Where: Times Union Center, Albany, NY (Games 1 & 2); Mile One Centre, St. John’s, NFLD, Canada (Games 3-5).
When:
Game 1 at Albany: Friday, April 25th, 7:00 PM.
Game 2 at Albany: Saturday, April 26th, 7:00 PM.
Game 3 at St. John’s: Wednesday, April 30th, 7:30 PM NDT (6:00 PM EST).
*Game 4 at St. John’s: Friday, May 2nd, 7:30 PM NDT (6:00 PM EST).
*Game 5 at St. John’s: Saturday, May 3rd, 7:30 PM NDT (6:00 PM EST).
*if necessary
Regular Season Series:
The two teams did not meet during the regular season. St. John’s won the season series 3-1 during the 2012-13 season.
2013-14 Records:
St. John’s: 46-23-2-5, 99 points, 2nd place in Atlantic Division, 4th in Eastern Conference
Albany: 40-23-5-8, 93 points, 2nd place in Northeast Division, 5th in Eastern Conference
Rosters:
St. John’s by the Numbers:
Home: 23-10-2-3. Road: 23-13-0-2.
Power Play: 18.1% (13th in AHL). Penalty Kill: 83.5% (9th).
Goals For/Game: 3.39 (3rd). Goals Against/Game: 2.72 (10th).
Leading Scorers (top 5): Jason Jaffray (59); Jerome Samson/Andrew Gordon (56); Kael Mouillierat (53); Brenden Kichton (48).
Goals: Jerome Samson (27)
Assists: Jason Jaffray (41)
Plus/Minus: Ben Chiarot (+29)
Penalty Minutes: J.C. Lipon (136)
Wins: Michael Hutchinson/Eddie Pasquale (17)
GAA: Michael Hutchinson (2.30)
Save Percentage: Michael Hutchinson (.923)
Albany by the Numbers:
Home: 24-9-3-2. Road: 16-14-2-6.
Power Play: 16.2% (21st in AHL). Penalty Kill: 82.7% (14th).
Goals For/Game: 2.89 (16th). Goals Against/Game: 2.54 (6th).
Leading Scorers (top 5): Joe Whitney (53); Kelly Zajac (44); Mike Sislo (41); Scott Timmins (39); Reid Boucher (38)
Goals: Mike Sislo (23)
Assists: Kelly Zajac (32)
Plus/Minus: Corbin McPherson (+16)
Penalty Minutes: Seth Helgeson (100)
Wins: Keith Kinkaid (24)
GAA: Keith Kinkaid (2.29)
Save Percentage: Keith Kinkaid (.912)
Media/Blog Coverage:
St. John’s: The Telegram, Rinkside Report
Albany: Times Union, The Daily Gazette
Listen/Watch:
St. John’s: Official Website, Rogers TV/Eastlink TV
Albany: AHL Live
Twitter:
St. John’s: @IceCapsAHL, @telybrendan, @CharlesMDart
Albany: @AlbanyDevils, @Pete_Dougherty, @Bill_Cain_
Predictions?
I am no good at seeing how things will play out, especially with a team I did not see during the regular season. But what I can say is, if the Devils want to advance to the second round (and they can do it), no worse than a 1-1 split on home ice (which, yes, is pretty obvious). And the defense needs to keep the third best offense in the league at bay, which they have the ability to do. And it doesn’t hurt that they come in riding a 5 game winning streak. If they can play like they did during those five games, big things will happen.
I’m not expecting a 3-0 sweep from either side, but if you had to twist my arm…I’ll say Albany in 4. But I also would not be surprised to see this go all 5 games.
Thoughts Inside The Box 