GRITTY WIN EXTENDS STREAK

by Kevin Zalaznik // 12.04.2011 // Recap

ALBANY, N.Y. – The Albany Devils continued their stellar play within the confines of the Times Union Center, knocking off the Rochester Americans, 4-2, Sunday. The team has now collected points in nine-straight home games, which is longest active streak in the AHL.

“We are playing for 60 minutes and I think we are being rewarded for it,” said Matt Anderson, who had a goal and two assists. “On nights we can win the special teams’ battle, we are going to win the hockey game. Our five-on-five play is second to none right now.”

Matt Taormina contributed the game’s first goal on the power-play 17:21. Just as important, he denied a Rochester opportunity on the goal line in the third period.

“[Keith Kinkaid] made the save and it popped up and over,” Taormina said. “He lost the puck; didn’t know where it was. I tried batting it out of midair and missed it. It took a couple of bounces and I just got lucky and swung at it and it ended up in the corner.”

The play came around the 11 minute mark with the Devils leading 3-0 thanks to additional goals by Joe Sova andStephane Veilleux.

Rochester fought back with back-to-back goals, starting with Maruc Foligno beating Kinkaid at 15:16. Drew Schiestelfollowed at 18:48 to move the score to 3-2.

Anderson put the game out of reach with an empty-net goal with 6.7 seconds remaining. Taormina and Veilleux had the assists.

Kinkaid earned his seventh win of the season by making 25 saves. He rebounded after being chased in the first period Friday night.

“We’ve played well in front of these guys,” said head coach Rick Kowalsky. “Tonight he had to make a couple second saves on rebounds and loose pucks, but he made a couple of big ones in the first and a couple in the second. It was a good bounce back.”

These two teams will play again Friday when the Devils head to Rochester for a 7:35 matchup. Fans can follow the action on 104.5 “The Team” ESPN Radio.

*****

Notes: Of the Devils 12 wins, tonight’s game was the second non-one-goal game … Matt Taormina and Stephane Veilleux both had a goal and an assist … The Devils and Rochester have split their six all-time meetings. This was the first win for the Devils against the Americans on home ice … Albany improved to 4-0-0-0 when leading after the first period … The Devils have produced 36 or more shots in three-consecutive games … 1. Matt Anderson (ALB), 2. Matt Taormina (ALB), 3. Marcus Foligno (RCH).

by Kevin Zalaznik // 12.04.2011 // Preview 

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Listen/Watch: ahllive.com
Tweet: @albanydevils

Storyline 
The Devils have earned a point in eight-consecutive home contests, going 6-0-1-1 during that span. Albany’s last regulation loss at the Times Union Center came against Hershey on Oct. 21 (4-1). This season, the Devils are 7-4-1-1 at home despite being outscored 37-34.

Notables 
- The Devils are fourth in the Northeast Division with an 11-8-2-1 record (25 pts.) and welcome the Americans who are second in the North Division with a 10-9-2-1 mark (23 pts.). Rochester is 2-5-2-0 on the road this season.

- Chad Wiseman scored his second goal of the season last night in the Devils, 3-1, setback at Bridgeport. The goal was the 165th of his AHL career. With the help of a four-game point streak, Wiseman has moved to fourth on the team with 11 points with two goals and a team-high tying nine assists.

- On Friday, Mike Sislo netted a goal against Bridgeport for his fifth tally of the season. He is third on the team for goals and is six for points (9). Additionally, he is tied for second on the team with a plus-3 rating.

- Rochester is coming off a pair of losses Friday and Saturday. The team lost to Houston 4-3 and at Hamilton 3-2. However, the team is 6-4-0-0 in its last 10 outings.

- Derek Whitmore leads the Amerks with 17 points with a team-best 11 goals. He is also third with a plus-9 rating. Behind him is Colin Stuart, who has 16 points with eight goals and eight assists.

All-Time Series 
Meetings: 5
All-Time: 2-3-0-0
At Devils: 0-2-0-0
At Americans: 2-1-0-0
2011-12: 0-1-0-0

Puck Drop 
The Devils are hosting a “Teddy Bear Toss” today. Donations from the event will go to the Albany Boys and Girls Club and the Albany Police Athletic League (P.A.L.). Fans are encouraged to bring new or slightly used Teddy Bears or stuffed animals to the game. During the first intermission an announcement will be made and fans can throw the stuffed animals onto the ice. They will be collected and distributed to the two organizations.