DEVILS EDGED BY SOUND TIGERS

by Kevin Zalaznik // 2.26.2012 // Recap

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – For only the third time this season, the Albany Devils surrendered a lead after two periods, falling to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 3-2, Sunday at Webster Bank Arena.

Despite the setback, the Devils, who were coming off two road wins at Syracuse and at Manchester, remain in playoff position with a 26-21-5-3 mark. Bridgeport strengthens their hold on the top spot in the Northeast Division at 30-18-3-3. The Sound Tigers are 18-1-0-2 in their last 21 games.

Peter Harrold and Mike Hoeffel each tallied power-play goals and Darcy Zajac produced two assists. Between the pipes, Keith Kinkaid made 31 saves.

For Bridgeport, Aaron Ness had two tallies, including the game-winning goal and Trevor Gillies also scored. In goal,Anders Nilsson made 30 saves for the win.

Harrold opened the scoring on the power play at 4:27 of the second. Zajac and Vladimir Zharkov enjoyed the assists on Harrold’s third tally of the season.

Before the end of the period, Kinkaid sent a long pass to the far blue line to Zajac, who sprung Hoeffel for his fourth tally of the season at 17:05.

The two man-up goals were the Devils 10th and 11th in the last 10 games.

The third period belonged to the Sound Tigers. First, Trevor Gillies scored in a scrum in front of Kinkaid at 2:38.

That goal was followed by a pair by Ness at 6:05 and 13:17. The latter came while operating the man advantage.

Bridgeport outshot the Devils, 34-31.

The Devils will get their rematch against the Sound Tigers Friday with a 7 p.m. outing at the Times Union Center.

Notes: Peter Harrold, who was returned on loan from New Jersey on Saturday, earned his third goal of the season and first since Jan. 28 … Mike Hoeffel netted his fourth goal and first since Jan. 6 … Vladimir Zharkov’s assist gives him a team-leading 32 points. He has points in seven of the last nine games … 1. Aaron Ness (BRI), 2. Trevor Gillies(BRI), 3. Justin DiBenedetto (BRI).

» Click Here For Complete Box Score

Albany Devils 2 at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3 - Status: Final
Sunday, February 26, 2012 - Webster Bank Arena

Albany 0 2 0 - 2
Bridgeport 0 0 3 - 3

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Stoesz Alb (fighting), 2:35; Gillies Bri (fighting), 2:35; Mouillierat Bri (boarding), 5:00; Oleksy Bri (tripping), 9:43; Whitney Alb (holding), 9:58; Donovan Bri (roughing), 9:58; Harrold Alb (slashing), 14:21; Mills Alb (cross-checking), 14:47; Colliton Bri (holding), 15:24; Tedenby Alb (slashing), 19:36; Oleksy Bri (cross-checking), 19:36.

2nd Period-1, Albany, Harrold 3 (Zajac, Zharkov), 4:27 (PP). 2, Albany, Hoeffel 4 (Zajac, Kinkaid), 17:05. Penalties-Colliton Bri (tripping), 2:45; Gionta Alb (tripping), 6:30; Frischmon Bri (slashing), 9:17; Howes Bri (interference), 15:05.

3rd Period-3, Bridgeport, Gillies 1 (Romano, de Haan), 2:38. 4, Bridgeport, Ness 3 (Howes, DiBenedetto), 6:05. 5, Bridgeport, Ness 4 (DiBenedetto, Romano), 13:17 (PP). Penalties-Tedenby Alb (tripping), 13:10; Oleksy Bri (cross-checking), 16:17.

Shots on Goal-Albany 10-12-10-32. Bridgeport 15-7-12-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Albany 1 / 7; Bridgeport 1 / 4.
Goalies-Albany, Kinkaid 15-14-1 (34 shots-31 saves). Bridgeport, Nilsson 15-6-2 (32 shots-30 saves).
A-3,903
Referees-Ryan Fraser (14), Chris Cozzan (18).
Linesmen-Jim Briggs (83), Brent Colby (7).

by Kevin Zalaznik // 2.26.2012 // Preview

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Storyline 
Despite moving into seventh place in the Eastern Conference, the Devils are still chasing the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Devils enter the night with seven wins in their last nine, including five victories during their last six road contests. Albany has nine power-play goals in its last nine contests.

Notables 
- The Devils are third in the Northeast Division and seventh in the conference with a 26-20-5-3 mark (60 pts.), while the Sound Tigers are tied for first in the division and third in the conference with a 29-18-3-3 record (64 pts.). Albany is 13-13-2-0 away from the Times Union Center and Bridgeport is 16-7-2-1 at Webster Bank Arena.

- With the help of six goals and two assists during the last eight games, Vladimir Zharkov is now tied for the team lead for points (31), goals (12) and assists (19). With 43 games under his belt this season, he is averaging a team-best 0.72 points per game.

- Rookie defenseman Eric Gelinas has 18 points (9g-9a) in the last 24 games and has posted 23 points in 53 appearances this season. He is tied for first on the team with 12 goals and he leads the Devils with seven power-play goals and 14 power-play points.

- Bridgeport is arguably the hottest team in the AHL, going 17-1-0-2 since the New Year. The Sound Tigers are coming off a come-from-behind, 5-4 win against Providence last night. They netted five goals in the final two periods for the victory.

- Matt Donovan is the active team leader with 31 points backed by six goals and 25 assists. Rhett Rakhshani is next with 31 points with nine goals and 17 assists.

All-Time Series 
Meetings: 34
All-Time: 11-15-3-5
At Devils: 9-5-1-2
At Sound Tigers: 2-10-2-3
2011-12: 1-3-0-0

Devils-Sound Tigers Last Meeting 
Mon., Feb. 20, Albany 0 at Bridgeport 3 
The Devils surrendered two second period goals and an additional one in the third, falling 3-0 to the Sound Tigers at Webster Bank Arena. Goaltender Jeff Frazee tied a then season high with 35 saves. He made 11 saves in the first, 11 in the second and 13 in the third. At the other end, Anders Nilsson earned the shutout win by making 26 saves.

Puck Drop 
The Devils have fared well during Sunday games, going 5-2-1-0.