Devils Weekly #4
Lowell Splits Four-Game Week
Devils prepare for two-game road set this week

Last Week:
Tues., 10/20 – DEVILS vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers, W 4-0
Fri., 10/23 – Devils vs. SPRINGFIELD FALCONS, SOW 4-3
Sat., 10/24 – Devils vs. HARTFORD WOLF PACK, L 2-5
Sun., 10/25 – DEVILS vs. Springfield Falcons, L 2-4
 
This Week:
Fri., 10/30 – Devils vs. PORTLAND PIRATES, 7:00PM
Sat., 10/31 – Devils vs. SPRINGFIELD FALCONS, 3:00PM

The Lowell Devils had won three in a row by the end of the work week, thanks to a 4-0 shutout of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Tuesday and a 4-3 shootout victory on Friday over the Springfield Falcons.  Lowell was unable to carry that success through the rest of the weekend as they fell to the Hartford Wolf Pack, 5-2, on Saturday and on Sunday to the Falcons, 4-2. 

The Devils have only two road games on the schedule this week with a Friday meeting against the Portland Pirates and a Saturday matinee versus Springfield.    

Rewind:

Tuesday, DEVILS 4 vs. Sound Tigers 0
Mike McKenna was perfect in his second straight home start, making 40 saves to help blank the Sound Tigers.  Rob Davison and Patrick Davis each scored their first goal of the season, while Ben Walter led the offense with a tally and an assist.  The Devils were a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill as McKenna gathered his second win of the season. Brad Snetsinger also scored in the contest. 

Friday, Devils 4 vs. FALCONS 3 (SO)
Vladimir Zharkov’s goal in the seventh round of the shootout completed the Devils’ come-from-behind victory over the Falcons.  Trailing 2-1 heading into the third period, Tyler Eckford and Alexander Vasyunov each beat Devan Dubnyk in the span of 39 seconds to give Lowell its first lead of the contest.  Chris Minard tied things up with a power play goal later in the frame to send the game past regulation time.  Mike McKenna stopped 19 shots through overtime and 5-of-7 in the shootout. 

Saturday, Devils 2 vs. WOLF PACK 5
P.A. Parenteau notched a goal and two assists and the Wolf Pack had a perfect 3-for-3 night on the man-advantage to take the decision against the Devils.  Vladimir Zharkov’s two goals in the second were not enough to counter the three power play goals posted by Hartford in the period.  Jeff Frazee took the loss in his first start of the season, making 22 saves on 26 shots. 

Sunday, DEVILS 2 vs. Falcons 4
Chris Minard registered a hat trick against his former team to lead the Falcons to the win and a split  of the weekend home-and-home series with the Devils.  Minard lit the lamp twice in the first before Brad Snetsinger and Stephen Gionta scored 1:01 apart at the beginning of the second period to tie the game.  Springfield would answer back on a power play goal later by Liam Reddox that proved to be the game-winner. Minard wrapped up his three-goal game with an empty-netter.

Home Cookin’ for McKenna
Mike McKenna’s home shutout streak came to an end on Sunday when Chris Minard scored 7:39 into the first period.  With the help of shutouts against Portland on Oct. 11 and Bridgeport on Oct. 20, McKenna’s 127:39 set the team’s home shutout streak record previously held by Jeff Frazee (113:33).  McKenna’s shutout streak at the Tsongas Arena actually goes back to Apr. 4, 2008, when, as a member of the Portland Pirates, he blanked the Devils in his first and only appearance at the Tsongas prior to this season. 

Around the Horns
Lowell is a perfect 3-0-0-0 when scoring the first goal…The Devils lead the league, scoring 3.56 goals per game… Matt Taormina’s 10 points leads Lowell and ties him for number one among AHL rookies.  He is also tied for second in scoring among league defensemen…Vladimir Zharkov notched his third multi-point game of the season with two goals on Saturday at Hartford.

Coming Up
The Devils will battle the Pirates for the second time this season, while making their first trip of the year to Portland.  Lowell came out on top in their first match, a 4-0 shutout on Oct. 11 in which Mike McKenna made 38 saves.  The Pirates dropped four decisions during their recent five-game road trip.  Friday’s game is the first home match for Portland since Oct. 16.

The Devils will face the Falcons for the third time in nine days when Lowell visits the MassMutual Center on Saturday afternoon. The two teams split the first two of the eight-game season series.  Former Devil Chris Minard has posted four goals in two games this season versus Lowell. Sunday’s win over the Devils was the Falcons’ first on the road this season.  Minard (7g-5a-12pts) is tied for third in scoring

Upcoming Promotions/In the Community

  • Thursday, October 29
    • Devil Dawg and the Lowell Devils Ice Crew will be visiting the residents of the Wingate Nursing Home in Lowell from 6:00PM – 8:00PM.
  • Friday, October 30
    • Devil Dawg will be joining in on the Halloween Celebration from 5:30PM to 7:00PM at the Tenney Grammar School in Methuen, MA.
  • Saturday, November 7 vs. Providence Bruins
    • The Devils start up their Annual Food Drive to help benefit the Merrimack Valley Food Bank.  Bring your non-perishable food items and receive a free ticket voucher to a future Devils game.  The food drive runs through Saturday, November 14.
Leaders for Lowell
  • Goals: Tim Sestito (6)
  • Assists: Matt Taormina (6)
  • Points: Matt Taormina (10)
  • PIM: Louis Robitaille (40)
  • Plus/Minus: Rob Davison (+7)
  • Wins: Mike McKenna (3)
  • G.A.A.: Mike McKenna (1.98)
  • Save %: Mike McKenna (.938)
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