ALBANY, NY — In just his third career AHL game since signing an Amateur Tryout Agreement on Thursday, Nick Lappin scored with 39.5 seconds remaining to give the Albany Devils a 3-2 victory against the Toronto Marlies Sunday at Times Union Center.
Lappin’s game-winning tally, which was his second goal in as many games, was setup by his former Brown University teammate Matt Lorito. The two connected on a play that saw Lorito slip a pass through a defender and Lappin snuck the puck between goaltender Alex Stalock’s skate and the right post.
Albany, which only trails Toronto in the Eastern Conference and North Division standings, improved to 37-15-8-0 with their fourth consecutive win and third of the three-in-three weekend. The Marlies, who have lost four of their last five, still own the best record in the AHL at 44-14-5-0.
Raman Hrabarenka led the Devils’ scoring efforts with his third career two-goal game. Lorito and Marc-Andre Gragnani also had multiple points, posting a pair of assists.
In his second game back from a shoulder injury, Scott Wedgewood registered his eighth win of the season. He turned aside 17 shots.
The Devils were in a hole early in the second period. Brendan Leipsic found a bouncing puck to the right of Wedgewood and scored into a gaping net one minute after the start of the period.
Hrabarenka provided the Devils response with a pair of power-play goals less than two minutes and 30 seconds apart. He sent in a rebound atop the crease off a Marc-Andre Gragnani shot at 14:17. He found a loose puck near the left faceoff dot at 16:44.
Toronto pulled even during the opening minutes of the third period when Eric Faille scored on a wraparound at3:33 that set the stage for the dramatic finish.
The Devils won the special teams battle scoring two power play goals and killing off all five Toronto man advantages. The team also owned a 24-19 shot advantage.
- The Essentials
Shots: Albany 24, Toronto 19
Power Play: Albany 2-5, Toronto 0-5
Three Stars: 1. Nick Lappin (ALB), 2. Raman Hrabarenka (ALB), 3. Eric Faille (TOR)
- Next Up
The Devils welcome the Providence Bruins to Times Union Center Wednesday at 7 pm.
