Devils Win At All Levels

by Kevin Zalaznik // 2.5.2013 // Recap

HARTFORD, CT -- Chalk two wins up for the Devils organization.

The same night the New Jersey Devils defeated the New York Rangers, the Albany Devils knocked off the Connecticut Whale, 4-3, in a shootout Tuesday at XL Center. Matt Anderson posted a goal and two assists and scored in the penalty-shot session as Albany ended a 0-8 shootout draught.

Keith Kinkaid made 20 saves during regulation and in overtime and turned aside all four Connecticut shootout attempts for his 15th win of the season.

Phil DeSimone and Corbin McPherson also scored for Albany and Brandon Burlon posted a pair of assists. Chad Wiseman scored in the third round of the shootout and was followed by Anderson’s fourth round tally.

The Devils jumped out to a 2-0 advantage during the opening minutes. Anderson fired a shot off the crossbar and over the line 27 seconds into the contest. DeSimone followed with a wrister from the left circle at 5:17.

After a scoreless second period, McPherson increased the lead to 3-0 at 8:58 with his first career goal.

Seconds later, former Devil Nick Palmieri spoiled Kinkaid’s shutout bid, making the score 3-1 at 9:18. Connecticut pulled within one when Mike Vernace scored into an open net at 13:46. Kinkaid was tripped up playing the puck behind the net and couldn’t get back into the crease in time.

Connecticut’s Kelsey Tessier sent the game into overtime with a shorthanded goal at 16:39

Game Notes 
- Albany, which has played four fewer games, has pulled even with Connecticut in the Northeast Division and the Eastern Conference. The Devils improve to 18-16-1-8, while the Whale go to 20-21-4-2.

- The Devils, who went 1-for-8 on the power play, outshot the Whale 36-23.

- Matt Anderson’s goal 27 seconds into the game was the fastest goal to start a game for Albany this season.

- With a goal and two assists, Matt Anderson registered his fourth multiple-point game of the season. He is third among active Devils with 24 points, backed by eight goals and 16 assists.

- Phil DeSimone netted his fourth goal of the season and third since Jan. 13.

- Corbin McPherson’s first career goal came during his 49th career game.

- Brandon Burlon has his fourth two-assist performance. This year he has 12 assists and a plus-8 rating.

- Keith Kinkaid improved to 15-9-4. His 32 career wins ranks fourth all-time franchise history. He trails Mike McKenna, who posted 37 wins between 2009-11, for third place. Kinkaid is now 14-3-1-1 since Dec. 1.

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

Next Up 
The Devils remain on the road for a 7 pm contest at the Springfield Falcons Friday. Fans can follow the action on 104.5 “The Team” ESPN Radio or online at ahllive.com.

Albany Devils 4 (SO) at Connecticut Whale 3 - Status: Final SO
Tuesday, February 5, 2013 - XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Albany 2 0 1 0 - 4
Connecticut 0 0 3 0 - 3

1st Period-1, Albany, Anderson 8 (Burlon, Whitney), 0:27. 2, Albany, DeSimone 4 (Anderson, Burlon), 5:17 (PP). Penalties-Jean Ct (holding), 4:40; Yogan Ct (tripping), 8:49; Parse Alb (interference), 9:09; Pyett Ct (slashing), 13:24.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-DeSimone Alb (slashing), 14:02; Thomas Ct (hooking), 16:54; Segal Ct (double minor - high-sticking), 20:00.

3rd Period-3, Albany, McPherson 1 (Zalewski, Anderson), 8:58. 4, Connecticut, Newbury 16 (Pyett, Haley), 9:18. 5, Connecticut, Vernace 4 (Segal), 13:46. 6, Connecticut, Tessier 9 16:39 (SH). Penalties-Janssen Alb (fighting), 7:37; Carroll Ct (fighting), 7:37; Talbot Ct (delay of game), 10:16; Urbom Alb (fighting), 12:47; Wilson Ct (fighting), 12:47; Newbury Ct (cross-checking), 16:22.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Albany 2 (Sislo NG, Wiseman G, Anderson G), Connecticut 0 (Mashinter NG, Palmieri NG, Newbury NG, Segal NG).
Shots on Goal-Albany 14-7-13-1-1-36. Connecticut 4-6-12-1-0-23.
Power Play Opportunities-Albany 1 / 8; Connecticut 0 / 2.
Goalies-Albany, Kinkaid 15-9-4 (23 shots-20 saves). Connecticut, Missiaen 5-4-1 (9 shots-7 saves); Talbot 15-19-1 (26 shots-25 saves).
A-1,887
Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Ryan Murphy (5).
Linesmen-Glen Cooke (6), Kevin Redding (16).

by Kevin Zalaznik // 2.4.2013 // Preview

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

Storyline 
The Albany Devils and the Connecticut Whale are meeting for the fifth time and each teams has a pair of wins during the season series. Albany is on Connecticut’s heels in the standings, trailing the Whale by two points despite having played four fewer games.

Notables
- The Devils are fourth in the Northeast Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference at 17-16-1-8 (43 pts.), including a 9-8-1-3 road record. The Whale are third in the Northeast Division and tied for 11 in the Eastern Conference at 20-21-4-1 (45 pts.) with a 10-11-2-0 home mark.

- Mattias Tedenby leads all Devils scorers against Connecticut this year. In four games, the left-wingers has produced a goal and three assists. For the season, Tedenby ranks tied for fifth among active Devils with 17 points, backed by nine goals and eight assists.

- Goaltenders Jeff Frazee and Keith Kinkaid have both faced the Whale. Frazee is 0-0-1 with a 0.92 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage, while Kinkaid is 2-1-0 with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .892 save percentage.

- On Monday, the New York Rangers acquired Darrol Powe and Nick Palmieri from the Minnesota Wild in exchanged for Mike Rupp. A former AHL Devil, Palmieri logged 129 games for Lowell/Albany and registered 59 points with 33 goals and 26 assists.

- Kris Newbury leads the Whale with 38 points, including 15 goals and 23 assists, in 44 games. Against Albany, he has one goal in four outings.

Last Meeting 
Dec. 14, 2012: Albany 4 at Connecticut 3 
The Devils did not lead against the Whale Saturday at XL Center until the final 2:19. The team rallied from three deficits and Harri Pesonen netted the game-winning goal on a breakaway in the closing minutes to give the Devils a 4-3 win. Tim Sestito, Eric Gelinas and Bobby Butler all scored for Albany. Notably, Jacob Josefson, who sprung Pesonen for the winner, and Mattias Tedenby both had two assists.

All-Time Series
All-Time: 21-16-2-3
2012-13: 2-1-0-1
Home: 10-8-1-2
Away: 11-8-1-1

Puck Drop 
Tuesday is an organizational battle. Not only are Albany and Connecticut meeting, but the parent clubs, the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers, are battling at Prudential Center at 7 pm as well.