Sound Tigers Hand Devils First Home Loss
October 30, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release
ALBANY, NY -- Despite Vojtech Mozik and Mike Sislo both finding the back of the net, the Albany Devils lost, 3-2, against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Friday. The setback was the first of the season for the Devils at Times Union Center, where they had gone 2-0-0-0 in back-to-back games last weekend.
Albany moves to 3-3-1-0, while Bridgeport, which started the season on a five-game winning streak, improves to 7-3-0-0.
Mozik registered his first career AHL goal and Sislo netted his third tally of the season. Between the pipes, Doug Carr made his Times Union Center debut and made 17 stops.
Bridgeport received scoring from Alan Quine, Justin Vaive and Bracken Kearns. Former Devil Joe Whitney posted an assist and a pair of penalty minutes. Goaltender Stephon Williams registered his fourth win of the season; he had 15 saves.
The Devils trailed early in the contest when Quine capitalized on a play atop the crease just 1:25 into the game. Albany responded with back-to-back goals before the period break. Mozik's slap shot from the right point deflected off the post and in at 5:48. Matt Lorito and Seth Helgeson picked up the assists.
Sislo added to Albany's power-play domination, scoring the team's ninth man-up goal of the season and fifth in the last two outings. The tally, which was Sislo's third power-play goal of the season, came at 15:54 from Marc-Andre Gragnani and Joseph Blandisi. The assist extended Gragnani's point streak to three games.
In the second, Vaive tied the game, beating Carr between the legs at 9:16. Kearns netted the game-winner down the left side at 3:42 of the third.
Interestingly enough, the Sound Tigers scored on their first shots of the first and second periods and the Devils scored on their first shot and last shots of the first period.
Albany was outshot for just the second time this season. Bridgeport had a 20-17 shot advantage.
The Devils return to action Saturday with a 5 pm puck drop against the Utica Comets at Times Union Center. To celebrate Halloween all children (12-and-under) who arrive in costume will receive free admission. Additionally, there will be trick-or-treating on the TUC concourse.
THREE IMPRESSIONS
Head Coach Rick Kowalsky was not pleased with the Devils 3-2 setback against the Sound Tigers Friday night. Albany fell behind early, captured the lead only to see it slip away in the third period. Here are three takeaways from the contest.
Couldn't Find Their Pace
The Devils never really found their stride against the Sound Tigers. They gave up the first goal less than ninety seconds into the game and were outshot for just the second time this season.
"Sloppy tonight, we didn't skate, we didn't move the puck well, our execution was off, we couldn't get ourselves out of it," said Head Coach Rick Kowalsky. "Instead of trying to simplify our game, we made it more difficult and it led to turnovers. A lot of self-inflicted wounds."
The Devils managed only three shots in the first period and finished with just seventeen for the game. During the first half of the second period they managed just one shot.
Boucher Ill
Reid Boucher missed the game with illness. His status isn't certain for Saturday's game. Since returning from New Jersey Boucher has been instrumental in the Devils offense with two goals and an assist in his past two games.
Three-In-Three
The first game of the Devils three-in-three home weekend didn't go as planned, but they will have an opportunity to turn it around quickly when they play the Utica Comets Saturday at 5 pm.
"I think we had a good week of practice and there is no excuses for that in a game," said right-winger Mike Sislo. "We just continued to make the same mistakes. I think everyone is upset about their performance and we have to make it a point to get off to a good start right away tomorrow."
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