Devils Get Number One

Published on October 15, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


ALBANY, N.Y. -Goaltender Mike McKenna made 31 stops, along with five in the shootout, in the Albany Devils' 3-2 win against the Hartford Wolf Pack Friday at the Times Union Center. The triumph is the first win for the Devils in Albany, and is head coach Rick Kowalsky's first win as an AHL bench boss.

"It's a good feeling to get the first one out of the way," Kowalsky said after the game. He was appointed to his current position on Aug. 10 after spending four seasons with Trenton of the ECHL.

"Anytime you can get the two points it's nice," said Devils captain Stephen Gionta. "It's the first one for coach and hopefully there are many more to come for him."

In the shootout, Mattias Tedenby, who had an exciting game creating many offensive opportunities, tied things at one goal apiece before Gionta won it with a slap shot from the hash marks that found the top right corner of the net.

"I've done [the move] a couple of times, so I knew before what I was going to do," Tedenby said.

"This kid has world class talent," Kowalsky praised Tedenby's efforts. "There's no question that he will be a top player for us."

All four regulation goals came early and often in the first period. Hartford's Mats Zuccarello got his team on the board first at 8:42, but the Devils struck back just 23 second later when Gionta slipped the puck to Vladimir Zharkov in front of the Hartford net for a one-touch goal.

Albany took the lead 1:26 later when Chad Wiseman netted his first of the season. The goal was initiated by Patrick Davis when he dug the puck out from behind the net and passed it into the slot. Wiseman proceeded to fly in and fire a shot past Hartford goaltender Chad Johnson.

Hartford's game-tying goal, and the final goal of regulation, came on the power-play at 13:31 when Wade Redden blasted a slap shot off both posts and past McKenna.

The goaltenders battled the rest of the way with McKenna making four saves in the second, 12 in the third and three in OT. At the other end, Johnson finished with 29 saves, including 12 in the second.

McKenna garnered First Star of the Game accolades for his performance followed by Gionta and Tedenby, respectively.

The Devils will take the ice tomorrow when they travel north on Interstate-87 to face rival Adirondack Phantoms for game two of the Time Warner Cable Cup at 7 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 15, 2010


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