Devils Earn Divisional Win at Springfield
December 27, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MA -- Four different goal scorers helped the Albany Devils to a 4-3 victory against the Springfield Falcons Thursday at Mass Mutual Center. The win ends a four game winless stretch for the Devils, who improve to 6-2-1-1 in December and 10-10-1-6 overall. Springfield, which sits atop the Northeast Division, goes to 16-7-2-3.
Harri Pesonen, Stephen Gionta, Joe Whitney and Steve Zalewski each had goals and Adam Larsson registered a pair of assists. In goal, Keith Kinkaid made 28 saves on 31 shots to improve to 7-7-3.
For Springfield, Ryan Johansen, Matt Calvert and Cam Atkinson scored and Curtis McElhinney made 25 stops on 29 attempts.
Pesonen opened the scoring when a Brandon Burlon shot redirected off his skate and into the back of the net at 19:08 of the first. The play was reviewed for a kicking motion, but in the end the ruling on the ice stood. Pesonen found himself with his fourth goal of the season and Jacob Josefson joined Burlon with an assist on the play.
Albany added to its lead in the second when Gionta deflected a Corbin McPherson shot out of midair at 11:00. The goal was the first for Gionta since signing with Albany on Dec. 3.
After Johansen made the score 2-1 at 15:31, Whitney redirected Larsson's shot past McElhinney at 16:02, regaining the Devils two goal advantage. The marker was Whitney's fifth of the season.
In the third, Zalewski had a puck ricochet of his body into the net at 1:53. The two-man advantage goal included assists by Bobby Butler and Larsson. Zalewski registered his third goal of the season. Butler posted his team-high tying 17th point and Larsson registered his team-leading 14th helper.
Springfield fought back during the last couple of minutes of regulation. Calvery scored with two minutes remaining and Atkinkson made it a one goal game with 31 ticks on the clock.
The Falcons outshot the Devils, 31-29. Albany went 1-for-6 on the power play, while Springfield went 0-for-3.
The Devils return to the Times Union Center Friday for a 7 pm contest against the Binghamton Senators. Tickets to that game are just $10 through the arena box office. Additionally, the first 2,000 fans to arrive will receive a free Albany Devils winter hat.
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