Lorito's First Goal Gives Devils 4-3 Win
March 21, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
ALBANY, NY - In his first professional game, Matt Lorito netted the game-winning goal with 5:21 remaining to give the Albany Devils a 4-3 win against the Norfolk Admirals Saturday. Lorito, who signed an amateur tryout agreement on Mar. 13, ended Albany's six-game power-play drought to the delight of the Times Union Center crowd on "Devils Fight Cancer Night."
"It was pretty exciting, first pro game," Lorito said. "I was definitely a little nervous, but I settled in after my first couple of shifts and I just tried to play my game after that."
Albany (28-25-5-6) and Norfolk (23-34-5-3) went back and forth for most of the game. Brandon Burlon, who finished with three points, opened the scoring at 2:37 of the first. Norfolk responded right back thanks to Chris Wagner's power-play goal at 9:42 and Jaycob Megna's 4-on-4 tally at 17:11.
In the second, the Devils regained the lead. First, Raman Hrabarenka scored on a rush at 10:20 and Chris McKelvie made it a 3-2 game at 13:24. Both players finished with two points.
"I thought we crashed the net much better than we had and created second opportunities," said Head Coach Rick Kowalsky. "I thought some guys had real strong games. And we were maybe a little loose in the first period more than I would have liked, but I thought we corrected it."
Before the end of the second period, Norfolk's John Kurtz scored on a breakaway to pull even at 19:33.
Albany, which went 1-4 on the power play, ended their three-game winless streak and their 0-26 power-play run when Lorito found the back of the net.
"I took a shot and I was just trying to get it through," Lorito said. "It got blocked and went in the air. It seemed no one knew where it was and I tracked it. It was in Raman's feet. I just pulled it out and I saw Black back door. I tried to pass it to him, I'm not sure if it hit their D's skate or stick or what. Next thing I saw the puck went over the goalie and went in."
Netminder Scott Wedgewood posted his 10th win of the season. He made 24 saves, including 13 in the first period. At the other end, Jason LaBarbera made 29 stops.
NOTABLES
Albany owned a 33-27 shot advantage ... New Jersey recalled Reid Boucher and Stefan Matteau earlier in the day ... Scott Wedgewood improved to 3-1-1 with a 1.51 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage during March ... Joe Whitney returned to the lineup after serving his two-game suspension.
NEXT UP
The Devils host the Hartford Wolf Pack Sunday at Times Union Center. The first 5,000 patrons to arrive for the game will receive the official 2014-15 Albany Devils Team Poster, courtesy of Recovery Sports Grill. Fans are encouraged to stay afterwards for a postgame autograph session and public skate.
American Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2015
- Hartman, Raanta Power Hogs Past Flames - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolves Outlast Barons in OT, 2-1 - Oklahoma City Barons
- Monsters Snap Record Point Streak - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rampage Beat Hamilton 4-2 for Fourth Straight Win - San Antonio Rampage
- Checkers Bounce Back in Iowa - Charlotte Checkers
- Monsters Top Conference Leading Griffins 4-3 - Cleveland Monsters
- O'Neill's OT Goal Lifts Monarchs to 2-1 Win - Manchester Monarchs
- tars Hold on to Win Sixth Straight, Topping Milwaukee 4-3 Shore Scored First Career Goal for Texas - Texas Stars
- Another Overtime, Another Bears Victory - Hershey Bears
- Rattie Spurs Wolves to OT Win over Barons - Chicago Wolves
- Checkers Hold off Wild 3-2 - Iowa Wild
- Comets Strike Quickly in Third to Blast Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Bulldogs Fall to Rampage 4-2 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Pirates Lose in OT, Extend Points Streak - Portland Pirates
- St. John's Shaded by Monarchs - St. John's IceCaps
- Falcons Tame Wolf Pack, 2-1, in Shootout - Springfield Falcons
- Bridgeport drops final contest with Providence - Bridgeport Islanders
- Senators Rally in Third to Skate Past Penguins - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Falcons pull out 2-1 shootout win - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Phantoms Fall in Last Ever Worcester Appearance - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Sharks' offense explodes - crushing Phantoms 6-1 in front of BIG DCU Center crowd - Worcester Sharks
- P-Bruins Escape Bridgeport with 3-2 Win - Providence Bruins
- P-Bruins Escape Bridgeport with 3-2 Win - Providence Bruins
- B-Sens Grab Third Straight with 4-3 Win over Pens - Binghamton Senators
- Lorito's First Goal Gives Devils 4-3 Win - Albany Devils
- New Guys Lift the Comets to Fourth Straight Victory - Utica Comets
- Post-Game Concert with Foreigner Postponed - Milwaukee Admirals
- Comets Recall Forward Patrick Kennedy - Utica Comets
- Injury Update on Davis Drewiske and Jarred Tinordi - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Max Advances in Mascot Madness - Manchester Monarchs
- Bulldogs Recall David Makowski from Nailers - Hamilton Bulldogs
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.
