Devils Open Season with 4-3 SO Loss to Bruins

Published on October 8, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Vladimir Zharkov scored two goals in his AHL debut to help the Lowell Devils gain a point, but it was the Providence Bruins prevailing in the shootout by a score of 4-3.

With the Devils trailing 3-1 midway through the second period, Zharkov's first goal of the contest was also the game's first even-strength marker. The rookie Russian was in perfect position to gather up the rebound from Rod Pelley's wrist shot and send it over the glove of Bruins' goalie Tuukka Rask at 10:17.

Pelley and Zharkov hooked up again to the tie match with 9:02 left in regulation. It was Pelley at centering ice, hitting Zharkov with the perfect lead pass into Providence zone for the left-handed wrister that found the back of the net.

Despite a power play the carried into the overtime period, Lowell could not muster the game-winner and headed to the shootout. There it was Rask shutting the door on all five Devils shooters, while Mikko Lethonen and Martin St. Pierre converted on Scott Clemmensen to gain the victory for the Bruins. Clemmensen stopped 24-of-27 through overtime in his second career start for Lowell.

A penalty-filled game saw both teams combine for three goals on the man-advantage in the first period. A 5-on-3 power play for Providence saw d-man Johhny Boychuk sneaking down from the point for a one-timer from the circle at 8:46.

The Devils erased the Bruins' lead with a power play goal of their own at 13:54 of the first. Though Rask made the initial save on Tyler Eckford's point shot, the netminder could not fall back on the loose puck before Jon DiSalvatore poked the rebound into the net for Lowell's first goal of the season.

Providence went 3-for-11 on the power play in the game while building a two-goal cushion. With 4:25 left until the first intermission, a centering pass by Matt Hunwick from the near wall deflected off of a cutting Byron Bitz and past Clemmensen. In the second period, Vladimir Sobotka found room on the near post and stuffed a wraparound shot into the net at 2:24 for a power play goal that made the score, 3-1.

The Lowell Devils' home opener is Saturday, October 11th, as they host the Worcester Sharks at 7:00 p.m. Individual tickets and season ticket packages are on sale now for the 2008-09 season. Contact the Devils at (978) 458-PUCK (7825) for more information or log on to www.lowelldevilshockey.com for details on benefits for season ticket holders and a complete 2008-09 schedule.

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