PROVIDENCE, RI – More than 10 months have passed since the Albany Devils last had a game decided in a shootout. The time off didn’t appear to affect their performance because Mike Sislo and Jim O’Brien both scored, helping the Devils (25-12-7-0) to a 4-3 victory against the Providence Bruins (20-15-8-2) Friday at Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Albany, which has at least one point in 13 of its last 17 outings, led three separate times during the contest, but each time – and within minutes – Providence responded. Rod Pelley, Brian O’Neill and Corey Tropp each scored and the Bruins’ counter insurgence came from Austin Czarnik, Alexander Khokhlachev and Seth Griffith.
Arguably, Providence’s best chance came at the end of regulation and during the opening minutes of overtime after Reece Scarlett was called for the game’s lone penalty with just 30.4 seconds on the clock. With the help of some key Yann Danis saves, the Devils were able to hold off the Bruins and send the game to the shootout.
Danis finished with 21 stops plus two in the shootout and at the other end Malcolm Subban, who returned from the NHL Thursday, also made 21 saves.
The game was back-and-forth the whole time. Pelley opened the scoring from Ben Johnson and Scarlett at 2:41, but Czarnik answered minutes later at 4:58.
After O’Brien and Tropp setup O’Neill at 14:28 of the second, Khokhlavhev tied the game 1:33 into the third period.
Tropp put Albany ahead again at 15:29 from O’Neill and Marc-Andre Gragnani. Then less than two minutes later Griffith scored to force overtime and extend Providence’s home point streak to 16 games.
• The Essentials
Shots: Albany 25, Providence 24
Power Play: Albany 0-0, Providence 0-1
Three Stars: 1. Mike Sislo (ALB), 2. Brian O’Neill (ALB), 3. Alexander Khokhlachev (PRO)
• Next Up
The Devils return to Times Union Center Saturday for a 5 pm start against the Hartford Wolf Pack. As part of “GE Kids in Free” all children 12-and-under will receive free admission.
