Devils Weekly #10
Lowell Takes Two of Three Over Homestand
Devils fall one goal short of perfect week, sit in third place in Atlantic

Last Week:
Wed., 12/2 – DEVILS vs. Adirondack Phantoms – W 5-3
Fri., 12/4 – DEVILS vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers – W 5-1
Sun., 12/6 - DEVILS vs. Manchester Monarchs – L 5-6

This Week:
Fri., 12/11 – Devils @ PROVIDENCE BRUINS, 7:05PM
Sat., 12/12 - Devils @ MANCHESTER MONARCHS, 7:00PM

The Lowell Devils were one goal short of going three-for-three this week and finishing their four-game homestand on the right note.  A week after recording just two goals during a three-game skid, the Devils erupted for 15 in three matches to go to 14-10-3-0 on the season and occupy third place in the Atlantic Division.  Lowell defeated Adirondack, 5-3, on Wednesday and Bridgeport, 5-1 on Friday.  A last-minute goal by Manchester dropped the Devils, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon.

The Devils will hit the road for a two-game set this weekend.  Lowell makes its second visit of the season to Providence on Friday and will play the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday for the first time at the Verizon Wireless Arena. 

Rewind:
Wednesday, DEVILS 5 vs. Phantoms 3
Brad Mills and the Devils’ penalty kill each scored their first two goals of the season as Lowell downed Adirondack, 5-3, at the Tsongas Arena.  Leading 1-0 after one on Mills’ shorthanded goal with 3:02 left in the frame, the Devils exploded for four goals in the second.  Mills, Nick Palmieri and Alexander Vasyunov all notched even-strength tallies in the period, while Patrick Davis potted the second shorthanded goal of the game.  Jeff Frazee stopped 31 shots for the win.

Friday, DEVILS 5 vs. Sound Tigers 1
Rookie right wing Nick Palmieri posted a professional career-best three points and Mike McKenna made 30 saves as the Devils skated to a 5-1 win over Bridgeport.  For the second straight game, Brad Mills gave Lowell the early lead with his third goal of the season.  Palmieri picked up the assist on Mills’ tally and added markers of his own in the second and third periods.  Lowell went 6-for-6 on the penalty kill and Cory Murphy notched his first multi-point game of the season with two assists. 

Saturday, DEVILS 5 vs. Monarchs 6
Lowell’s Tim Sestito matched his own team season high with four points, but it was not enough as Dwight King scored his first of the year with 18.1 seconds remaining to allow Manchester to eke out the 6-5 win.  Matt Halischuk compiled a goal and two assists in his first game with Lowell after being loaned by New Jersey earlier in the day.  Both teams converted three times on the power play with the Devils going 3-for-4.  Dave Meckler scored twice for Manchester and Corey Elkins chipped in three assists. 

Around the Horns
The Devils scored two shorthanded goals in a game for the first time in team history on Wednesday versus Adirondack…Lowell has never lost at home when leading after the first (8-0-0-0) or second periods (8-0-0-0)…The Devils scored a team-season high four goals in the second period against the Phantoms…Tyler Eckford tied the team record for plus/minus rating in a game, going +4 on Wednesday against Adirondack.  The accomplishment was previously reached by Mark Fraser (12/2/07 vs. MCH) and David Clarkson (1/12/07 vs. PHI)…Patrick Davis played in his 200th game as a Lowell Devil on Wednesday …G Jeff Frazee has won four of his five starts at home.   

Coming Up
The Devils take a trip to Providence for the first time since Oct. 16 for game four out of ten in the season series.  Lowell bested the Bruins on consecutive Saturdays on Nov. 7 and 14 at the Tsongas Arena to take a 2-1-0-0 lead in the season series.  Providence was perfect on its recently completed four-game road swing to move up into a tie for fifth place in the Atlantic.  All four games were decided by one goal with one going to overtime and two finalized into the shootout.   

Lowell makes its first trek to the Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday to face Manchester for game three of the ten-game season series.  The Monarchs evened up the head-to-head series with their 6-5 win on Sunday.  Manchester has won six of seven to maintain its hold on first place in the division.  They own the second best winning percentage at home (.821) with an 11-2-0-1 record.  The Monarchs also boast the second ranked defense in the AHL at 2.18 goals per game and have held opponents to two goals or less 19 times in 28 contests. 

Transactions
Dec. 2, 2009

  • C Tim Sestito returned on loan from New Jersey (NHL).

Dec. 3, 2009        

  • F Jeff Prough returned on loan to Trenton (ECHL).

Dec. 5, 2009

  • RW Matt Halischuk loaned from New Jersey (NHL). 
  • D Justin Coutu released from PTO. 

Upcoming Promotions/In the Community

  • Tuesday, December 8
    • Devil Dawg will make a lunchtime visit to the students at the Sargent School in North Andover, MA from 11:00AM – 1:00PM.
  • Wednesday, December 9
    • Devil Dawg will be attending the Holiday Party at Franciscan Hospital in Brighton, MA from 11:30AM – 1:00PM.
  • Thursday, December 10
    • Devil Dawg will be traveling to North Andover once again for a lunchtime visit with the students at the Franklin School, 11:15AM – 1:30PM.
  • Friday, December 11
    • Devil Dawg will be attending the Heroes’ Homecoming celebration at Hanscom Air Force Base at 1:00PM to honor returning airmen from overseas deployment.
  • Saturday, December 12
    • Devil Dawg will be greeting customers at RTN Credit Union in Tewksbury, MA from 10:00AM – 12:00PM.

  • Sunday, December 13
    • Devil Dawg will be saying hello to the attendees at the performance of the Christmas Carol at the Stoneham Theater at 3:00PM.

Leaders for Lowell

  • Goals: Tim Sestito (9)
  • Assists: Tyler Eckford (14)
  • Points: Matt Taormina (20)
  • PIM: Louis Robitaille (128)
  • Plus/Minus: Tyler Eckford (+11)
  • Wins: Mike McKenna (7)
  • G.A.A.: Mike McKenna (2.56)
  • Save %:  Mike McKenna (.918)

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