Quick Hits:
-Albany begins the penultimate week of the season with a record of 42-18-8-2, 94 points, and a .671 percentage. They remain in second place behind Toronto, who can clinch the division title with a win on Friday. With third place Utica at a 93 point max, Albany can finish no lower than second in the division.
-Mike Sislo cleared waivers on Thursday, making him eligible to return to Albany once New Jersey’s season ends on Saturday. Also on his way to help with the postseason run: 2015 1st round draft pick Pavel Zacha, after Sarnia was eliminated from the OHL playoffs earlier this week.
-Also on Thursday: Sislo was named to the AHL’s All Star Second Team.
-Injury updates: Nick Lappin has been cleared to return after sitting out the last three weeks. Scott Wedgewood (face) is good to go after Sunday’s scare. Dan Kelly and Chris McKelvie remain out.
Friday, 4/8 at Syracuse
Where: Onondaga County War Memorial, Syracuse, NY.
When: 7:00 PM.
Season Series: Albany leads 4-1.
Know Your Opponent:
Record: 31-27-10-3, 75 points, .528 pct, 4th place in North Division
Leading Scorers/Goaltending: Tanner Richard, 51 points (10 G, 41 A); Jeff Tambellini, 45 points (26 G, 19 A); Tye McGinn, 44 points (20 G, 24 A); Kristers Gudlevskis, 15-11-6, 2.85 GAA; Adam Wilcox, 9-11-6, 3.30 GAA
Notes: After dropping 2 of 3 games last weekend before a 7-3 drubbing of Utica on Sunday, the Crunch are one regulation loss away from playoff elimination; they host Toronto on Saturday before ending the year with a 3 in 3 weekend; they have recently added Lightning draft picks Anthony Cirelli and Mitchell Stephens to amateur tryout deals; former Devil Matt Taormina and Jonathan Drouin were recalled by Tampa Bay on Thursday; for Albany/Syracuse area fans, Time Warner Cable Sports will be televising the contest (check your local listings!).
Listen: AHL Live, ESPN Radio Syracuse
Tweet: @trace_1114, @AlbanyDevils, @SyracuseCrunch, @syrhockey
Saturday, 4/9 at Binghamton
Where: Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena, Binghamton, NY.
When: 7:00 PM.
Season Series: Albany leads 5-1.
Know Your Opponent:
Record: 27-37-6-1, 61 points, .430 pct, 7th place in North Division
Leading Scorers/Goaltending: Phil Varone, 50 points (18 G, 32 A); Jason Akeson, 48 points (13 G, 35 A); Casey Bailey, 33 points (9 G, 24 A); Chris Driedger, 16-14-4, 2.93 GAA; Matt O’Connor, 8-20-3, 3.43 GAA
Notes: With the overtime loss to Albany last Friday, Binghamton was mathematically eliminated from playoff contention; three out of their last five games are on the road; the Senators have dropped their last seven (0-5-2-0), including a loss in Utica on Wednesday night; they travel to Rochester on Friday before returning home; forward Buddy Robinson became the latest B-Sen to make his NHL debut in Ottawa.
Listen: AHL Live, US 96.9 FM
Tweet: @AlbanyDevils, @BSens_Hockey
Sunday, 4/10 vs. Toronto
Where: Times Union Center, Albany, NY.
When: 3:00 PM.
Season Series: Toronto leads 3-2.
Know Your Opponent:
Record: 50-15-5-0, 105 points, .750 pct, 1st place in North Division
Leading Scorers/Goaltending: Mark Arcobello, 55 points (23 G, 32 A); Colin Smith, 53 points (19 G, 34 A); Brendan Leipsic, 52 points (20 G, 32 A); Antoine Bibeau, 25-8-1, 2.81 GAA; Alex Stalock, 3-2-0, 2.38 GAA; Kasimir Kaskisuo, 1-0-0, 3.00 GAA
Notes: A win at home against Lake Erie on Friday will wrap up the division and conference titles for the Marlies, along with the best record overall in the league; Kasimir Kaskisuo became the 8th Marlies goaltender this season to pick up a win, doing so in his professional debut Friday against the Crunch; 4 of their last 6 games are on home ice; after hosting the Monsters on Friday they travel to Syracuse on Saturday; it’s Military Appreciation Day at the arena, as the Devils will wear special jersey to be auctioned off online after the game.
Listen: AHL Live
Tweet: @trace_1114, @AlbanyDevils, @TorontoMarlies
Thoughts Inside The Box 