Devils Win Battle Against Pirates, 4-1
March 28, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
PORTLAND, Maine - The Lowell Devils received two goals from Petr Vrana, while Dave Caruso nearly pitched a shutout in a 4-1 win over the Portland Pirates on Friday at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
The Devils got an opportunity to take an early lead after a hooking call to Brett Festerling and they would take advantage. Ryan Murphy stripped the puck away from a Portland defender at the near blueline and quickly sent a diagonal feed to a wide-open Vrana on the far post at 3:35 for his 16th goal of the season.
Lowell extended its cushion to 3-0 with two quick goals in the second period. Patrick Davis skated the puck below Portland's goal line before feathering a pass to the crease for Mike Pandolfo, who one-timed his fifth goal into the back of the net at 12:25. Ninety seconds later, Vrana rushed into the Pirates zone and dropped a pass at the top of the right circle that Barry Tallackson knuckled through the five-hole of Mike McKenna.
McKenna would leave the game after the second period in favor of back-up goaltender Gerald Coleman. Coleman kept the Devils scoreless for the remainder of the game, while Caruso tried to keep Portland off the scoreboard. The Pirates' Jay Leach ruined what would have been Caruso's first AHL shutout with a shorthanded goal with only 1:03 left in the contest. The Lowell goalie otherwise stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced for his sixth win of the season.
Soon after, Vrana gathered his second marker of night and completed the scoring on an empty-netter with 24 seconds remaining. The Devils were 1-for-7 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill during the game.
On Saturday, March 29, the Lowell Devils will face the Worcester Sharks at the Tsongas Arena at 7:05 p.m. Live musical entertainment will provided by the School of Rock and Bugs Bunny and the Tazmanian Devil will be greeting fans courtesy of Six Flags New England. Tickets start at just $10; call the Devils office at (978) 458-PUCK for more information or visit www.lowelldevilshockey.com. Listen to all of the action on 980AM-WCAP as Ryan Johnston brings you the play-by-play. Fans can also go online to www.b2livetv.com
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