Despite the NHL being locked out, the guys over at ESPN continue to update their weekly power rankings.
Last week, Scott Burnside ranked the Devils 5th in the first week of the rankings stating, “OK, in theory they should have been No. 2 in this list on principle, but losing Zach Parise is a significant blow.”
This week, Pierre LeBrun dropped the Devils 15 spots to 20th.
LeBrun writes, “Losing Parise is so much more than goals and assists. He was the heart of the team. Lou Lamoriello didn’t put a “C” on him for nothing. They’ll contend for a playoff spot once again but another Cup run is not in the offing.”
The Devils, of course, were the biggest drop in the rankings this week.
With the NHL locked out, Patrik Elias is enjoying himself in Spain watching Real Madrid vs. Barcelona. Here’s a picture of Elias and Martin Havlat courtesy of Elias’ agent, Allan Walsh:
Ilya Kovalchuk scored three times in SKA St. Petersburg’s 4-2 win over CSKA Moscow today.
Kovalchuk, who spend 17:36 on ice, registered five shots on goal with three going in for his first hat trick of the season.
In six games for SKA, Kovalchuk now has 10 points (four goals and six assists).
Another former Devil, Vladimir Zharkov, played 11:46 and was held shot-less.
The Albany Devils dropped their final preseason game with a 6-3 loss to the Binghamton Senators.
Devils lineup:
G: Frazee, Kinkaid
D: Burlon, Corrente, Gelinas, Hrabarenka, Larsson, Leach
F: Butler, DeSimone, Josefson, McKelvie, Parse, Sestito, Sislo, Tedenby, Whitney, Wiseman, Young, Zalewski
- Jeff Frazee played the first two periods and made 24 saves on 28 shots. Keith Kinkaid stepped in for the third period and turned away 14 shots on 15 tries.
- Bobby Butler, Mattias Tedenby and Mike Sislo were the Devils goal scorers.
- Brandon Burlon, Adam Larsson, Jacob Josefson, Steve Zalewski and Chad Wiseman each registered at least one assist.
- The Devils were 1-for-3 on the powerplay
Albany went 3-1 this preseason with two wins over Adirondack Phantoms and one against Connecticut Whale.
Another day at Albany Devils’ training camp began this morning with Group One on the ice for their morning skate. Group 2 plays tonight vs. Birmingham Senators.
Group 1
G: Clermont, Wedgewood
D: Baier, McPherson, Kelly, Urbom
F: Anderson, Carrier, Haczyk, Henrique, Hoeffel, Pesonen, D. Zajac
———————
It looks like Jacob Josefson, Adam Larsson, Mattias Tedenby and Bobby Butler will get to play tonight vs. the Senators (7pm).
Keith Kinkaid and Jeff Frazee will be the available goaltenders for tonight’s game.
Matteau with two assists in 6-2 rout
Devils prospect Stefan Matteau picked up two assists in Blainville-Boisbriand Armada’s 6-2 win over P.E.I. Rocket.
Matteau has now 3 goals and 4 assists in 6 games and is a +3.
Armada plays Gatineau Olympiques on Saturday.
Here’s a closer look how each Devil abroad has fared so far. Ilya Kovalchuk and Marek Zidlicky have been on fire lately with assists. Anton Volchenkov will soon make his KHL debut after signing this week.
|
Player
|
Team (League)
|
GP
|
G
|
A
|
P
|
PIM
|
+/-
|
|
Ilya Kovalchuk
|
SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
|
4
|
1
|
6
|
7
|
0
|
4
|
|
Marek Zidlicky
|
HC Kladno (Czech Extraliga)
|
7
|
0
|
5
|
5
|
14
|
6
|
|
Anton Volchenkov
|
Torpedo Nizhny (KHL)
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Vadimir Zharkov
|
CSKA Moscow (KHL)
|
4
|
1
|
6
|
7
|
0
|
4
|
Upcoming schedule:
Ilya Kovalchuk with SKA St. Petersburg play Lev Praha on Friday.
Vadimir Zharkov with CSKA Moscow play Ilya Kovalchuk with SKA St. Petersburg on Monday.
The Albany Devils remain unbeaten this preseason as they defeated the Adirondack Phantoms by the final score of 2-1 today.
Notes:
- Scott Wedgewood started in goal for Albany, with Kieth Kinkaid taking over at the midpoint of the second period.
- Adam Larsson, Alex Urbom, Adam Henrique and Jacob Josefson were in the lineup today for the first time.
- Both Albany goals were scored shorthanded.
- Albany outshot Adirondack 26-22.
- Albany went 0-for-8 on the powerplay.
Albany’s line combinations:
G: Wedgewood (starts), Kinkaid (back-up)
D: Gelinas-Larsson, Leach-Urbom, Kelly-McPherson
F: Pesonen-Henrique-Sislo, Wohlberg-Josefson-Parse, Hoeffel-Zalewski-Anderson, Young-D. Zajac-Berube
Devils 1-0
Phantoms 1-1
Devils 2-1
30 years ago today….
Devils’ first game in franchise history was 30 years ago today, a 3-3 tie against the Pittsburgh Penguins
After a day off yesterday, the Albany Devils were back on the ice this morning to kick off another day of training camp.
The first group, which includes Mattias Tedenby and Bobby Butler skated at 10am at the AmeriHealth Pavilion. The second group will host Adirondack Phantoms today at 1pm.
It looks like Adam Larsson, Adam Henrique and Jacob Josefson will be playing in the scrimmage today. Keith Kinkaid and Scott Wedgewood will be the available goaltenders.
