Sorry Binghamton.
It’s not time to give up the boys yet. There’s a Calder Cup that needs to be chased first.
Wednesday’s mission was a pretty simple one: beat Hartford without going to a shootout, and hope that Syracuse lends a hand and defeats Utica, and hello playoff spot. At first, it looked like the Wolfpack were going to play spoiler: a John Gilmour goal just 1:46 into the contest would put Hartford up 1-0. Vojtech Mozik would tie it up later in the period with a power play goal, his 10th of the season. The Wolfpack would take a 2-1 lead early in the second period on Marek Hrivik’s 16th goal of the season. But the Devils would respond…while on a penalty kill for a too many men call, Kevin Rooney would break from the pack (see what I did there?) and score shorthanded on his own rebound to tie things up at 2. John Quenneville would add a power play goal late in the second, his 14th, to put the Devils ahead 3-2. In the third, Albany would put the game away with three straight goals…Miles Wood, in his first game back in Albany since a brief stint in November, would score his 4th, then assist on Jacob MacDonald’s 8th. Ben Thomson would celebrate his return from New Jersey with his 6th, putting the Devils ahead 6-2. Nicklas Jensen would add his 30th goal as time expired, but it wouldn’t be enough. Mackenzie Blackwood would stop 23 of 26 shots in his 16th win. MacDonald lead all Albany skaters with three points (1 G, 2 A), Blake Coleman had two assists, and four other Devils would have one assist each.
Just minutes after the final horn, Syracuse would finish off a 7-2 win at Utica, officially putting Albany in the playoffs.
Lines:
John Quenneville-Carter Camper-Nick Lappin
Brian Gibbons-Blake Coleman-Miles Wood
Joe Blandisi-Kevin Rooney-Blake Pietila
Ben Thomson-Jan Mandat-Shane Harper
Defense:
Karl Stollery/Vojtech Mozik
Seth Helgeson/Steve Santini
Josh Jacobs/Jacob MacDonald
Mackenzie Blackwood/Ken Appleby
Scratches: Andrew MacWilliam, Rod Pelley, Ben Sexton, Luke Gazdic, Ryan Kujawinski, Max Novak, Scott Wedgewood, Petr Straka, Yohann Auvitu, Brandon Gignac, Evan Cormier, Austin Cangelosi, Viktor Loov
Power Play: 2 for 5. Penalty Kill: 6 for 7. Penalty Minutes: 22. Shots on Goal: 31. Shots Allowed: 26.
3 Stars: 1. Jacob MacDonald; 2. Miles Wood; 3. John Quenneville.
Highlight Reel:
With quite a few regulars being rested, it was due west on the Thruway to Rochester for the final regular season road game against the Amerks. Carter Camper’s 6th goal of the season would put the visitors on the board 13:10 into the opening period. On a late turnover by Josh Jacobs, the Amerks would tie the game up late in the period on a Casey Nelson goal. Joe Blandisi would break the tie early in the second period with his 8th goal, and first since returning from New Jersey. But a scrum behind the Amerks net that would give Rochester a full 5 on 3 would change the tide…Alex Nylander would re-tie the game at 2. Jan Mandat would briefly give the Devils their one goal lead back, only to have a second power play goal, this time off the stick of Derek Grant, late in the second for a 3-3 game. The Amerks would pull away fairly quickly in the third…Justin Bailey’s 23rd goal just 43 seconds into the final period would put Rochester up 4-3. Hudson Fasching would add an insurance goal four minutes later for a 5-3 lead. Nick Lappin would get the Devils back to within one with 37 seconds remaining, but that was all they could do. In his first start in 13 days, Ken Appleby would stop 26 of 31 shots. 8 different Devils would add assists.
Lines:
Shane Harper-Blake Coleman-Brandon Gignac
Joe Blandisi-Carter Camper-Nick Lappin
Petr Straka-Austin Cangelosi-Max Novak
Luke Gazdic-Jan Mandat-Ben Thomson
Defense:
Andrew MacWilliam/Vojtech Mozik
Steve Santini/Yohann Auvitu
Josh Jacobs/Jacob MacDonald
Ken Appleby/Mackenzie Blackwood
Scratches: Scott Wedgewood, Rod Pelley, Ryan Kujawinski, Ben Sexton, Evan Cormier, Viktor Loov, Miles Wood, Blake Pietila, Seth Helgeson, Karl Stollery, John Quenneville, Brian Gibbons, Kevin Rooney
Power Play: 0 for 3. Penalty Kill: 6 for 8. Penalty Minutes: 16. Shots on Goal: 34. Shots Allowed: 31.
3 Stars: 1. Justin Bailey; 2. Evan Rodrigues; 3. Derek Grant.
Highlight Reel:
Less than 24 hours and about 220 miles to the east later, the Devils and Amerks met in Albany for Game 76, the regular season finale. Much like the night before, it would the Devils drawing first blood…Brian Gibbons would score his 16th of the season 6:56 into the contest for a 1-0 lead. Vojtech Mozik would add his 11th goal early in the second period to double the lead. Then Blake Coleman would cap the game and the regular season off with a short handed empty netter, his 19th, to finish the Amerks off. Mackenzie Blackwood took care of the rest, stopping all 17 shots in his third shutout of the season. Coleman would add two assists, while Nick Lappin had one helper.
Lines:
Brian Gibbons-Blake Coleman-Nick Lappin
Joe Blandisi-Carter Camper-Ben Sexton
Shane Harper-Austin Cangelosi-Jan Mandat
Ben Thomson-Kevin Rooney-Brandon Gignac
Defense:
Seth Helgeson/Steve Santini
Karl Stollery/Vojtech Mozik
Josh Jacobs/Jacob MacDonald
Mackenzie Blackwood/Ken Appleby
Scratches: Andrew MacWilliam, Yohann Auvitu, Viktor Loov, Ryan Kujawinski, Rod Pelley, John Quenneville, Miles Wood, Scott Wedgewood, Luke Gazdic, Evan Cormier, Blake Pietila, Petr Straka, Max Novak
Power Play: 0 for 3. Penalty Kill: 4 for 4. Penalty Minutes: 8. Shots on Goal: 34. Shots Allowed: 17.
3 Stars: 1. Mackenzie Blackwood; 2. Blake Coleman; 3. Brian Gibbons.
Highlight Reel:
My Player of the Week:
A tough call for this week’s honors, but I’ll split it between Blake Coleman (1 goal, 4 assists in 3 games) and Mackenzie Blackwood (2-0, 1 SO).
Team Leaders:
Final stats will be out on Monday.
Division Playoff Update:
When the dust finally settled on Saturday night, here’s where everyone finished:
- Syracuse: 90 points, .592
- Toronto: 89 points, .586
- Albany: 83 points, .546
- St. John’s: 82 points, .539
- Utica: 79 points, .520
So in round 1, you will have Syracuse-St. John’s and Albany-Toronto (in a rematch of last year’s epic 7 game North Division final).
Up North with the Thunder:
Not a good start for Adirondack in their first round matchup with Manchester, as they fall 2-0 in their best of 7 series.
The Thunder would drop Game 1 to the Monarchs 3-1, with Ryan Culkin the lone goal scorer and J.P. Anderson would stop 21 of 23 shots. Manchester would follow that up with a 4-2 win in Game 2 on Saturday. Alex Wall would score both Thunder goals, while Anderson stopped 24 of 27.
The series now shifts to Glens Falls for the next 5 games. Yes, I said 5…due to the circus at SNHU Arena, the Thunder will host the remainder of the series, no matter how many games needed. Game 3 is on Tuesday, Game 4 Thursday, and if needed, Game 5 is Saturday.
This Week’s Schedule:
Well, more like the full Round 1 schedule:
Game 1: Thursday @ Albany, 7 PM
Game 2: Saturday @ Albany, 5 PM
Game 3: April 26 @ Toronto, 7 PM
Game 4: April 28 @ Toronto, 7 PM*
Game 5: April 29 @ Toronto, 7 PM*
As far as coverage…preview stat pack will hit Thursday afternoon prior to Game 1. If I am able to switch my work schedule, I will be on hand for Game 1. Games 2-5 I will definitely be around for.
It’s time to take a #FinalStand everyone.
Thoughts Inside The Box 