Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Devils Thwacked by Sharks, 6-1
Lowell hits the road for next three games

LOWELL, Mass - Down by one after the first period, the Lowell Devils watched the Worcester Sharks pull away over the final forty minutes to win by the final score of 6-1 on Wednesday night at the Tsongas Arena. Riley Armstrong led the Sharks' offense with three points (2g, 1a) including two markers in what was a three-goal middle frame for Worcester.

Holding a 2-1 edge after the opening period, the Sharks went up by two at 3:33 of the second when Brad Staubitz cut across the crease to deflect Patrick Traverse’s point shot over the shoulder of goalie Frank Doyle. 

Armstrong took over from there, getting his first of the evening at 11:17 of the same period as he pulled the puck off the near wall and beat Doyle with a wrist shot to the far corner to make the score 4-1 in favor of Worcester.  The Sharks then extended their lead to four, again at Armstrong’s hands, with 2:59 left until the intermission.   Devin Setoguchi completed the scoring with an end-to-end rush just 36 seconds into the third stanza.

Worcester was able to strike first, 2:30 after the opening face-off, when Mike Iggulden pulled wide down the right boards and snuck a quick shot inside the far post.  The Devils answered only 2:16 later thanks to a strong forecheck by Ivan Khomutov.  Playing dump-and-chase, Khomutov beat his defender to the puck down low, centered in front for Benoit Mondou who quickly fed a backhand pass to a wide-open Stephen Gionta.  Gionta hammered the puck past a fallen Dimitri Patzold for his 12th goal of the season.

T.J. Fox gave the Sharks back the lead for good at 15:49 of the first when he batted a deflected centering pass into the back of the Devils’ net. 

Lowell did not receive a power play opportunity in the contest and went 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. 

The Devils head to the road for two this weekend as part of a three-game stretch away from the Tsongas Arena.   Lowell will face the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. and the Springfield Falcons on Saturday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m.  Listen to all of the action live on 980AM-WCAP as Ryan Johnston brings you all of the play-by-play action.  Lowell returns home to battle the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday, February 16 at 2:05p.m. Tickets start at just $10; Call the Devils office at (978) 458-PUCK for more information or visit www.lowelldevilshockey.com.

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