Big Crowd, Big Win

by Kevin Zalaznik // 1.26.2013 // Recap

ALBANY, NY – Not only did the Albany Devils secure the Time Warner Cable Cup with a 5-2 victory against the Adirondack Phantoms, but they did so in front of a record crowd of 10,218 Saturday at Times Union Center. Harri Pesonen led the charge as the Devils improved to 6-1-0-1 against their Northway Rival this year.

Entering the AHL All-Star break, Albany now owns a 17-14-1-8 record. Saturday’s crowd, which was the largest for an Albany AHL game since Feb. 27, 1999 (13,146), sends the Devils into a stretch of six straight road games, beginning Friday at Providence – the home of the All-Star Classic.

Pesonen’s performance was the first multi-goal showing of his career, giving him nine goals for the season. Steve Zalewski, Bobby Butler and Darcy Zajac also contributed tallies and Phil DeSimone, Eric Gelinas and Tim Sestito each posted a pair of helpers.

In goal, Keith Kinkaid improved to 14-8-4 by turning aside 26 saves for his second consecutive victory.

The Devils took control of the game with goals early and often. Zalewski opened the scoring by redirecting a Gelinas shot at 4:02 of the first. Pesonen extended the lead to 2-0 by using quick hands in front of the net at 10:55 and Butler netted the eventual game-winner off a rebound at 14:30.

The Phantoms (17-21-2-1) got on the board with a power-play goal by Marcel Noebels at 12:11 of the second, before Pesonen responded with Albany’s own man-up tally at 4:07 of the third.

Adirondack’s Danny Syvret made the score 4-2 with a power-play goal at 6:30, but Zajac – with the help of Sestito – concluded the scoring with an empty-net, shorthanded goal at 19:47

After a brief hiatus for the 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic, the Devils return to action Friday at the Providence Bruins at 7:05 pm. Fans can follow the action on 104.5 “The Team” ESPN Radio or online at ahllive.com.

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, Zalewski 7 (Gelinas, Whitney), 4:02. 2, Albany, Pesonen 8 (Burlon, DeSimone), 10:55. 3, Albany, Butler 16 (Sestito, Gelinas), 14:30.
2nd Period-4, Adirondack, Noebels 5 (Akeson, Syvret), 12:11 (PP).
3rd Period-5, Albany, Pesonen 9 (DeSimone), 4:07 (PP). 6, Adirondack, Syvret 3 (Laliberte, Manning), 6:30 (PP). 7, Albany, Zajac 5 (Sestito), 19:47 (SH EN).

Adirondack Phantoms 2 at Albany Devils 5 - Status: Final
Saturday, January 26, 2013 - Times Union Center

Adirondack 0 1 1 - 2
Albany 3 0 2 - 5

1st Period-1, Albany, Zalewski 7 (Gelinas, Whitney), 4:02. 2, Albany, Pesonen 8 (Burlon, DeSimone), 10:55. 3, Albany, Butler 16 (Sestito, Gelinas), 14:30. Penalties-Kelly Alb (roughing), 1:14; Manning Adk (interference), 5:35; Akeson Adk (closing hand on puck), 12:58; Zolnierczyk Adk (roughing), 13:43; Burlon Alb (roughing), 13:43; Whitney Alb (holding), 13:43.

2nd Period-4, Adirondack, Noebels 5 (Akeson, Syvret), 12:11 (PP). Penalties-Gelinas Alb (interference), 2:18; Ford Adk (interference), 4:16; Whitney Alb (high-sticking), 4:43; Leach Alb (interference), 11:49; Noebels Adk (tripping), 19:37.

3rd Period-5, Albany, Pesonen 9 (DeSimone), 4:07 (PP). 6, Adirondack, Syvret 3 (Laliberte, Manning), 6:30 (PP). 7, Albany, Zajac 5 (Sestito), 19:47 (SH EN). Penalties-Zolnierczyk Adk (unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:54; Burlon Alb (kneeing), 4:30; Urbom Alb (holding), 12:06; Laliberte Adk (tripping), 16:01; Leach Alb (tripping), 19:27.

Shots on Goal-Adirondack 6-10-12-28. Albany 9-5-5-19.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 2 / 8; Albany 1 / 6.
Goalies-Adirondack, Munroe 9-10-0 (18 shots-14 saves). Albany, Kinkaid 14-8-4 (28 shots-26 saves).
A-10,218
Referees-David Banfield (77), Ryan Fraser (14).
Linesmen-Derek Wahl (46), Frank Murphy (29).

by Kevin Zalaznik // 1.26.2013 // Preview

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

Storyline 
The term “cup clinching” doesn’t often get thrown around 40 games into the regular season, but a win today against the Adirondack Phantoms, would clinch the Time Warner Cable Cup for the Albany Devils. The cup is awarded to the regular-season winner of the best-of-12 series. After seven games, Albany owns a 5-1-0-1 record and a regulation win would seal the series win.

Notables 
- The Devils are fourth in the Northeast Division and tied for 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 16-14-1-8 record (41 pts.), including a 7-8-0-5 home mark. The Phantoms are fifth in the division and tied for 14th in the conference with a 17-20-2-1 showing (37 pts.) with a 9-10-2-0 road record.

- Steve Zalewski setup a pair of Joe Whitney goals during the Devils 4-1 win at Adirondack last night. Zalewski ranks third on the team with 21 points with six goals and a team-high tying 15 assists and Whitney, who leads the team with a plus-13 rating, is second with 23 points with 11 goals and 12 assists.

- Rookie Kelly Zajac has registered three points, including two goals and an assist, and a plus-2 rating during five games this season. He registered a goal and an assist against the Phantoms on Jan. 13 and a goal at Adirondack last night.

- Adirondack's Matthew Ford netted his third tally of the season last night against Albany. He is seventh among active Phantoms with 11 points, including eight assists.

- Against the Devils this season, Jason Akeson has posted a team-best six points with two goals and four assists in four games.

Last Meeting
Jan. 25, 2013: Albany 4 at Adirondack 1
Joe Whitney registered a pair of goal and the Albany Devils received additional scoring from Matt Anderson and Kelly Zajac in a 4-1 win against the Phantoms at Glens Falls Civic Center. Steve Zalewski contributed a pair of assists and Keith Kinkaid turned aside 26 shots, including stopping Harry Zolnierczyk during a third-period penalty shot.

All-time Series 
All-Time: 18-16-5-4
Home: 12-4-2-3
Away: 6-12-3-1
2012-13: 5-1-0-1

Puck Drop 
Time Warner Cable customers who present their bill at the box office 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.