Devils Upend Sharks, 4-3
March 29, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
LOWELL, Mass. - Petr Vrana's second consecutive three-point night powered the Lowell Devils to a 4-3 win over the Worcester Sharks on Saturday at the Tsongas Arena. Notching a goal and two assists, Vrana now has eight points in his last four games (4g, 4a).
With Lowell leading 2-1 after the second intermission, Vrana got the scoring started on what was a back-and-forth final frame. The Devils center gave his team a two-goal cushion at 4:19 as he took the puck down the right wing and fired a low shot that was kicked aside by Dimitri Patzold. Vrana continued toward the crease and kicked the rebound to his forehand before sending his 18th goal of the season into the net.
Back-to-back first goals for a pair of young professional careers provided additional intrigue during the third period. Skating on a delayed penalty, Jamie McGinn threw a puck from the slot that handcuffed Dave Caruso and dropped behind the Devils goaltender. Matt Jones, a product of nearby Merrimack College, swept in to push the puck across the goal line at 7:09 for his first goal in just his second game as a pro.
Fresh off the completion of his junior career with the Erie Otters, Nick Palmieri helped the Devils respond just over minutes later and go up 4-2. Working the puck around the offensive zone on as power play, Rosario Ruggeri had his slapshot from the blueline stopped by Patzold, but no one picked up Palmieri on the near post, where he knocked in his first AHL goal.
Tom Cavanaugh's tally with 2:05 remaining pulled the Sharks within one and led to some late-game drama, but Caruso would shut the door for his second win in a row and a 29-save night.
Pierre-Luc Leblond got his third of the season and gave Lowell a 1-0 edge at 8:56 of the first when he deflected Mark Fraser's point shot off of the ice and under Patzold.
Worcester tied the score in the second period at 4:42 as Graham Mink was left alone in front of Caruso and had plenty of time to put Dennis Packard's pass into the top right corner for a 1-1 contest.
The Devils quickly took back their one-goal edge thanks to a holding penalty called on the Sharks' Mike Iggulden. On the ensuing man-advantage, Worcester got caught watching Vrana in the near corner with the puck and never saw Jean-Luc Grand Pierre pinching in from the point for the easy one-timer at 6:53.
Lowell went 2-for-6 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
The Lowell Devils play two games at home next weekend. Friday, April 4 is Lowell Night when the Devils take the ice against the Manchester Monarchs at 7:05 p.m. All Lowell residents get in for just $10. The following day is Fan Appreication Night when the Providence Bruins visit at 7:05 p.m. There will be over 50 giveaways during the game including a full-size Lowell Devils Pepsi Machine, a Jeep Wrangler courtesy of 1400 Motors and Lowell and New Jersey Devils memorabilia. Tickets start at just $10; Call the Devils office at (978) 458-PUCK for more information or visit www.lowelldevilshockey.com. You can also listen to all of the action live on 980AM-WCAP as Ryan Johnston brings you all of the play-by-play action.
American Hockey League Stories from March 29, 2008
- P-Bruins defeat Pirates 7-1 - Providence Bruins
- Rampage Blank Rivermen - Peoria Rivermen
- Rockford's three game winning streak ends - Rockford IceHogs
- Admirals Overthrow Monarchs - Norfolk Admirals
- Stars hold out against Ice Hogs - Iowa Chops
- Griffins Enjoy Huge Crowd, Shot Margin but Fall 5-2 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Three Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goals in the second period haunt Sound Tigers - Bridgeport Islanders
- No Southern Comfort For Monarchs - Manchester Monarchs
- Devils Upend Sharks, 4-3 - Albany Devils
- Bourque's four goals leads Bears over Bulldogs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Marlies powerplay kills Moose point streak - Manitoba Moose
- Sharks Score Late, Devils Hold On - Worcester Sharks
- Admirals Sign Forward Jamie Bates to ATO - Norfolk Admirals
- Howard and Emmerton Join Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
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