TORONTO — Brian Gibbons, Blake Coleman and Joe Blandisi each had multiple points in the Albany Devils 3-1 victory against the Toronto Marlies Saturday at Air Canada Centre. Albany won for the second straight game and improves to 14-11-0-1, while Toronto goes to 12-12-1-1 with its second consecutive loss.
Gibbons led all scorers with two goals and an assist, giving him six points (3g-3a) in the last five outings. Coleman’s goal and assist extended his point streak to five games (2g-4a) and Blandisi’s two helpers was his fourth and fifth points in the last four contests (1g-4a).
Netminder Ken Appleby registered his fifth victory of the season. He was near perfect making 34 saves on 35 shots, including denying Colin Smith on a penalty shot late in the game to keep the score at 3-1.
The Devils had taken control of the game from the start as Gibbons netted his fifth and sixth goals of the season during the first period. He connected with Coleman and Blake Pietila at 5:56 and with Blandisi and John Quenneville at 16:52 on the power play.
In the second, Coleman made it a 3-0 game from Blandisi and Gibbons at 4:28. The tally was his seventh of the season.
Toronto’s Andreas Johnsson ended Appleby’s shutout bid, scoring on a 3-on-2 at 16:18 of the middle frame.
The two teams face off again Sunday with a 3 pm outing at Ricoh Coliseum.
