Devils Hold On Against Phantoms

by Kevin Zalaznik // 12.1.2012 // Recap

GLENS FALLS, NY -- The Albany Devils took a two-game advantage in the chase for the Time Warner Cable Cup with a 3-2 victory against the Adirondack Phantoms Saturday at Glens Falls Civic Center. The Devils own a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-12 series between the Northway Rivals.

Goaltender Keith Kinkaid led Albany’s defensive efforts with a season-high 44 saves on 46 shots. The second-year pro made 13 stops in the first, 15 in the second and 16 in the third.

Offensively, Joe Whitney, Jacob Josefson and Mattias Tedenby each scored. For Whitney it was his second of the season, while Josefson registered his team-leading eighth tally and Tedenby notched his fourth goal.

For Adirondack, Erik Gustafsson and Tye McGinn scored and Cal Heeter made 31 saves.

Whitney opened the scoring with just three second on the clock during the first period. Bobby Butler worked free from the corner and sent the puck on goal; Whitney was there for the rebound.

Albany added to its lead 31 seconds into the second period. Adam Larsson moved the puck forward near the Devils bench where Harri Pesonen chipped the puck into the zone. He won a battle and then found Josefson near the far post for the redirect.

Six minutes later, the Phantoms pulled within one when Gustafsson sent a one-time blast past Kinkaid at 6:31 while on the power play.

In the third, Tedenby added to Albany’s lead when his spin-around attempt, which was going wide, ricocheted off Heeter’s stick through his five hole. The tally, which came at 4:16, featured assists from Chad Wiseman and Tim Sestito.

McGinn capped the scoring with a power-play tally at 18:44.

The win was the first for the Devils at Glens Falls Civic Center since March 11, 2011 when they staked a 2-1 victory.

The Devils return to Times Union Center Saturday for a 5 pm matchup against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Audio and video of the game can be accessed via ahllive.com.

Lineup 
Goaltenders: Keith Kinkaid, Jeff Frazee
Defensemen: Matthew Corrente, Eric Gelinas, Adam Larsson, Jay Leach, Corbin McPherson, Alexander Urbom
Forwards: Matt Anderson, Bobby Butler, Mike Hoeffel, Jacob Josefson, Harri Pesonen, Tim Sestito, Mike Sislo, Mattias Tedenby, Joe Whitney, Chad Wiseman, Darcy Zajac, Steve Zalewski

Scoring 
1st Period-1, Albany, Whitney 2 (Butler), 19:57.
2nd Period-2, Albany, Josefson 8 (Larsson, Pesonen), 0:31. 3, Adirondack, Gustafsson 3 (Syvret, Couturier), 6:31 (PP).
3rd Period-4, Albany, Tedenby 4 (Wiseman, Sestito), 4:16. 5, Adirondack, McGinn 6 (Gustafsson, Akeson), 18:44 (PP).

Albany Devils 3 at Adirondack Phantoms 2 - Status: Final
Saturday, December 1, 2012 - Glens Falls Civic Center

Albany 1 1 1 - 3
Adirondack 0 1 1 - 2

1st Period-1, Albany, Whitney 2 (Butler), 19:57. Penalties-Gelinas Alb (boarding), 8:52; Corrente Alb (high-sticking), 11:35.

2nd Period-2, Albany, Josefson 8 (Larsson, Pesonen), 0:31. 3, Adirondack, Gustafsson 3 (Syvret, Couturier), 6:31 (PP). Penalties-McPherson Alb (interference), 6:00; Pesonen Alb (delay of game), 9:38; McGinn Adk (goaltender interference), 14:40; Zolnierczyk Adk (hooking), 19:48.

3rd Period-4, Albany, Tedenby 4 (Wiseman, Sestito), 4:16. 5, Adirondack, McGinn 6 (Gustafsson, Akeson), 18:44 (PP). Penalties-Gelinas Alb (slashing), 6:16; Tedenby Alb (high-sticking), 10:42; Zalewski Alb (holding), 18:10.

Shots on Goal-Albany 8-17-9-34. Adirondack 13-16-17-46.
Power Play Opportunities-Albany 0 / 2; Adirondack 2 / 7.
Goalies-Albany, Kinkaid 2-5-3 (46 shots-44 saves). Adirondack, Heeter 3-6-0 (34 shots-31 saves).
A-3,806
Referees-Chris Brown (86), Jarrod Ragusin (54).
Linesmen-Jim Harper (59), Marty Demers (79).

by Kevin Zalaznik // 12.1.2012 // Preview

Follow the Action 
Radio: 104.5 “The Team” ESPN Radio
Online: ahllive.com
Twitter: @albanydevils, @albanydevilspr, #adevils

Storyline 
- The Albany Devils will try and take a two game advantage in the Time Warner Cable Cup. The best-of-12 series between the Devils and the Adirondack Phantoms has already featured a 5-1 Albany win on Oct. 26, a 4-0 Adirondack victory on Nov. 3 and a 2-1 Albany win on Nov. 9.

Notables 
- The Devils are fifth in the Northeast Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference with a 4-8-0-5 record (13 pts.), including a 2-3-0-2 mark on the road. The Phantoms are fourth in the division and 12th in the conference with a 9-10-0-0 record (18 pts.), including a 5-4-0-0 showing at Glens Falls Civic Center.

- Albany is coming off a 1-0 setback against the St. John’s IceCaps Friday at Times Union Center. Jeff Frazee turned aside 22 shots; he is now 3-3-2 with a 2.22 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage.

- Matt Anderson, Jacob Josefson, Adam Larsson and Tim Sestito are the only players to appear in all 17 games for Albany so far this year.

- The Phantoms experienced a 7-4 loss against the Binghamton Senators Friday at home. Harry Zolnierczyk netted a pair of goals and Cal Heeter provided 42 minutes in relief in goal, making 20 saves on 22 shots.

- Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier lead Adirondack with 22 and 16 points, respectively. Schenn has nine goals and 13 assists in 19 games and Couturier has six goals and 10 helpers in 17 outings.

Last Meeting 
Nov. 10, 2012: Albany 2 vs. Adirondack 1 
Although he wasn’t officially credited with the game-winning goal, Jeff Frazee arguably made the game-changing play in the Albany Devils 2-1 win against the Adirondack Phantoms at Times Union Center. Frazee denied a backdoor play, leading to a fast break the other way. The sequence ended with Matt Anderson finding the tiniest of openings at 3:41.

From there the Devils held strong, killing off two Adirondack power-plays, including one in the final three minutes. Frazee finished the night with 22 saves.

Bobby Butler gave the Devils a 1-0 lead with help from Joe Whitney and Matt Corrente at 13:44 of the second. Adirondack responded with a short-side goal by Eric Wellwood at 17:37 of the second, but Albany answered with Anderson’s goal from Jacob Josefson and Chad Wiseman. It marked the first time this season the Devils were victorious when not leading entering the final frame.

All-Time 
All-Time: 15-16-5-3
2012-13: 2-1-0-0
Home: 12-4-2-2
Away: 3-12-3-1

Puck Drop
After tonight’s game, Albany and Adirondack will not meet again until Jan. 18 when the Devils travel Glens Falls Civic Center for a 7 pm contest