Late Dramatics End In Sound Tigers Win

by Kevin Zalaznik // 1.13.2013 // Recap

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ -- Despite erasing a two-goal deficit with under five minutes remaining, the Albany Devils were overcome by a late tally by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In the end, the Sound Tigers Matt Donovan’s game-winning goal with 1:16 remaining gave his team a 5-4 victory Sunday. The game marked the second of four home games for the Devils at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

Trailing 4-2 late in the third, the Devils clawed back first with a power-play goal by Joe Whitney at 15:16 and then pulled even thanks to Chris McKelive at 16:48.

A goalie interference penalty handed the Sound Tigers a power play at 17:17, making way for the game-winner.

Kelly Zajac, who was recalled along with Bryan Haczyk from Trenton (ECHL) before the game, netted his first career AHL goal and added an assist. Phil DeSimone was responsible for the Devils first goal and Brandon Burlon tied a career high with two assists.

In goal, Keith Kinkaid made 24 saves on 29 shots.

After Bridgeport’s Aaron Ness opened the scoring with the man advantage at 11:39 of the first, DeSimone tied the game with his second tally of the season. Burlon, who received a pass from Mike Sislo, carried the puck wide and sent a centering pass for DeSimone’s one-timer on the power play at 19:43.

In the second, Bridgeport’s Nino Niederreiter made the score 2-1 at 3:38, but again the Devils had an answer. Burlon added his second assist when Bryan Haczyk found Zajac, who redirected the pass at 9:53 of the second.

The Sound Tigers appeared to have taken control of the game in the third when they doubled their lead with goals from Blair Riley and Niederreiter. Riley’s tally came at 2:17 of the third and Niederreiter scored on the power play at 9:38.

Niederreiter and Ness paced Bridgeport’s offensive efforts. Niederreiter had two goals and Ness had a goal and two assists. Defensively, Kevin Poulin earned his 11th win with 32 saves on 26 shots.

Earlier in the day and with an new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and NHLPA, the New Jersey Devils recalled Bobby Butler, Jacob Josefson, Adam Larsson, Harri Pesonen, Tim Sestito and Mattias Tedenby. Additionally, Matthew Corrente and Stephen Gionta were released from their AHL standard player contracts.

Next up, the Devils continue their seven game stretch of divisional games with a 7 pm outing at the Adirondack Phantom Friday.

Lineup 
Goaltenders: Keith Kinkaid, Jeff Frazee
Defensemen: Brandon Burlon, Eric Gelinas, Dan Kelly, Corbin McPherson, Jay Leach, Alexander Urbom
Forwards: Matt Anderson, Phil DeSimone, Bryan Haczyk, Mike Hoeffel, Chris McKelvie, Mike Sislo, Joe Whitney, Chad Wiseman, David Wohlberg, Darcy Zajac, Kelly Zajac, Steve Zalewski

Scoring
1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Ness 2 (Combs, Costello), 11:39 (PP). 2, Albany, DeSimone 2 (Burlon, Sislo), 19:43 (PP).
2nd Period-3, Bridgeport, Niederreiter 18 (Halmo, Nelson), 3:38. 4, Albany, Zajac 1 (Haczyk, Burlon), 9:53.
3rd Period-5, Bridgeport, Riley 3 (DeFazio), 2:17. 6, Bridgeport, Niederreiter 19 (Costello, Ness), 9:38 (PP). 7, Albany, Whitney 6 (Anderson, Gelinas), 15:16 (PP). 8, Albany, McKelvie 1 (Zajac, Zajac), 16:48. 9, Bridgeport, Donovan 6 (Costello, Ness), 18:44 (PP).

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 5 at Albany Devils 4 - Status: Final
Sunday, January 13, 2013 - Boardwalk Hall

Bridgeport 1 1 3 - 5
Albany 1 1 2 - 4

1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Ness 2 (Combs, Costello), 11:39 (PP). 2, Albany, DeSimone 2 (Burlon, Sislo), 19:43 (PP). Penalties-Hoeffel Alb (goaltender interference), 8:04; Kelly Alb (delay of game), 9:53; Sundstrom Bri (tripping), 18:14.

2nd Period-3, Bridgeport, Niederreiter 18 (Halmo, Nelson), 3:38. 4, Albany, Zajac 1 (Haczyk, Burlon), 9:53. Penalties-Maggio Bri (high-sticking), 4:20; Zalewski Alb (tripping), 12:51.

3rd Period-5, Bridgeport, Riley 3 (DeFazio), 2:17. 6, Bridgeport, Niederreiter 19 (Costello, Ness), 9:38 (PP). 7, Albany, Whitney 6 (Anderson, Gelinas), 15:16 (PP). 8, Albany, McKelvie 1 (Zajac, Zajac), 16:48. 9, Bridgeport, Donovan 6 (Costello, Ness), 18:44 (PP). Penalties-McIver Bri (tripping), 6:39; McKelvie Alb (tripping), 9:13; Donovan Bri (cross-checking), 13:32; Ness Bri (high-sticking), 14:11; Anderson Alb (goaltender interference), 17:17.

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 10-8-11-29. Albany 6-12-18-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 3 / 5; Albany 2 / 5.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Poulin 11-8-2 (36 shots-32 saves). Albany, Kinkaid 11-8-3 (29 shots-24 saves).
A-4,005
Referees-Nic Leduc (12).
Linesmen-Ryan Daisy (90), Brian Oliver (80).

by Kevin Zalaznik // 1.13.2013 // Preview

Follow the Action
Online: ahllive.com
Twitter: @albanydevils, @albanydevilspr, #adevils

Storyline
Coming off a 4-1 victory against the Worcester Sharks last night, the Devils will try and claim four-out-of-a-possible-six points this weekend when they host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. It is the second of four games for the Devils at Boardwalk Hall; they lost to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 5-4 in a shootout, during the first game back on Nov. 25.

Notables 
- The Devils are third in the Northeast Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 14-12-1-6 mark (35 pts.), including a 7-6-0-4 home record. The Sound Tigers are second in the division and tied for sixth in the conference with a 17-16-2-2 showing (38 pts.) with a 8-11-1-1 road mark.

- Eric Gelinas, Mattias Tedenby and Steve Zalewski each had a goal and an assist in the Devils win against the Sharks. For Gelinas it was his second goal in three games and his fifth and sixth points in the last six outings. Tedenby extended his goal streak to four games, while Zalewski moved his to three.

- Darcy Zajac netted his fourth tally of the year and the 16th of his career. Now in his third full season, he has accumulated 39 points in 135 games.

- Bridgeport lost to the Portland Pirates, 6-3, last night at Webster Bank Arena. Casey Cizikas, Blair Riley and Matt Watkins each scored and Kevin Poulin made 32 saves on 37 shots.

- Nino Niederreiter leads the Sound Tigers with 34 points with 17 goals and 17 assists and Colin McDonald is second with 27 points, backed by six goals and a team-high 21 assists.

Last Meeting 
Dec. 19, 2012: Albany 3 at Bridgeport 4 
Despite goals from Mike Sislo, Mattias Tedenby and Matt Anderson, the Devils lost, 4-3, against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at Webster Bank Arena. The Devils erased a pair of deficits, but Bridgeport’s Matt Donovan netted the game-winning goal midway through the third. Goaltender Keith Kinkaid saw his five-game winning streak halted; he made 26 saves on 30 shots. For Bridgeport, Donovan finished with two goals as did Casey Cizikas. In goal, Kevin Poulin, earned the win by making 31 saves.

All-time Series 
All-Time: 13-17-3-5
2012-13: 1-1-0-0
Home: 11-5-1-2
Away: 2-12-2-3

Puck Drop 
Today’s game can be followed online by visiting ahllive.com. The voice of the Albany Devils Josh Heller will have the call.