Gritty Win Extends Devils Streak
Published on December 4, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
ALBANY, N.Y. - The Albany Devils continued their stellar play within the confines of the Times Union Center, knocking off the Rochester Americans, 4-2, Sunday. The team has now collected points in nine-straight home games, which is longest active streak in the AHL.
"We are playing for 60 minutes and I think we are being rewarded for it," said Matt Anderson, who had a goal and two assists. "On nights we can win the special teams' battle, we are going to win the hockey game. Our five-on-five play is second to none right now."
Matt Taormina contributed the game's first goal on the power-play 17:21. Just as important, he denied a Rochester opportunity on the goal line in the third period.
"[Keith Kinkaid] made the save and it popped up and over," Taormina said. "He lost the puck; didn't know where it was. I tried batting it out of midair and missed it. It took a couple of bounces and I just got lucky and swung at it and it ended up in the corner."
The play came around the 11 minute mark with the Devils leading 3-0 thanks to additional goals by Joe Sova and Stephane Veilleux.
Rochester fought back with back-to-back goals, starting with Maruc Foligno beating Kinkaid at 15:16. Drew Schiestel followed at 18:48 to move the score to 3-2.
Anderson put the game out of reach with an empty-net goal with 6.7 seconds remaining. Taormina and Veilleux had the assists.
Kinkaid earned his seventh win of the season by making 25 saves. He rebounded after being chased in the first period Friday night.
"We've played well in front of these guys," said head coach Rick Kowalsky. "Tonight he had to make a couple second saves on rebounds and loose pucks, but he made a couple of big ones in the first and a couple in the second. It was a good bounce back."
These two teams will play again Friday when the Devils head to Rochester for a 7:35 matchup. Fans can follow the action on 104.5 "The Team" ESPN Radio.
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Notes: Of the Devils 12 wins, tonight's game was the second non-one-goal game ... Matt Taormina and Stephane Veilleux both had a goal and an assist ... The Devils and Rochester have split their six all-time meetings. This was the first win for the Devils against the Americans on home ice ... Albany improved to 4-0-0-0 when leading after the first period ... The Devils have produced 36 or more shots in three-consecutive games ... 1. Matt Anderson (ALB), 2. Matt Taormina (ALB), 3. Marcus Foligno (RCH).
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