Three-Game Road Trip Lies Ahead for Devils

Published on December 15, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


Last Week: Fri, 12/12 - Devils 0 vs. PROVIDENCE BRUINS 3

Sat, 12/13 - DEVILS 2 vs. Worcester Sharks 4

This Week: Fri, 12/19 - Devils vs. PHILADELPHIA PHANTOMS, 7:05 p.m.

Sat, 12/20 - Devils vs. HERSHEY BEARS, 7:00 p.m.

Sun, 12/21 - Devils vs. BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS, 4:00 p.m.

In a tightly packed Atlantic Division, two losses for the Lowell Devils this weekend dropped the team into last place. After falling to the Providence Bruins on Friday, 3-0, Lowell could not rebound in a 4-2 loss to the Worcester Sharks on Saturday at home. The Devils take to the road this week for a three-game, three-day weekend - their final games before the holiday break.

Rewind: Friday, Devils 0 vs. PROVIDENCE 3 The Bruins held the Devils to only 20 shots and Tuukka Rask picked up his second shutout of the season in a 3-0 decision for Providence at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Martin St. Pierre scored the only goal Providence would need at 17:19 of the first period during a 5-on-3 advantage. Ned Lukacevic and Mikka Lethonen notched even-strength tallies in the second and third period, respectively, for the Bruins. The Devils' penalty kill was 6-for-7 against the Bruins' top ranked power play unit.

Saturday, Devils 2 vs. WORCESTER 4 Derek Joslin notched a shorthanded goal and an assist to help lead the Sharks to a 4-2 win over the Devils at the Tsongas Arena. The Worcester defenseman broke the scoreless tie at 10:59 of the first with a shorthanded breakaway goal. Though Petr Vrana's marker on the man-advantage tied the score 1:49 later, Corey Larose would give the Sharks the lead for the good with a power play goal just 4.7 seconds before the intermission. Steve Zalewski and Ryan Vesce also scored for Worcester, while Brad Mills picked up his third of the year for Lowell. Goalie Jeff Frazee made 41 saves for the Devils in the loss.

In the Standings Winless in their last four games (0-3-0-1), the Devils have fallen into seventh place in the Atlantic Division standings. The Manchester Monarchs at 12-10-0-4 and Springfield Falcons at 12-11-3-1 have pulled into a tie for fifth place, two points ahead of Lowell. The Hartford Wolf Pack (13-11-1-3) have gone 3-0-0-1 in their last four games and risen into a tie for third place with the Worcester Sharks (15-13-0-0). Despite losing three in a row, the Portland Pirates (15-9-1-2) remain in second place in the division - three points ahead the Sharks and Wolf Pack and one point behind the first-place Providence Bruins (16-10-1-1).

In the Standings In a tightly packed Atlantic Division, the Devils' five points helped them move into a tie for third place with the Worcester Sharks (13-11-0-0). The Springfield Falcons (11-10-2-1) sit alone in fourth place, only a point behind the Devils and Sharks. Tied in sixth place and two points behind the Falcons are the Manchester Monarchs (10-9-0-3) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (10-11-1-2). The Portland Pirates (14-6-1-2) and Providence Bruins (15-8-1-0) continue their battle for first place in the division, tied with 31 points each.

Around the Horns Goalie Jeff Frazee's nine game streak without a regulation loss (6-1-2) came to an end on Friday against Providence...Frazee remains the AHL's active leader in save percentage (.935) and is second in goals against average (2.24)...Lowell is 8-0-0-2 when leading after two periods.

Coming Up This week, the Devils head on their longest road stretch of the season to date. Lowell begins play on Friday, December 19 against the Philadelphia Phantoms. The Phantoms have won five straight to lift themselves into a tie for third place in the East Division with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Goalie Scott Munroe has started nine straight and gone 7-2-0. Defenseman Danny Syvret leads the league in power play assists (14) and power play points (17).

Lowell then takes the ice on Saturday to face the top team in the AHL, the Hershey Bears. The Bears have dropped two straight after stringing together eleven consecutive wins. Hershey boasts the highest goals scored per game average at 4.11 and the league's top scorer, Keith Aucoin (9g-27a-36pts). The Bears are 11-2-0-0 on their home ice.

The Devils follow their match against the number one team in the league with a game against the squad with the second-best record in the AHL, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Bridgeport has taken both decisions against Lowell this season. Bridgeport center Mike Iggulden is second in scoring with 33 points (14g-19a). The Sound Tigers are the only team in the league with a winning record when trailing after two periods at 5-3-0-0. Promotions/ In the Community

Monday, December 15 Patrick Davis and Rod Pelley will be helping out at practice for the Jr. Blackhawks at Ristuccia Rink in Wilmington, MA.

Tuesday, December 16 Chad Wiseman and Olivier Magnan will be assisting with the Learn To Skate program, 5:40pm - 6:40pm, at Conway Arena in Nashua, NH. Pascal Rheaume will be visiting the Burlington Mites' practice at the Ice Palace in Burlington, MA, from 7:00pm - 8:00pm.

Wednesday, December 17 The Lowell Devils will be holding their annual Holiday Skate for season ticket holders, 6pm - 8pm, at the Tsongas Arena. Fans will have a chance to skate on the ice, say hello to Santa and get autographs from their favorite Devils players.

Leaders for Lowell

Goals: Alexander Vasyunov (8)

Assists: Jon DiSalvatore (16)

Points: Jon DiSalvatore (21)

PIM: Brad Mills (62)

Plus/Minus: Rod Pelley (+7)

Wins: Jeff Frazee (6)

G.A.A: Jeff Frazee (2.24)

Save %: Jeff Frazee (.935)

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American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2008


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