Quick Hits:
-The Devils begin the week with a 37-15-8-0 mark, 82 points and a .683 points percentage. They remain in second place in the North Division, now just 11 points behind first place Toronto (with three less games played) and 12 points ahead of third place Utica. Their magic number to clinch a playoff berth is now down to 14 after Sunday’s action.
-Injury update: Brian O’Neill (lower) and Paul Thompson (upper) both returned to practice this week. Dan Kelly (knee) is out indefinitely.
Wednesday, 3/16 vs. Providence
Where: Times Union Center, Albany, NY.
When: 7:00 PM.
Season Series: Albany leads 3-2.
Know Your Opponent:
Record: 30-19-9-3, 72 points, .590 pct, 3rd place in Atlantic Division
Leading Scorers/Goaltending: Seth Griffith, 63 points (20 G, 43 A); Alexander Khokhlachev, 51 points (18 G, 33 A); Frank Vatrano, 46 points (31 G, 15 A); Jeremy Smith, 10-17-4, 2.76 GAA; Zane McIntyre, 11-7-6, 2.85 GAA
Notes: The Bruins begin a 7 game road trip tonight, not returning to the Dunk until April 2nd; Providence saw a 23 game point streak end on Sunday after with a 5-3 loss to Utica; rookie Frank Vatrano, who has surpassed Mike Sislo for the AHL goal scoring lead with 31, was recalled by Boston on Monday, only to be sent back on Wednesday; Seth Griffith leads the AHL in assists (43) and is 3 points behind Hershey’s Chris Bourque for the overall scoring lead; Zac Rinaldo is expected to return to the lineup after serving a 5 game suspension; the Bruins are #1 in the league in overall power play (21.8%).
Listen: AHL Live
Tweet: @trace_1114, @AlbanyDevils, @AHLBruins
Saturday, 3/19 @ Utica
Where: Utica Memorial Auditorium, Utica, NY.
When: 7:00 PM.
Season Series: Albany leads 5-2.
Know your Opponent:
Record: 31-21-5-3, 70 points, .583 pct, 3rd place in North Division
Leading Scorers/Goaltending: Jordan Subban, 32 points (10 G, 22 A); Carter Bancks, 29 points (9 G, 20 A); T.J. Hensick, 28 points (7 G, 21 A); Richard Bachman, 13-10-4, 2.65 GAA; Joe Cannata, 17-10-3, 2.52 GAA
Notes: 7 of Utica’s next 8 games are on home ice, with a quick trip to Binghamton March 26th the lone road game; they will host St. John’s on Friday and Binghamton on Sunday; the Comets broke a 2 game slide with a win in Providence on Sunday afternoon; with the loss Saturday in Albany, they broke an all time 76 game point streak (72-0-4-0) when leading after two periods; they also have yet to defeat Albany in regulation, with just two overtime wins all time, both coming back in January; Utica’s top two scorers, Brendan Gaunce and Alexandre Grenier, are both on recall to Vancouver.
Listen: AHL Live, K-ROCK 94.9
Tweet: @trace_1114, @AlbanyDevils, @UticaComets, @CometsinGame
Sunday, 3/20 @ Bridgeport
Where: Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, CT.
When: 5:00 PM.
Season Series: Albany leads 4-2.
Know Your Opponent:
Record: 33-23-3-3, 72 points, .581 pct, 4th place in Atlantic Division
Leading Scorers/Goaltending: Bracken Kearns, 51 points (22 G, 29 A); Alan Quine, 37 points (13 G, 24 A); Mike Halmo, 31 points (15 G, 16 A); Christopher Gibson, 17-11-6, 2.80 GAA; Stephon Williams, 10-9-0, 2.69 GAA
Notes: The Sound Tigers have won four of their last five games, moving them past Portland into an Atlantic Divisional playoff position; they swept Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a home and home series over the weekend; Bridgeport travels to Springfield on Wednesday and hosts Portland on Saturday; Bracken Kearns is tied for fifth in the league in scoring; Bridgeport ranks 29th in overall power play (11.8%), but 10th in overall penalty kill (84.4%).
Listen: AHL Live
Tweet: @trace_1114, @AlbanyDevils, @TheSoundTigers, @fornabaioctp
Thoughts Inside The Box 