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November 4, 2015Devils Trick Comets, Treat Home Crowd
With a few tricks up their sleeves, the Albany Devils treated the home crowd to a 6-1` victory over the Utica Comets on Halloween at Times Union Center Saturday.
In net for Albany, Yann Danis needed 20 saves on 21 shots to earn his fourth victory of the season. He has been in net for all of the Devils wins so far this season.
The win improves the Devils record to 4-3-1-0 on the season, while the Comets fell to 3-4-0-0 with the loss. The Devils have now won three of their first four games on home ice.
Joseph Blandisi led the way for the Devils with four assists. Mike Sislo also had three points with two goals and an assist while Matt Lorito scored a goal and added two helpers.
Seconds before the first period break, Albany opened the scoring. Ben Thompson scored his first goal of the season at 19:12 on a wrist shot that beat Clay Witt on the short side. Blandisi and Lorito assisted on the goal to give the Devils a 1-0 edge.
Early in the second, Albany doubled the lead when Sislo’s wrister from the slot hit the top corner to give Albany a 2-0 lead at 2:42. Blandisi forced a turnover in the offensive zone that lead to Sislo’s first of the night.
Just a few minutes later, the Devils converted on the power play when Lorito blasted a one timer past Witt on a 5-on-3. Marc-Andre Gragnani and Sislo assisted on the goal at 7:12.
The Comets converted on their first power play, a 4-on-3, later in the second. Taylor Fedun’s shot beat Danis to cut the Albany lead to 3-1 after two periods.
That score held until the middle of the third period, but then the Devils broke the game wide open. Ryan Kujawinski scored his first professional goal on a rebound at 11:52 with help from Thomson and Rod Pelley.
Less than two minutes later, Sislo scored again on a backhand shot at 13:38 to record his fifth goal of the year.
Albany capped the scoring at 17:45 as Blake Coleman beat Witt with a nifty move on a breakaway for his first career goal.. The assists came from Blandisi and Vojtech Mozik.
THREE IMPRESSIONS
The Albany Devils rushed out to a 3-0 lead and kept the pressure up all night, beating the Utica Comets 6-1 Halloween evening at Times Union Center. The Devils came out with a burst of energy in the first period after a frustrating loss the night before.
Rebound Win
The first period saw Albany control flow and get a number of good chances. They had an early goal nullified by goaltender interference and Corey Tropp hit the post just moments later. Ben Thomson finally broke through with a goal from Joseph Blandisi with just 47.4 seconds left in the first. The Devils started the second with the same energy and never let up.
“We were simpler with the puck even on some of the goals it was a dump and chase, push the pace type deal,” said Head Coach Rick Kowalsky. “Overall, our energy, our compete level was better tonight. Good response after last night.”
Blandisi Stars
Joseph Blandisi showed off his playmaking skills with a four-assist performance. He set up the first goal of the game late in the first. Early in the second he stripped the puck and sent a pass to Sislo who scored what would be the game- winning goal. Blandisi earned praise from his coach for playing a complete game.
“It wasn’t just because of the points, he forces a turnover, he back checks and strips the guy of it in transition and it goes the other way” Kowalsky said.
First Goals
Three Devils picked up their first career goal as Ben Thomson, Ryan Kujawinski and Blake Coleman each scored for the first time this season. For Coleman and Kujawinski the night marked their first career pro goal as well.
“It’s always a relief to get the first one,” Coleman said. “It’s nice to get the monkey off my back.”
Up next, the Devils will host the Toronto Marlies on Sunday, November 1 at 3 pm at Times Union Center. Fans are encouraged to stay after the game for a postgame autograph session and postgame skate.
