Devils Quick Hits:
-Albany begins the December slate with a record of 10-6-1-4, good for 25 points. They are in a 3 way tie for second in the Northeast Division with Syracuse and Bridgeport (and stand 5th in the Eastern Conference).
-Before Thursday’s game in Toronto, New Jersey recalled Mike Sislo for the second time this season, after injuries and illness knocked Patrik Elias and Jaromir Jagr out of the lineup. He played in New Jersey’s 5-3 win, skating on a line with Tuomo Ruutu and Jacob Josefson.
-The depleted defense received some much needed help, getting Peter Harrold back from New Jersey and signing Mike Keenan to a PTO. Harrold appeared in 4 games since being recalled on November 17th, scoring once. Keenan arrives from Orlando of the ECHL, where in 21 games he registered 6 assists and was a +1. He does have AHL experience, having played parts of the last two seasons with Bridgeport.
12/5, Game #22 at Providence
Where: Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI.
When: 7:00 PM.
Season Series: First meeting of 2. Future matchup: December 30th at Albany
Standings:
Providence: 9-10-2-0, 20 points, tied for 4th place in Atlantic Division
Bruins Leading Scorers/Goaltending:
Alexander Khokhlachev, 18 points (5 G, 13 A); 2 tied with 13 points
Jeremy Smith, 5-5-1, 2.07 GAA; Malcolm Subban, 4-4-1, 2.84 GAA
Notes:
-The Bruins are in the midst of a 5 game winless streak, going 0-4-1-0 since a victory over Hartford on November 21st at home. They are coming off a 1 point 3 in 3 weekend, losing in overtime to Portland and dropping road contests to Worcester and Bridgeport.
-Local ties: Former River Rats captain Kevin Dean, a member of the 1995 Calder Cup Champions, is entering his fifth season as an assistant coach. Before that, he spent all four years as an assistant in Lowell under Kurt Kleinendorst and John MacLean.
Listen: AHL Live
Twitter: @trace_1114, @AlbanyDevils, @AHLBruins
12/6, Game #23 vs. Portland
Where: Times Union Center, Albany, NY.
When: 5:00 PM.
Season Series: Portland leads 2-1.
Standings:
Portland: 12-9-0-0, 24 points, 2nd place in Atlantic Division
Pirates Leading Scorers/Goaltending:
Alexandre Bolduc, 18 points (8 G, 10 A); Brendan Shinnimin, 14 points (4 G, 10 A); Jordan Martinook, 13 points (4 G, 9 A)
Mike McKenna, 7-7-0, 2.08 GAA; Louis Domingue, 5-2-0, 2.29 GAA
Notes:
-The Pirates have won their last four in a row, including a sweep of Norfolk in Virginia and a rescheduled win over Worcester on Tuesday after last week’s snowstorm postponed the original date.
-Portland comes into Albany in the midst of their own 3 in 3 weekend, hosting Manchester on Friday and finishing the weekend in Providence on Sunday afternoon.
-If you plan on attending, it’s the annual Teddy Bear Toss. Instead of waiting for the first goal to be scored like most teams, it will all happen during intermission.
Twitter: @trace_1114, @AlbanyDevils, @PortlandPirates
12/7, Game #24 vs. Adirondack
Where: Times Union Center, Albany, NY.
When: 3:00 PM.
Season Series: Albany leads 1-0.
Standings:
Adirondack: 12-9-1-0, 25 points, 2nd place in North Division
Flames Leading Scorers/Goaltending:
Ben Hanowski, 13 points (10 G, 3 A); 2 tied with 12 points
Brad Thiessen, 3-4-0, 2.63 GAA; Joni Ortio, 9-5-1, 3.23 GAA
Notes:
-The Flames start the week with a 3 game losing streak, including a loss at home against Hamilton on Tuesday, after a 9 game winning streak during the month of November. They host Texas on Friday and go southwest to Binghamton on Saturday before heading to the Capital Region on Sunday.
-Schedule quirk #1: This is the only visit to Albany this season for Adirondack.
-Schedule quirk #2: This is the last home game in Albany for the Devils until after Christmas. Siena men’s college basketball and Disney On Ice take over the Times Union Center for most of the month.
Listen: AHL Live, WCQL 95.9 FM
Twitter: @trace_1114, @AlbanyDevils, @AHLFlames, @dianacnearhos
Thoughts Inside The Box 