DEVILS DOMINATION

by Kevin Zalaznik // 1.25.2013 // Recap

GLENS FALLS, NY – During the previous two seasons wins at the Glens Falls Civic Center were hard to come by for the Albany Devils. Recently, the Devils have bucked the trend and after a 4-1 victory against the Adirondack Phantoms Friday. Albany has won three straight games at the home of their Northway Rival.

The win, which was backed by two Joe Whitney goals, a Matt Anderson tally and a Kelly Zajac marker, gives the Devils a 5-2 advantage in bid for the Time Warner Cable Cup, which is awarded to the winner of the season series. Game eight of the 12-game set is Saturday at 2 pm at Times Union Center.

Keith Kinkaid, who is 3-1-1 against the Phantoms this year, earned his 13th victory of the season and 12th in his last 16 starts. He was tested early with 12 saves in the first period, including a spectacular glove save on Harry Zolnierczyk at 14:42 of the first period. Kinkaid got the best of Zolnierczyk again in the third period, denying a penalty shot opportunity at 6:19.

Whitney opened the scoring at 12:36 of the first on a play setup by Steve Zalewski and Brandon Burlon. The tally, which came moments after a failed power play, began with Burlon working the puck low to Zalewski. After gathering the puck behind the Adirondack net, Zalewski sent a quick centering pass to Whitney for the one-touch goal.

In the second, Anderson added to Albany’s lead after accepting a pass from Harri Pesonen in the defensive end. Speeding forward, Anderson weaved through the neutral zone, into the offensive end and sent a wrist shot past the glove hand of Brian Boucher at 9:28.

Moments later, Adirondack’s Matthew Ford cut into Albany’s lead by redirecting a Tyler Brown shot at 11:16 while on the power play.

Similar to the game’s first goal, Zalewski setup Whitney from behind the net for the team’s third tally, which came at 10:46 of the third and featured a second assist by Bobby Butler.

Albany added to its lead at 13:00 when Kelly Zajac cashed in off a rebound that was left in front following a Mike Sislo try. Chris McKelvie was also credited with an assist.

In the end, the Devils outshot the Phantoms, 30-27.

Time Warner Cable customers who present their bill at the box office to Saturday’s game will receive admission for $5 or $10. Additionally, the first 2,000 fans to arrive will receive a Matt Anderson bobblehead. Everyone in attendance will have an opportunity to win an Anderson game-worn jersey or an autographed, game-used stick.

Lineup 
Goaltenders: Keith Kinkaid, Jeff Frazee
Defensemen: Brandon Burlon, Eric Gelinas, Dan Kelly, Jay Leach, Corbin McPherson, Alexander Urbom
Forwards: Matt Anderson, Bobby Butler, Phil DeSimone, Mike Hoeffel, Chris McKelvie, Harri Pesonen, Tim Sestito, Mike Sislo, Joe Whitney, Darcy Zajac, Kelly Zajac, Steve Zalewski

Scoring
1st Period-1, Albany, Whitney 10 (Zalewski, Burlon), 12:36.
2nd Period-2, Albany, Anderson 7 (Pesonen), 9:28. 3, Adirondack, Ford 3 (Brown, Syvret), 11:16 (PP).
3rd Period-4, Albany, Whitney 11 (Zalewski, Butler), 10:46. 5, Albany, Zajac 2 (Sislo, McKelvie), 13:00.

Albany Devils 4 at Adirondack Phantoms 1 - Status: Final
Friday, January 25, 2013 - Glens Falls Civic Center

Albany 1 1 2 - 4
Adirondack 0 1 0 - 1

1st Period-1, Albany, Whitney 10 (Zalewski, Burlon), 12:36. Penalties-Slater Adk (closing hand on puck), 8:13; Sislo Alb (holding), 16:35.

2nd Period-2, Albany, Anderson 7 (Pesonen), 9:28. 3, Adirondack, Ford 3 (Brown, Syvret), 11:16 (PP). Penalties-Zajac Alb (slashing), 10:35; Whitney Alb (hooking), 15:31.

3rd Period-4, Albany, Whitney 11 (Zalewski, Butler), 10:46. 5, Albany, Zajac 2 (Sislo, McKelvie), 13:00. Penalties-Anderson Alb (roughing), 6:05; Manning Adk (roughing), 6:05; Zolnierczyk Adk (charging), 15:22.

Shots on Goal-Albany 3-9-18-30. Adirondack 12-9-6-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Albany 0 / 2; Adirondack 1 / 3.
Goalies-Albany, Kinkaid 13-8-4 (27 shots-26 saves). Adirondack, Boucher 1-2-0 (30 shots-26 saves).
A-4,633
Referees-Trevor Hanson (47).
Linesmen-Mike Emanatian (69), Frank Murphy (29).

by Kevin Zalaznik // 1.24.2013 // Preview

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

Storyline 
After going eight games without a victory at Glens Falls Civic Center, the Albany Devils have won their last two contests at the home of the Adirondack Phantoms. The Devils won 3-2 on Dec. 1 and 4-3 on Jan. 18.

Notables 
- Albany is fourth in Northeast Division and tied for 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 15-14-1-8 record, including an 8-6-1-3 road showing. Adirondack is fifth in the division and 14th in the conference with a 17-19-2-1 mark with a 8-9-0-1 at home.

- The Devils are coming off a 4-2 setback against the Springfield Falcons Wednesday. The setback halted a three-game point streak despite goals from Mike Sislo and Joe Whitney.

- In the five previous meetings against the Phantoms, Matt Anderson and Joe Whitney lead the team with five points each. Both players have registered three goals and two assist. Anderson is a plus-4 and Whitney is a plus-3.

- Adirondack lost 6-5 in overtime at the Connecticut Whale Wednesday. Jason Akeson, Rob Bordson, Marcel Noebels, Danny Syvret and Harry Zolnierczyk all had goals.

- Jason Akeson and Danny Syvret lead the Phantoms with 19 and 18 points, respectively. Akeson has posted six goals and 13 assists in 25 games, while Syvret has two goals and 16 helpers in 39 contests.

Last Meeting 
Jan. 20, 2013: Albany 2 vs. Adirondack 3 -- Shootout
Jay Leach scored late to send the game into overtime, but the Devils fell 3-2 in a shootout against the Phantoms at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. Trailing 2-1 with less than three minutes remaining, Leach tied the game at 17:39. After a scoreless OT period in which Albany owned a 6-1 shot advantage, the Phantoms won the shootout session 3-1 with goals from Jason Akeson, Tye McGinn and Danny Syvret. Matt Anderson scored for Albany.

All-time Series 
All-Time: 17-16-5-4
Home: 12-4-2-3
Away: 5-12-3-1
2012-13: 4-1-0-1

Puck Drop 
The Devils own a 4-2 advantage in the best-of-12 season series against the Phantoms for the Time Warner Cable Cup.