Lowell Sweeps Three-game Weekend

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


The Devils were perfect over their first three-game, three-day weekend of the season. Wins over Hartford, Norfolk and Springfield helped Lowell get back to .500 with a 7-7-1-2 record. The Devils complete their three-game homestand on Wednesday versus Providence. Lowell then takes the ice after Thanksgiving for a pair of road games on Saturday against Portland and Sunday versus Worcester.

Rewind:
Friday, Devils 4 vs. HARTFORD 3 (SO)
The Devils were able to end their seven-game winless streak with a 4-3 shootout win against the Hartford Wolf Pack at the XL Center. With the Devils having built a 3-1 lead in the third, Artem Anisimov would score twice for Hartford, including a 6-on-4 goal with 6.4 seconds left in regulation, to send the game through overtime and into a shootout. Five of six players converted for the Devils, while Frazee denied Anisimov in round six to secure the win. Michael Swift, Jon DiSalvatore and Alexander Vasyunov scored during regulation for Lowell.

Saturday, DEVILS 4 vs. Norfolk 1
Devils goalie Dave Caruso made a team season high 43 saves in a 4-1 victory over the Norfolk Admirals at the Tsongas Arena. In his return from New Jersey, Nicklas Bergfors notched a 5-on-3 goal at 3:49 of the first period to put the Devils up, 1-0. The Admirals would have an answer in Blair Jones' tally, tying the game during a two-man advantage at 14:43. It would be domination by the Devils for the rest of the night as Matt Corrente broke the knot in the second at 12:44. Rod Pelley would add two more in the third to help end a six-game home winless streak for the Devils.

Sunday, DEVILS 4 vs. Springfield 1
Jon DiSalvatore led the Devils to a 4-1 victory over the Springfield Falcons with a four-point (1g, 3a) performance on Sunday at the Tsongas Arena. The Devils would control the tempo through the first two periods with three goals on the man-advantage tallied by Tyler Eckford, Nicklas Bergfors and Rod Pelley. The Falcons, however, would break the shutout with their only goal of the game at 13:26 the second by Ryan Potulny. DiSalvatore would end the scoring with a shorthanded goal with 2:46 left in regulation, making the final score 4-1.

In the Standings
The Lowell Devils' (7-7-1-2) three-game winning streak moved them up the standings into sole possession of sixth place in the Atlantic Division. The Worcester Sharks (9-8-0-0) have pulled into a tie for fourth with the Hartford Wolf Pack (7-6-0-1), just one point ahead of the Devils. At 9-5-2-1, the Springfield Falcons sit in third place, two points behind the Providence Bruins with a record of 9-5-1-0. The Portland Pirates (12-1-1-1) still hold the division lead with a three-point edge over the Bruins. The Manchester Monarchs remain in the last spot at 6-6-0-3.

DiSalvatore on a Roll
Devils right wing Jon DiSalvatore is riding a six-game scoring streak (4g, 8a) that started on November 8th against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Four out of the six games have been multiple-point efforts. He also recorded his second four-point game of the season with a shorthanded goal and three assists on Sunday against Springfield. The AHL honored DiSalvatore as the Reebok/AHL Player of the week, as he compiled two goals and five assists in the Devils' three wins last weekend.

Around the Horns
The Devils went 14 for 16 (87.5%) on the penalty kill over their three-game weekend...Goalie Dave Caruso made a team season high 43 saves against the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday...Rookie netminder Jeff Frazee earned his first pro-career victory on Friday versus Hartford...Rod Pelley has collected three goals and one assist in the past two games...Chad Wiseman picked up his first multiple-point game of the season on Sunday against Springfield...Nicklas Bergfors has had two power play goals in as many games since his return from New Jersey on Saturday...The Devils have opened the scoring in five out of their last six games including their three wins over the weekend...The Devils' power play is clicking at 20.7% in their last five games (6-for-29).

Coming Up
The Devils go head-to-head with the Providence Bruins for the second time this season on Wednesday at the Tsongas Arena. The two teams last met on October 8 in their season opener, which was decided in a shootout in favor of the Bruins, 4-3. Providence is ranked third in the league with an 89.0% (11-for-100) success rate on the penalty kill. Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk is tied for second in the league in assists with 17 and currently has a five-game streak in that category. Boychuk also leads the league in power play assists.

Lowell begins a two-game road trip this weekend versus the Portland Pirates on Saturday in their first game of the season at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Portland is 8-1-0-1 in the last ten games. The Pirates roster contains the AHL's top two rookies scorers: Nathan Gerbe (12g-10a-22pts) and Tim Kennedy (5g-16a-21pts).

The Devils finish up their weekend against the Worcester Sharks on Sunday at the DCU Center. Lowell last faced off against the Sharks in Worcester's home opener on October 11 and took a 6-4 victory. The Sharks are currently on a four-game winning streak. Worcester RW Riley Armstrong has scored the game-winning goal in their past two contests.

Promotions/ In the Community

Saturday, November 29
Devil Dawg will be welcoming the holiday season with the city of Lowell on Saturday by attending the City of Lights Celebration from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Devil Dawg will be located at the Revolving Museum on Shattoc Street.
Leaders for Lowell

Goals: Patrick Davis, Jon DiSalvatore, Matt Halischuk (5)
Assists: Jon DiSalvatore (14)
Points: Jon DiSalvatore (19)
PIM: Brad Mills (57)
Plus/Minus: Pascal Rheaume (+4)
Wins: Jeff Frazee (2)
G.A.A: Jeff Frazee (2.19)
Save %: Jeff Frazee (.929)

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American Hockey League Stories from November 25, 2008


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