Sports stats



Lowell nips Wolf Pack, 4-3

April 5, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


HARTFORD, Conn. - The Wolf Pack had a chance to clinch their first division title in five years Sunday.

But unlike Friday night in Providence, they couldn't escape too many penalties as the Lowell Devils scored three power-play goals in a 4-3 victory before 5,404 at the XL Center.

"It's hard to make a big comeback when you're wasting valuable time killing penalties and expending some energy when you're a little short up front to begin with," Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander said. "The start wasn't what we wanted, but we gathered ourselves and came out with fire in the second period and righted the ship. But then we got ourselves into penalty trouble (again), and they cashed in."

The Wolf Pack (44-27-3-3) was a season-best 10-for-10 killing penalties and scored a franchise-record three shorthanded goals in a 6-0 victory over Providence Friday, when defenseman Michael Sauer, who leads the team in plus-minus (+24), sustained an undisclosed injury. But the Devils (34-34-2-7), who were fighting for their playoff lives and won despite two disallowed goals, went 3-for-8 on the power play, though they failed to score on a 5-on-3 for two minutes in the third period.

The Wolf Pack played without six regulars, including All-AHL right wing P.A. Parenteau, and were down to 10 forwards after Brandon Sugden was injured in the first period. Defenseman Dave Urquhart played several shifts at left wing to give the Wolf Pack three lines.

"We're shooting for first place, but it's important that we don't put anyone who's an important piece of the puzzle in there at the risk of losing him long-term," Gernander said.

The Wolf Pack, who had won four in a row and seven of eight to clinch home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, saw their Atlantic Division lead reduced to two points over Providence, which beat Manchester, 3-2. A Wolf Pack victory and Bruins loss in regulation would have given the Wolf Pack the division title.

Matt Zaba (32 saves) took the loss after winning five in a row and being on a 12-0-1-0 run since a 1-0 loss to Bridgeport Feb. 18.

The Devils took a 1-0 lead at 2:27 as Vladimir Zharkov beat Zaba from 25 feet in the slot after a turnover by Mike Ouellette.

Then on the only power play of the first period, Barry Tallackson deflected a shot past Zaba at 9:42, but the goal was disallowed because of a high stick.

The Wolf Pack then nearly tied it when Brock McBride skated around defenseman Matthew Corrente for a breakaway but put a backhander wide with 8:40 left.

Jeff Frazee (30 saves) kept the Devils ahead when he denied a wide-open Jordan Owens from 25 feet in the slot with 6:30 left. Zaba kept it 1-0 as he stopped Alexander Vasyunov, a former teammate of Wolf Pack center Artem Anisimov in Russia, off a 2-on-1 with 4:14 left.

The Wolf Pack tied it at 4:24 of the second period as Patrick Rissmiller took a centering pass from Paul Crowder and lifted a brilliant backhander into the top right corner.

The Devils had a second goal disallowed at 6:10 when Zharkov was called for interfering with Zaba as Tyler Eckford scored on a rebound.

The Wolf Pack then had a golden chance to take the lead, but Frazee made a toe save on fellow All-Star Anisimov's breakaway at 7:45.

Given that reprieve, the Devils reclaimed the lead on a second power play as Rosario Ruggeri jammed in a third rebound at 9:21.

But 1:22 later, the Wolf Pack tied it again on their first power play when Crowder dove at the right side of the net to get the puck to Corey Potter, who beat Frazee from 40 feet.

The Devils regained the lead for a third time on their third power play as former Wolf Pack forward Pascal Rheaume deflected in a shot by South Windsor native Jon DiSalvatore with 5:09 left in the period.

Zaba kept the Wolf Pack close with a brilliant save on another Rheaume deflection with 2:57 left during a fourth Devils power play. But at 3:41 of the third period, the Devils scored their third power-play goal as DiSalvatore took a pass from Nicklas Bergfors and beat Zaba low to the left corner for a 4-2 lead.

The Devils got a 5-minute power play with 10:21 left when Vladimir Denisov received a major and game misconduct for boarding Rheaume. But 26 seconds later, Owens took a pass from Ouellette and scored shorthanded on a 2-on-1 with Potter to make it 4-3.

Jared Nightingale's high-sticking penalty then gave the Devils a 5-on-3 for two minutes, but they managed only two shots on Zaba. A Rissmiller penalty with 2:31 left gave the Devils their eighth power play, and while they didn't score, it virtually eliminated any chance of the Wolf Pack tying it for a fourth time, even after pulling Zaba for a sixth attacker.

"I don't care what the percentages are, taking too many penalties eventually catches up to you," Gernander said.

DiSalvatore had to be helped to the bench after a collision with Dale Weise late in the game and didn't come out of the locker room when announced as the No. 1 star.

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2009


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.

Other Recent Connecticut Whale Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central