After a 1 point out of 6 week…I want the team from October back.
It was an early start to this week’s action as Albany traveled east to Hartford for a special school day morning special against the Wolfpack. And early on it appeared the visitors were the ones who had their morning coffee. Paul Thompson scored his league leading 9th goal just 45 seconds after the puck dropped for a fast 1-0 lead. Joey Crabb would score unassisted two minutes later to tie things up at 1. The Devils would outshoot their hosts 14-3 in the first. A quiet second saw no goals but the Wolfpack gave Scott Clemmensen, in his first start since returning to Albany, a little work, as Hartford outshot the Devils 10-5. Third period saw the Devils special teams emulate their parent club. Ryan Haggerty and Oscar Lindberg would score back to back power play goals within 1:39 to pull away with the win, the Devils third straight defeat. Clemmensen would finish with 16 saves, while Dan Kelly and Raman Hrabarenka would have the lone assists.
Highlights via AHL Live can be found here.
Lines:
Joe Whitney-Paul Thompson-Scott Timmins
Mike Sislo-Graham Black-Reid Boucher
Tim Sestito-Stefan Matteau-Ben Thomson
Rod Pelley-Chris McKelvie-Darcy Zajac
Extra: Kelly Zajac, Ben Johnson, Cam Janssen, David Wohlberg
Defense Pairings:
Seth Helgeson/Peter Harrold
Dan Kelly/Raman Hrabarenka
Brandon Burlon/Corbin McPherson
Extra: Mark Fraser, Reece Scarlett, Joe Faust
Thursday: With Adam Henrique sidelined due to an injury in Tuesday’s home loss to the Blues, Mike Sislo was recalled for the midwest swing through St. Louis and Detroit.
Saturday: Sislo was sent back to Albany after New Jersey returned from the road. He did manage to get his first NHL point, an assist on Marek Zidlicky’s third period goal in a 4-3 loss to St. Louis on Thursday.
It was south to Bridgeport, for the start of a two game set against the Sound Tigers. Scott Wedgewood drew the start and…things went downhill from there. Joe Whitney gets call for tripping just 54 seconds into the game, and Harry Zolnierczyk connects on the ensuing power play 1:02 later for a 1-0 lead. Later in the period, David Wohlberg sits for a slashing call. Alan Quine connects on that ensuing power play 1:55 later for a 2-0 lead. Detect a pattern yet? Things started out looking a little better in the second, as Peter Harrold would score on a power play to cut the lead in half. Then Corbin McPherson sits for tripping…and 1:57 later Mike Halmo connects for a 3-1 lead. Just 26 seconds later, John Persson would add an even strength goal for a 4-1 lead. Exit Wedgewood, hello Scott Clemmensen. A few minutes later, Rod Pelley would take a boarding call. You can guess what happened next…44 seconds later Colin McDonald scores for a 5-1 lead. Chris McKelvie would score his first of the season late in the period to cut the deficit to 5-2. Third period…more of the same. McPherson sits for holding at 1:41, 39 seconds later Kael Mouillerat scores for a 6-2 lead. To top it off, Darcy Zajac takes a slashing call at 13:53. Twenty-four seconds later…you guessed it, the 7th goal, the second of the night for Zolnierczyk. To scare us further, the Devils got stuck with a 5 on 3 late and finished the game shorthanded…and they FINALLY managed to kill that. So if you’re keeping score…that’s 6 PP goals for the Sound Tigers, which broke a franchise record. And everyone complains about New Jersey’s PK…
Anyway…Wedgewood finished with 8 saves on 12 shots before making way for Clemmensen, who stopped 17 of 20. Seth Helgeson, Scott Timmins, and Raman Hrabarenka each had a helper.
Highlights:
Lines:
Joe Whitney-Scott Timmins-Paul Thompson
Stefan Matteau-Graham Black-Reid Boucher
David Wohlberg-Tim Sestito-Ben Thomson
Chris McKelvie-Rod Pelley-Darcy Zajac
Extra: Kelly Zajac, Cam Janssen, Mike Sislo, Ben Johnson
Defense Pairings:
Raman Hrabarenka/Peter Harrold
Brandon Burlon/Corbin McPherson
Seth Helgeson/Reece Scarlett
Extra: Dan Kelly, Mark Fraser, Joe Faust
11/9 at Bridgeport: 4-3 L (SO)
About 17 and a half hours later, it was time for the rematch and a shot at redemption. The fragile special teams got a very early test when Darcy Zajac was sent to the box just 21 seconds into the game. But the penalty kill came through, and was tested yet again when Mark Fraser (in his first game since signing a PTO a week earlier) was called for a trip. Second test passed. But on a turnover, Scooter Vaughan would break away and score on Scott Clemmensen for a 1-0 lead. It took till late in the second period for the Devils to finally rally, as Mike Sislo scored on a power play in his first game back since returning from New Jersey to tie the game at 1. On another power play early in the third, Tim Sestito gave the Devils their first lead since early Wednesday morning. Alan Quine would retie the game on…wait for it…a power play goal. (Okay, okay, I’ll leave it alone now. It was the only one for Bridgeport on the day.) Harry Zolnierczyk would give the Sound Tigers the lead back, but Graham Black would tie it up again with a power play goal, the third for the Devils on the day. A seven minute overtime session produced a very good chance by Scott Timmins early, but no goals. It was on to the shootout, which needed five rounds after Paul Thompson and Kael Mouillerat scored in the second round. Sislo, Joe Whitney, and Black were unable to come up with the second goal (Stefan Matteau was shut out in round 1), and Clemmensen was unable to stop C.J. Stretch, giving the Sound Tigers the extra point. Clemmensen finished with 31 saves on 34 shots through 67 minutes. Matteau added two assists. Joe Faust finally saw his first professional game action, meaning every Devil on the roster has got into at least one game.
Highlights:
Lines:
Joe Whitney-Paul Thompson-Scott Timmins
Stefan Matteau-Graham Black-Mike Sislo
Tim Sestito-Ben Johnson-Ben Thomson
Rod Pelley-Chris McKelvie-Darcy Zajac
Extra: Kelly Zajac, Cam Janssen, Reid Boucher, David Wohlberg
Defense Pairings:
Seth Helgeson/Corbin McPherson
Peter Harrold/Joe Faust
Mark Fraser/Raman Hrabarenka
Extra: Brandon Burlon, Dan Kelly, Reece Scarlett
Pop Quiz: Before Wednesday, when was the last time Scott Clemmensen appeared in an Albany uniform? The answer coming up.
Obligatory Fight of the Week:
Dance lessons courtesy of Seth Helgeson:
Bonus: I never thought I’d see the day where I saw Sislo and fight in the same boxscore line.
My Player of the Week:
Um…well…there weren’t any breakout performances this week. So for the 4 players with a multi point week, I salute you.
Team Leaders:
Goals: Paul Thompson (9)
Assists: 3 tied with 8
Points: Paul Thompson/Scott Timmins (12)
+/-: Paul Thompson/Raman Hrabarenka (+8)
Penalty Minutes: Dan Kelly/Corbin McPherson (31)
Wins: Scott Wedgewood (2)
GAA: Scott Wedgewood (3.18)
Save Percentage: Scott Wedgewood (.879)
ECHL Update:
Myles Bell (Evansville): 6 GP, 7 points (6 G, 1 A), +3, 0 PIM
Maxime Clermont (Orlando): 1 GP, 0-1-0, 5.10 GAA, .833 Save Pct.
Injury Report: Kelly Zajac and Cam Janssen remain out. I am curious about Dan Kelly’s status since he did not make the trip to Bridgeport.
This Week’s Schedule:
Three games coming up this week, and good news, no Bridgeport! Wednesday the Devils return home to face Syracuse for the first time this season. Then it’s off to Maine Friday and Saturday for a two game stint against Portland.
Pop Quiz Answer: The last time anyone saw Scott Clemmensen in an Albany uniform? January 29, 2006. He was in goal for the River Rats in a 5-4 loss against…the Wolfpack in Hartford. Talk about coming full circle.
Thoughts Inside The Box 