Just when you thought things were back to normal in Albany…everything happens. And two out of six points and an injured goaltender later…
The road trip began on Wednesday night in Rochester, as the Devils looked to extend a nearly year long shutout streak against the Amerks. And judging by the first period, it looked like a real possibility. Despite a 15-2 shot differential in the first twenty minutes of the contest, it took till nearly the end of the period for Albany to get on the board, thanks to Miles Wood’s first professional goal. Joe Blandisi’s fourth goal of the season (and his third in 3 games) would double the lead for the visitors midway through the middle period. But while on a power play with 24 seconds remaining in the second, the Amerks finally broke their scoreless drought after a full 3 hours, 21 minutes, and 45 seconds (but who’s counting?), cutting the lead in half on a Tyson Strachan tally. Despite outshooting the Devils 10-7 in the third, the Amerks were unable to get the equalizer, and an empty netter by Rod Pelley late (his third straight game with a goal) would seal a third straight win. Scott Wedgewood stopped 20 of 21 Amerk shots, while three Devils each had assists. The game also marked the debuts of both Petr Straka (2 SOG) and Luke Gazdic (12 PIM).
Lines:
Miles Wood-Joe Blandisi-Ben Sexton
John Quenneville-Brian Gibbons-Petr Straka
Ben Thomson-Kevin Rooney-Jan Mandat
Luke Gazdic-Rod Pelley-Ryan Kujawinski
Defense:
Seth Helgeson/Vojtech Mozik
Andrew MacWilliam/Reece Scarlett
Karl Stollery/Josh Jacobs
Scott Wedgewood/Mackenzie Blackwood
Scratches: Steve Santini, Blake Coleman, Max Novak, Brandon Baddock, Carter Camper, Brandon Gormley
Power Play: 0 for 6. Penalty Kill: 4 for 5. Penalty Minutes: 29. Shots on Goal: 31. Shots Allowed: 21.
3 Stars: 1. Joe Blandisi; 2. Miles Wood; 3. Tyson Strachan.
Highlight Reel:
It was off to the House of Horrors…I mean Binghamton…on Friday, as Albany paid the Senators a visit. And if you believe in curses…well, the first period was beyond explanation. Before most of the building was probably even settled into their seats, Buddy Robinson and Patrick Sieloff scored within the first 39 seconds of the contest for a 2-0 lead. To add to the insult, Robinson would add his second two minutes later for a 3-0 lead, ending Mackenzie Blackwood’s night after 1 save on 4 chances. But the home team wasn’t done just yet…Curtis Lazar would add a goal, and 4:56 in the Devils were staring at a 4 goal deficit. Things would start to look up for the Devils in the second as they tried to get back into the contest. Petr Straka’s first Devil goal would break up the shutout bid 7:19 into the middle stanza. Brian Gibbons would pick up his 3rd goal on a power play with 3:43 left in the period to cut the Senators lead in half. As if the night couldn’t get any worse for Albany…Scott Wedgewood, who was filling in quite well in a relief appearance, was forced to leave the game in the third due to an apparent hand/wrist injury, putting Blackwood back in the net. And the Senators would put the game away late with two goals in the last 5:28 of the game to halt Albany’s win streak at 3. Blackwood had a night he’d like to forget, only stopping 2 of 7 shots in 12:01, while Wedgewood stopped 15 of 16 in 47:37 of work before exiting. Four Devils would add assists.
Lines:
Miles Wood-Joe Blandisi-Ben Sexton
John Quenneville-Brian Gibbons-Petr Straka
Luke Gazdic-Rod Pelley-Blake Coleman
Ben Thomson-Kevin Rooney-Max Novak
Defense:
Seth Helgeson/Vojtech Mozik
Andrew MacWilliam/Reece Scarlett
Karl Stollery/Brandon Gormley
Mackenzie Blackwood/Scott Wedgewood
Scratches: Steve Santini, Josh Jacobs, Brandon Baddock, Jan Mandat, Carter Camper, Ryan Kujawinski
Power Play: 1 for 6. Penalty Kill: 7 for 8. Penalty Minutes: 28. Shots on Goal: 28. Shots Allowed: 23.
3 Stars: 1. Buddy Robinson; 2. Chris Carlisle; 3. Matt O’Connor.
Highlight Reel:
Saturday: On Friday night, Ken Appleby was in net in Utah picking up a win for the Thunder. Saturday, he was backing up in Syracuse, getting the recall after Wedgewood’s injury.
Without Wedgewood, it was off to Syracuse, as the Devils looked to rebound from the night before. Mackenzie Blackwood got a chance to redeem himself after a disastrous start, and early on he proved that, stopping all 9 Crunch shots in the first twenty minutes. In the second, the Devils found themselves in a 2-0 hole rather quickly, as Matt Taormina and Tanner Richard would score 1:32 apart early in the period. But Albany would rally to tie in the second half of the period, thanks to power play goals from Brandon Gormley (his 1st as a Devil) and John Quenneville (his 5th). The third period was rather quiet at first…no penalties called and both teams each had chances to take the lead. But just as everyone figured things would be settled in overtime…Erik Condra would get a pass and score on Blackwood with just 1.9 seconds left on the clock, turning a at least 3 point week into a 1-2 week for the Devils. Blackwood, despite the loss, rebounded very nicely from Friday evening, stopping 27 of 30 shots. Four different Devils had one assist each.
Lines:
John Quenneville-Kevin Rooney-Petr Straka
Miles Wood-Joe Blandisi-Brian Gibbons
Ben Thomson-Blake Coleman-Max Novak
Luke Gazdic-Rod Pelley-Ben Sexton
Defense:
Andrew MacWilliam/Reece Scarlett
Seth Helgeson/Brandon Gormley
Karl Stollery/Josh Jacobs
Mackenzie Blackwood/Ken Appleby
Scratches: Steve Santini, Brandon Baddock, Jan Mandat, Carter Camper, Vojtech Mozik, Ryan Kujawinski, Scott Wedgewood
Power Play: 2 for 6. Penalty Kill: 3 for 3. Penalty Minutes: 6. Shots on Goal: 31. Shots Allowed: 30.
3 Stars: 1. Erik Condra; 2. Yanni Gourde; 3. Matt Taormina.
Highlight Reel:
My Player of the Week:
A few to choose from…but let’s go with the new guy. For someone who had not even played till this week, Petr Straka settled into the lineup quite nicely, picking up a goal and an assist in his first 3 games.
Team Leaders:
Goals: John Quenneville (5)
Assists: Joe Blandisi (8)
Points: Joe Blandisi (12)
+/-: Vojtech Mozik (+8)
Penalty Minutes: Andrew MacWilliam (44)
Wins: Scott Wedgewood (5)
GAA: Ken Appleby (1.85)
Save Percentage: Ken Appleby (.929)
Up North with the Thunder:
The Thunder wrapped up an extended trip out west with a 3 game series in Utah against Alexandre Carrier and the Grizzlies, taking two out of three. On Monday, Adirondack dropped a 5-2 decision, with Brian Ward and Ty Loney each picking up a goal. Friday night, the Thunder returned the favor with a 2-1 win, as Ken Appleby stopped 24 of 25 shots in picking up his fourth win before flying cross country to join the Devils in Syracuse. Adirondack would finish off the three game set with a 3-2 win on Saturday night, as Loney would score again, and both Mathieu Brodeur and Alex Wall had two assists each. Adirondack finally returns home to Glens Falls this week, as they kick off a 7 game homestand with a two game set against Florida on Tuesday and Saturday.
This Week’s Schedule:
A sort of odd schedule this week for Albany, as they play a rare Tuesday night home game against Toronto (which originally was scheduled for Wednesday…thanks Siena College). Friday night they hit the road for Hartford, then on Saturday afternoon against Rochester…the Rats are back. The long awaited return of the River Rat jerseys is finally upon us!
Thoughts Inside The Box 