by Kevin Zalaznik // 11.23.2012 // Recap

ROCHESTER, NY -- In their first out-of-conference game of the season, the Albany Devils lost, 5-2, against the Rochester Americans Friday at Blue Cross Arena. Steve Zalewski and Raman Hrabarenka scored for the Devils (4-6-0-4), but the Americans (9-6-1-0) used a pair of shorthanded goals to propel them to their ninth victory.

Zalewski, who led the team in 2011-12 with 19 goals, netted his first goal of the season. He scored atop the goal crease at 14:44 of the second period. Mattias Tedenby and Tim Sestito earned the assists.

The goal came after the Amerks established a 2-0 first period advantage thanks to a pair of goals by Brian Flynn. The first came at 6:14 and the second, a power-play tally, was at 15:23. Rochester recaptured its two goal advantage at 19:36 of the second when defenseman T.J. Brennan scored on a 2-on-1 shorthanded break.

In the third, Brennan scored again shorthanded at 6:11. Albany responded when Hrabarenka fired a shot that was redirected behind Americans goaltender David Leggio at 7:57. Since the puck changed direction off a Rochester player, Hrabarenka was credited with his first professional goal. Jay Leach, who is now on a three-game point streak, and David Wohlberg registered the assists.

Flynn, who assisted on Brennan’s second goal, completed his hat trick with an empty-netter at 18:50 of the third.

Jeff Frazee lost his first game in regulation since Oct. 19. He made 26 saves. At the other end, Leggio made 33 stops.

Next up, Albany welcomes the Syracuse Crunch to Times Union Center Saturday for a 5 pm puck drop. Fans who can’t make it to the arena can follow the action on ahllive.com.

Lineup 
Goaltenders: Jeff Frazee, Keith Kinkaid
Defensemen: Brandon Burlon, Raman Hrabarenka, Adam Larsson, Jay Leach, Corbin McPherson, Alexander Urbom
Forwards: Matt Anderson, Bobby Butler, Adam Henrique, Mike Hoeffel, Jacob Josefson, Harri Pesonen, Tim Sestito, Mattias Tedenby, Joe Whitney, David Wohlberg, Darcy Zajac, Steve Zalewski

Scoring 
1st Period-1, Rochester, Flynn 6 (Pysyk), 6:14. 2, Rochester, Flynn 7 (Foligno, Brennan), 15:23 (PP).
2nd Period-3, Albany, Zalewski 1 (Tedenby, Sestito), 14:44. 4, Rochester, Brennan 8 (Porter, Mancari), 19:36 (SH).
3rd Period-5, Rochester, Brennan 9 (Flynn, Varone), 6:11 (SH). 6, Albany, Hrabarenka 1 (Leach, Wohlberg), 7:57. 7, Rochester, Flynn 8 18:50 (EN).

Albany Devils 2 at Rochester Americans 5 - Status: Final
Friday, November 23, 2012 - Blue Cross Arena

Albany 0 1 1 - 2
Rochester 2 1 2 - 5

1st Period-1, Rochester, Flynn 6 (Pysyk), 6:14. 2, Rochester, Flynn 7 (Foligno, Brennan), 15:23 (PP). Penalties-Burlon Alb (high-sticking), 13:59; Josefson Alb (boarding), 17:59.

2nd Period-3, Albany, Zalewski 1 (Tedenby, Sestito), 14:44. 4, Rochester, Brennan 8 (Porter, Mancari), 19:36 (SH). Penalties-Girgensons Rch (goaltender interference), 6:01; Anderson Alb (unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:09; Finley Rch (roughing), 17:56.

3rd Period-5, Rochester, Brennan 9 (Flynn, Varone), 6:11 (SH). 6, Albany, Hrabarenka 1 (Leach, Wohlberg), 7:57. 7, Rochester, Flynn 8   18:50 (EN). Penalties-Finley Rch (hooking), 5:37; Gauthier-Leduc Rch (slashing), 9:21; Brennan Rch (hooking), 14:07.

Shots on Goal-Albany 6-17-12-35. Rochester 13-8-10-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Albany 0 / 5; Rochester 1 / 3.
Goalies-Albany, Frazee 3-2-2 (30 shots-26 saves). Rochester, Leggio 9-5-0 (35 shots-33 saves).
A-8,781
Referees-Jean Hebert (43), Ryan Hersey (8).
Linesmen-Brian Lemon (25), Dan Murphy (21).

by Kevin Zalaznik // 11.23.2012 // Preview

Follow the Action 
Television: Time Warner Cable Ch. 585 or 1803 (HD) 
Radio: 104.5 “The Team” ESPN Radio 
Online: ahllive.com
Twitter: @albanydevils, @albanydevilspr, #adevils

Storyline 
The Albany Devils begin their three-in-three weekend at the Rochester Americans. The contest will be Albany’s first of four out-of-conference games for the Devils this season. Last year, the Devils went 4-3-1-0 against the Western Conference.

Notables 
- Having played the least amount of games in the AHL, the Devils are fifth in the Northeast Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference with a 4-5-0-4 record (12 pts.). The Americans are fourth in the North Division and tied for eighth in the Western Conference with a 8-6-1-0 mark (19 pts.). Albany is 2-2-0-2 on the road, while Rochester is 4-3-0-0 at Blue Cross Arena.

- Albany is riding a five-game point streak, going 2-0-0-3 during that span. The team’s last regulation loss came at the Adirondack Phantoms, 4-0, on Nov. 3. Since then, the Devils have wins against the Phantoms, 2-1, on Nov. 10 and at the St. John’s IceCaps, 5-3, on Nov. 17. The shootout losses came at the Providence Bruins, 2-1, on Nov. 9, against the Norfolk Admirals, 5-4, on Nov. 12 and at St. John’s, 4-3, on Nov. 16.

- Darcy Zajac registered a career-high two goals at St. John’s Saturday. In his third season, Zajac has accumulated 36 points, including 15 goals and 21 assists, in 118 games.

- The Amerks are 2-3-0-0 in their last five games and are coming off losses against the Abbotsford Heat, 3-2, on Nov. 16 and at the Binghamton Senators, 3-2, on Nov. 17.

- Rochester’s offense is fourth in the league, averaging 3.53 goals per game. It is led by Marcus Foligno and defenseman T.J. Brennan. Foligno has posted a team-high 16 points with six goals and 10 assists and Brennan has 14 points, including seven goals and seven assists. The Americans have eight players with 10 or more points.

Last Meeting 
March 28, 2012: Albany 2 vs. Rochester 1
Steve Zalewski netted the game-winning goal with 4:39 remaining in regulation, lifting the Devils to a 2-1 win against the Americans at Times Union Center. Albany trailed 1-0 after two periods thanks to a T.J. Brennan, 5-on-3 goal midway through the second. Eric Gelinas tied the game 43 seconds into the third. Jeff Frazee made 19 saves on 20 shots before leaving with an injury in the third. Keith Kinkaid provided relief, turning away all four shots.

All-Time Series 
All-Time: 4-4-0-0
2012-12: 0-0-0-0
Home: 2-2-0-0
Away: 2-2-0-0

Puck Drop 
The contest will be televised locally on Time Warner Cable Sports channel 585 or 1803 (HD).