The Albany Devils had a tough week considering they are fighting to make the postseason. They lost all three games played and have won just one of their last six. This recap will include notes and stats from the last two weeks since there was no update last week. All notes are updated with games played through Tuesday night.
Albany Notes:
- On March 28th, the Albany Devils had a 1-0 lead heading into the third period, but ended up falling 4-1 to the Hershey Bears. Stefan Matteau had the lone Albany goal and Wedgewood made 22 saves on 26 shots.
- On the 29th the Devils got one point when they lost 4-3 in the shootout to the Worcester Sharks. Keith Kinkaid got the start for just the second time since March 15 and made 28 saves and four more in the in the shootout. Three Devils had points in the game - Mattais Tedenby had one goal and two assists while Kelly Zajac and Matteau each had a goal and an assist. You can watch the full highlights from that game here:
- In their third game of the weekend the Devils earned a 3-2 shootout win over the Binghamton Senators. Wedgewood was in net and made 23 saves while David Wohlberg and Reid Boucher had the regulation goals. Rod Pelley scored the only shootout goal. Pelley doesn't usually shoot in the shootout (this was his first attempt this season), but coach Rick Kowalsky said,
"He has scored in practice," said Head Coach Rick Kowalsky. "He has consistently had some success in practice and that was the decision there. We try to use that a little bit as a gauge, but I think these things, they can go either way."
Here are the full highlights from the win:
- On April 4, the Devils fell 2-1 to the Syracuse Crunch. Wedgewood was in net again and made 23 saves while Pesonen scored the only Albany goal.
- The following night was an exciting game followed with a let down. The Devils fell to the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins 1-0 in a thrilling overtime game. Kinkaid made 17 saves while the Devils mustered up 25 shots.
- Finally, the Devils lost their last game against the Adirondack Phantoms 4-3. Pelley, Reese Scarlett and Scott Timmins scored. Scott Wedgewood started the game in net but came out of the game after a collision during the first period. Keith Kinkaid came in and made 23 saves on 25 shots.
- Both Adam Larsson and Mike Sislo were recalled to the New Jersey Devils last week. Larsson has been a healthy scratch for all but one game of his recall.
- Chris McKelvie was injured last week. He is out with a lower-body injury for now.
- Four players were signed to Amateur Try-Out Agreements with Albany within the last week. The list includes Ben Johnson, Graham Black, Curtis Gedig, and Joe Faust.
- The Albany Devils are still in the hunt for the playoffs. With 83 points in 71 games, they currently sit in seventh in the Eastern Conference - just two points ahead of ninth seed Norfolk Admirals.
- Dan Kelly was named the Albany Devils' winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award. This honor is given to the player with outstanding contributions to the Albany community. One of his biggest contributions was donating season tickets to allow military personnel to attend games. He is now one of 30 finalists for the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award to be announced later this month.
- Here is an interesting article about the rookie's success in Albany this season by Bill Cain of the Daily Gazette. It's definitely worth a read. It covers everything from Reid Boucher's talent translating to the AHL level to Seth Helgeson playing every game this season (so far) plus much more.
Other Notes:
- Graham Black's season and career with the Swift Current Broncos came to an end last week. They fell in the WHL playoffs to the Medicine Hat Tigers in six games. Black had two goals and two assists in the six games. As noted above, Black has signed an ATO with Albany.
- Myles Bell was injured during the playoffs last week. He hasn't played in the Kelowna Rockets last two games, but they are up three games to none on Seattle. He is considered week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
- While Bell is out, Severson is thriving in the playoffs for the Rockets. He has 11 points in eight games (3g, 8a).
- Here is the current WHL Playoff bracket. The only prospects still in the hunt are Severson and Bell with the Kelowna Rockets:
- With Ben Johnson signing an ATO with the Devils, his season with the Windsor Spitfires came to an end. He finished the playoffs with four goals and two assists in four games, so he was solid, though his team was swept.
- Ryan Kujawinski and the Kingston Frontenacs were eliminated from the playoffs in seven games. He had one goal and one assist in the seven games played.
- The only Devils' prospect left in the OHL playoffs is Ben Thomson with the North Bay Battalion. They are up two games to one on the Barrie Colts in the second round. Here is the full bracket:
- Derek Rodwell and the University of North Dakota are heading to the Frozen Four, which begins tonight. They face Minnesota in the semi-final at the Wells Fargo Center at 7:30 pm. The Championship Game is on Saturday.
- Steve Santini and Boston College are also heading to the Frozen Four. Their first game is against Union at 5:00 pm in Philadelphia.