-1. He was previously 14-0-3...Lowell's penalty kill is working at 91.7% over its last six games (22-for-24)...Nicklas Bergfors has scored goals in seven of his last 12 contests.
Coming Up
The Devils host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Tuesday at the Tsongas Arena. The Sound Tigers are 11-1-0-3 in their last fifteen games as they have pulled into a tie for first place in the East Division with the Hershey Bears. Goalie Nathan Lawson leads the league with a .938 save percentage and is second with a 1.81 GAA.
Lowell will visit Manchester on Friday to battle a Monarchs team currently on a nine-game point streak (8-0-0-1). The Devils are 3-3-1-0 versus Manchester this season and are 2-1-0-0 at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Goalie Jonathan Bernier has won six straight starts, allowing only seven goals and recording a shutout.
The Devils will travel to Lewiston, ME on Saturday to face the Portland Pirates for the eighth time this season. Lowell is 4-2-0-1 against Portland this year, while Nicklas Bergfors has picked up 11 points (5g-6a) versus the Pirates. Eleven of Portland's last 15 games have been decided by one goal (4-1-2-4) and seven of those have gone past regulation (1-6).
Lowell will complete its week of play on Sunday in Providence. It will be their first meeting against the Bruins since January 31 and their final game this season at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Lowell is 5-2-0-1 overall versus Providence this season with a 2-1-0-1 record on the Bruins' home ice. Providence ended a five-game winless streak (0-3-0-2) with a 2-1 win over Rochester on Sunday.
Promotions/ In the Community
Friday, March 13 - Devil Dawg will be visiting a Reading Class at Tyngsboro Elementary School in Tyngsboro, MA at 9:00 a.m.
Leaders for Lowell
Goals: Nicklas Bergfors, Jon DiSalvatore (16)
Assists: Jon DiSalvatore (29)
Points: Jon DiSalvatore (45)
PIM: Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (142)
Plus/Minus: Vladimir Zharkov (+17)
Wins: Jeff Frazee (22)
G.A.A: Jeff Frazee (2.64)
Save %: Jeff Frazee (.920)
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