Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Sharks Pull Away from Devils, 5-3
Lowell at home on Saturday against Providence

LOWELL, Mass. – The Lowell Devils could not solve a Worcester Sharks’ power play on Tuesday night that went 2-for-4 and skated to a 5-3 victory at Tsongas Arena.

Mike Iggulden led the offense for Worcester with two goals and and assist in the contest, but it was Lukas Kaspar picking up the key goal just 29 seconds into third period that gave his team a 3-2 lead – their first of the game.  The Sharks forward beat the Devils’ backcheckers down the ice and accepted a backhand pass from Graham Mink, which Kaspar knocked by Frank Doyle. 

From there, the Devils were forced to play catch-up and instead fell behind by two goals when Derek Joslin released a wristshot that made it through traffic and into the net for a power play tally at 13:33. 

Skating with an extra attacker and the man-advantage, Ivan Khomutov got Lowell back within one with 1:45 remaining, but Iggulden sealed the win with an empty-netter.  The Devils finished the contest 1-for-5 on the power play.

With the score knotted 1-1 in the second period, Lowell took its second lead of the game at 9:26 of the middle period thanks to some relentless pressure by the team’s checking line.  Pierre-Luc LeBlond found Khomutov on the near circle for a low wrist shot that goalie Thomas Greiss saved with his leg pad.  The rebound came streaking back to Rosario Ruggeri who stepped in from the point to pound home the slapshot.

Worcester needed only 53 seconds to tie the score, 2-2, as Iggulden’s intended pass to front of the net clipped off of Doyle and fluttered across the goal line. 

The Devils caught a break and took a 1-0 lead at 4:29 of the first period when Benoit Mondou threw a centering pass from the far wall that caught a defenseman’s skate and rolled past Thomas into the net. 

Mike Morris helped Worcester to tie the score at one with his first pro goal, a deflection of Patrick Traverse’s point shot on the power play at 13:27 of opening frame.

The Devils will take on the Providence Bruins in a home-and-home series.  Lowell will visit the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Friday, December 21 before playing host on Saturday, December 22 at 7:05 p.m at Tsongas Arena.  One lucky fan will have a chance to win $25,000 during the game.   When the Sharks come back into town on Thursday, December 27 at 7:05 p.m., the Devils will be giving away a complimentary limousine ride and tickets to a Boston Bruins home game to one lucky fan.&! nbsp;  Listen to all of the action live on 980AM-WCAP as Ryan Johnston brings you all of the play-by-play.  Call the Devils office at (978) 458-PUCK for more information or visit www.lowelldevilshockey.com.

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