Devils Weekly

Published on February 25, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


Last Week:

Wed 2/20 Hartford Wolf Pack 2 vs. DEVILS 1

Fri 2/22 Devils 2 vs. Worcester Sharks 1 (OT)

Sat 2/23 ALBANY RIVER RATS 2 vs. Devils 1 (OT)

Sun 2/24 DEVILS 3 vs. Hartford Wolf Pack 2 (SO)

This Week:

Tues 2/26 Devils vs. MANCHESTER MONARCHS (25-24-4-4) 7:05 p.m.

Fri 2/29 Devils vs. PORTLAND PIRATES (33-19-2-4) 7:05 p.m.

Sat 3/1 DEVILS vs. Norfolk Admirals (21-30-2-5) 7:05 p.m.

Sun 3/2 DEVILS vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (30-26-1-1) 4:05 p.m.

Rewind:

Wednesday, Wolf Pack 2 vs. DEVILS 1

Ivan Baranka's power play goal with 2:17 remaining in regulation proved to be the difference, as the Devils were defeated by the Wolf Pack, 2-1, at the Tsongas Arena. In what was a low-scoring affair, Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau gave Hartford a 1-0 lead with 47 seconds until the first intermission. It wasn't until the 5:20 mark of the third period that Barry Tallackson tied the score with his 19th goal of the season. Frank Doyle made 24 saves in the contest.

Friday, Devils 2 vs. SHARKS 1 (OT)

For the second time this season, the Devils needed only 20 seconds of overtime to defeat the Sharks as Stephen Gionta scored the game-winner en route to a 2-1 victory. Patrick Davis opened the scoring at 15:26 of the first with a power play goal, but Worcester's Dennis Packard knotted the game 1:13 later. That would be the only scoring for either team until the extra frame. Frank Doyle stopped 33-of-34 shots to help his team to the win.

Saturday, RIVER RATS 2 vs. Devils 1 (OT)

Joe Jensen's goal 56 seconds into overtime lifted the Albany River Rats to a 2-1 win over the Lowell Devils at the Times Union Center. Stephen Gionta's second goal in as many games broke a scoreless tie at 14:39 of the first period, but Albany's Mark Flood would make it 1-1 late in the second period. Making his third AHL start, Dave Caruso turned away 37-of-39 shots to allow Lowell to earn a point. The Devils were 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.

Sunday, DEVILS 3 vs. Wolf Pack 2 (SO)

The Devils rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the third period to eventually prevail in an 11-round shootout and defeat the Wolf Pack, 3-2. Though Artem Anisimov and Lauri Korpikoski each scored with less than three minutes left in the second to give Hartford a 2-0 lead, the Devils would respond in the third. Ryan Murphy's turnaround shot at 3:24 pulled Lowell within one before Richard Matvichuk tied it up four minutes later on his first of the season. Frank Doyle stopped 10-of-11 Wolf Pack skaters in the shootout, while Mike Pandolfo ended it with his hard wrister in round 11.

Coming Up

The Lowell Devils will finish a stretch this week that will see them having played five games in seven days and eight games in twelve days. The Devils open up on Tuesday, February 26 with a road game against the Manchester Monarchs. Lowell swept a home-and-home set against Manchester two weekends ago to go to 6-1-0-0 in the season's series. The Monarchs are four points out of the last playoff spot in the Atlantic Division and are 2-0-1-0 in their last three games. C Brian Boyle leads all AHL rookies with 22 goals. Manchester has the top ranked power play unit in the league at 24.2% (63-for-260).

Lowell continues its quick road swing on Friday, February 29 with a Leap Year match-up against the Portland Pirates. This will be game eight of ten with the Devils trailing in the season series, 2-5-0-0. Lowell has yet to record a win in three previous tries this year at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Portland in turn has lost three straight on its home ice.

The Devils return to Tsongas Arena and finish the weekend with two home games. The Norfolk Admirals make their second and final visit on Saturday, March 1. The Admirals edged the Devils, 2-1, in their only other meeting this season on Novmeber 18. Norfolk is 10-3-1-2 in its last 16 games thanks in part to G Jonathan Boutin. The Admirals netminder has not lost in regulation since December 29 - a stretch of seven starts that has seen him go 6-0-0-1 with two shutouts and only nine goals allowed.

The week of play wraps up on Sunday, March 2 versus the Bridgeport Sound Tigers as they make their last trip of the season to Tsongas Arena. The Sound Tigers are winless in their last three games (0-2-0-1) after winning six of seven. LW Jeff Tambellini is tied for the league lead with 29 goals. C Trevor Smith is on an eight-game point streak (5g, 5a). He has also scored in four consecutive road games.

A Little Bit Extra

The Lowell Devils made several trips into their record book this weekend with three consecutive games that headed past regulation. That tied a franchise mark set last season when the Devils went into overtime three straight times, January 27 - February 2. On Sunday, the Lowell Devils played the longest shootout in team history when they went 11 rounds in a 3-2 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack. Goaltender Frank Doyle also set a club mark with 10 saves in the shootout.

CVS Celebrity All-Star Game

The Lowell Devils will host the CVS Celebrity All-Star Game on Sunday, March 2 at 1:30 p.m. The CVS Celebrity All-Star Game will feature former NHL players such as Bob Beers, Andy Brickley, Ken Hodge, Ken Hodge, Jr., Don Marcotte, Jim McKenzie, Rick Middleton, Bobby Miller, Billy O'Dwyer, Bob Sweeney, Don Sweeney and Tim Sweeney. A ticket to the Lowell Devils/Bridgeport Sound Tigers game that afternoon at 4:05 p.m. will gain fans admission to the CVS Celebrity All-Star Game. The first 1,000 fans in attendance at the CVS Celebrity All-Star Game will receive a special gift bag containing $100 worth of merchandise. ! ; Doors will open at 1:00 p.m. The CVS Celebrity All-Stars will be signing autographs during the first intermission for a charitable donation of $10. All donations will go to benefit the YMCA of Lowell.

Promotions/In the Community

- Wednesday, February 27 - Petr Vrana and Frank Doyle will be visiting the patients at Caritas Holy Family Hospital in Methuen.

- Sunday, March 2 - Devils vs. Bridgeport, 4:05 p.m.

- Free post-game skate courtesy of Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union.

Around the Horns

Barry Tallackson is on a five-game point streak (4g, 3a).

Lowell is undefeated in regulation in their last four road games (2-0-2-0).

Lowell's penalty kill is working at 90.6% over their last 11 games (48-for-53).

Six of the Devils' last seven games have been decided by one goal. They are 3-1-2-0 in those contests.

Lowell has picked up points in six of their last seven games, going 4-1-2-0.

- Leaders for Lowell:

o Goals: Tallackson (19)

o Assists: Vrana (33)

o Points: Vrana (42)

o PIM: Fraser (85)

o Plus/Minus: Bergfors, Pelley (+2)

o Wins: Doyle (12)

o G.A.A: Doyle (2.97)

o Save %: Doyle (.906)

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from February 25, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central