Devils on the Rise in the Eastern Conference

Published on February 25, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


MANCHESTER, N.H. -- The Albany Devils are moving up the Eastern Conference standings. A day after skating into the top eight, the Devils knocked off the Manchester Monarchs, 3-1, Saturday at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Albany leapfrogs Manchester and takes over the seventh spot in the conference with a 26-20-5-3 record (60 pts.). The Monarchs are now 28-27-0-3 (59 pts.).

Jeff Frazee backstopped the Devils to their fifth road victory in six tries by making a season-high 38 saves. Frazee, who earned his ninth win, helped the Devils kill six penalties, including two five-on-three chances, in the third period alone.

Offensively, the Devils netminder was responsible for a breakout play that led to the game-winning goal.

That score came off the stick of Steve Zalewski at 13:54 of the second period. With Manchester changing lines, Frazee moved the puck out of the defensive end to the far blue line. Joe Whitney received the pass and found Vladimir Zharkov across the way. Falling down, Zharkov centered the puck to Zalewski for a one-touch goal.

Eric Gelinas opened the scoring for the second-straight night with a wrist shot from the point while on the power play. The goal, which came at 3:18 of the second, was setup by Mattias Tedenby and Whitney.

Albany now has nine power-play goals in nine games.

Zharkov sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 59 seconds remaining.

For Manchester, Justin Azevedo was the only player to solve Frazee. He made the score 2-1 on a breakaway goal at 19:00 of the second.

The Devils travel to Northeast Division rival, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Sunday for a 3 p.m. outing. Fans can follow the action on 104.5 "The Team" ESPN Radio.

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Notes: Eric Gelinas netted his team-leading seventh power-play goal and he is now tied with Joe Whitney, Steve Zalewski and Vladimir Zharkov for the team lead with 12 goals ... Steve Zalewski's goal was his 23rd since joining the Devils on Feb. 9, 2011. He now has 53 points in 78 games ... Vladimir Zharkov has six goals and two assists during the last eight games ... Joe Whitney's two assists gives him a team-leading 31 points ... Mattias Tedenby has seven points in eight games with two goals and five assists ... Three Stars: 1. Jeff Frazee (ALB), 2. Steve Zalewski (ALB), 3. Justin Azevedo (MCH).

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