PROVIDENCE, RI — Once again the Albany Devils have found a way to keep their winning streak alive. This time the magic came off Blake Coleman’s stick in overtime to lift the Devils to a 4-3 victory against the Providence Bruins Sunday at Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
With just over three minutes remaining in overtime, Head Coach Rick Kowalsky selected Coleman and Miles Wood, who was assigned to Albany from New Jersey Saturday, as his offensive pairing. Wood gained possession and the zone, but decided to pull back and reset in the neutral zone. After picking up speed, he worked the puck deep into the Bruins’ end and sent a shot along the ice. Coleman swung around the net and sent home the rebound at 1:53.
The win extends the Devils’ historical start to 5-0-0-0 as they remain the only undefeated team in the AHL.
In his first professional start, Mackenzie Blackwood made 42 saves, including 37 during the final two periods of regulation and in overtime.
Brian Gibbons, Joe Blandisi and Blake Pietila also scored for the Devils. Coleman added an assist for his first multipoint game of the season. Defenseman Karl Stollery posted a season-high two helpers.
Providence’s scoring came from Peter Cehlarik, Austin Czarnik and Tommy Cross. Netminder Malcolm Subban, who the Devils chased during the first game of the season, made 30 saves.
The Devils first-period scoring continued to trend against Providence. Gibbons found the back of the net at 7:28 for his first goal as a Devil. Cehlarik’s unassisted goal at 13:01 tied the score, but Blandisi responded 53 seconds later for his first tally of the season.
In the second, Czarnik made it a 2-2 game at 2:58. Blake Pietila recaptured the lead for Albany at 6:28 with his third goal of the year.
Cross forced overtime, scoring with just 7:42 remaining in regulation.
