ALBANY, NY – After tying the game late, the Springfield Falcons (20-26-3-4) prevail, 4-3, in overtime to defeat the Albany Devils (32-13-8-0) Friday at MassMutual Center. Eric Selleck scored at 2:25 of the extra frame to end the Devils six-game winning streak.
Box Score
In his first appearance since posting his first career shutout and win on Feb. 13, Ken Appleby made 35 saves. Three of the goals against came on clean breakaways and the other was on a power play.
Offensively, Matt Lorito, Brian O’Neill and Reece Scarlett each scored. Lorito extended his point streak to five games (2g-4a). O’Neill posted his third point (2g-1a) in his last four outings and Scarlett notched his fourth point (2g-2a) in the last five contests.
Mike Sislo saw his franchise-record and AHL-best eight-game goal streak come to an end, but he did register an assist to extend his point streak to nine games. A point at Bridgeport Sunday would tie him with Michael Swift as the only player in franchise history to have a 10-game point streak. Swift accomplished the feat between Dec. 11 and Jan. 7 during the 2010-11 season.
For Bridgeport, Ross Mauermann, Dustin Jeffrey and Henrik Samuelsson each scored during regulation. Marek Langhamer earned his fifth win with a 25-save performance.
Albany led for most of the game and Lorito got things rolling when he stole the puck in the high slot of the Falcons’ zone and then picked the upper-right corner at 15:19 of the first period.
In the second, Dakota Mermis sprung Mauerman for a breakaway at 6:44. The Devils responded with back-to-back goals by O’Neill at 9:32 on the power play and by Scarlett at 11:32. Both players took slap shots from the top of the right circle, beating Langhamer through the legs.
Before the end of the period, Jeffrey capitalized all alone off a Devils’ turnover at 16:36.
Then Samualesson sent the game into overtime with a power-play tally at the 12:19 mark of the third period.
Thanks to a carry-over penalty from regulation, the teams began OT playing four-on-four. The lack of a whistle kept it that way until Selleck beat Appleby five-hole to end Springfield’s three-game skid.
• The Essentials
Shots: Albany 28, Springfield 39
Power Play: Albany 1-3, Springfield 1-3
Three Stars: 1. Eric Selleck (SPR), 2. Dustin Jeffrey (SPR), 3. Matt Lorito (ALB)
• Next Up
Albany’s road trip continues with a 5 pm contest against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at Webster Bank Arena. Fans can follow the action online at ahllive.com or on the radio at 104.5 “The Team” ESPN Radio.
