• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Other Leagues
AHL
Utica Comets

Albany Devils Ahead 2-0 On Utica Comets

By Michael Gwizdala April 24th, 2016

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Back in the late 1990s, the NHL ran an ad campaign called “Get Cup Crazy,” a play on the Prince song, “Let’s Go Crazy.” This weekend in Albany, fans were loud, be they from the Capital Region, Central New York, New Jersey or even the random dude wearing a Cornwall Aces sweater. Two Empire State rivals were going at it on the ice and the results were pretty similar. Partying like 1999? No. More like 1995. Crazy? You bet.

The first two contests of the First Round Calder Cup playoff series between the Utica Comets and Albany Devils mirrored much of their regular season bouts. Game 1 saw a close tilt. Game 2 was a runaway. Both with a familiar outcome, Albany winning.

As Comets head coach Travis Green lamented after Game 1, you can’t get away with playing 40 minutes against a team like Albany. In both games, it showed. The second period, in particular, proved perilous for Utica. During Game 1, the Comets didn’t register a shot on goal in the second. Game 2 saw Utica yield four goals in the second stanza. Although the Comets still have a good number of players from their 2014-15 Calder Cup finalist squad, perhaps the biggest missing piece is current Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom.

(Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Jacob Markstrom. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Conversely, the A-Devils used their ingredients successfully, including players new, those with playoff pedigree and an unsung hero. This wasn’t going to be a rerun of a long ago letdown against the aforementioned Aces. Albany forged chemistry with talent and under the supportive eyes of Ray Shero and John Hynes, it worked.

With that said, a series doesn’t truly start until the home team loses. The Devils will attempt to end the series and win their first road playoff game since the Lowell Devils defeated the Worcester Sharks in Game 1 of the First Round of the 2010 playoffs. It would also be the first postseason series victory for the AHL Devils since the Albany River Rats swept (4-0) the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Second Round of the 1998 playoffs.

Gentle Ben

Normally bruising Ben Thomson. Typically paired with the grinders, such as Rod Pelley, Chris McKelvie, and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Thomson had the right touch in both games. Thomson tipped home a goal in Game 1, tapped home a feed from Damon Severson in Game 2, getting Albany on the board in both contests.

Annnd it's all tied up #ALBvsUTI pic.twitter.com/rKTRBmODPo

— AHL (@TheAHL) April 23, 2016

O’Brien on Offense

As mentioned, a big part of the veteran presence with the Devils is center, Jim O’Brien. O’Brien won a Calder Cup with the 2010-11 Binghamton Senators and helped Albany’s surge on Saturday. O’Brien book ended the Devils scoring in the second with the eventual game-winning tally on the power play and the caper. O’Brien also recorded a helper and took home first-star honors. Albany will hope O’Brien is good to go in Game 3, after being checked into the far boards and going into the locker room, not returning for the rest of the game or said three-star honors.

đŸ”„Jim O'Brien now has 9G and 6A in 10 games vs Utica this season #UnitedInRed

— Albany Devils (@AlbanyDevils) April 23, 2016

Jersey Boys

Save for Damon Severson and Pavel Zacha, most of the returning reinforcements spent a solid amount of time in Albany this season. Through two contests, they’ve been clicking. Reid Boucher has two goals (one power play, one short-handed) and two helpers. Joseph Blandisi netted the eventual game-winning tally on a breakaway in Game 1. Zacha notched a helper in Game 1 and a power play marker in Game 2. Severson registered three assists in Game 2.

Great @AlbanyDevils photo on the cover of today's @SportsTU. Kudos, @cschultzphoto. pic.twitter.com/cIxutWKOVW

— Pete Iorizzo (@PeteIorizzo) April 23, 2016

Devils Special Teams

Special teams were a big part of Albany’s success in the regular season and they’ve carried into the postseason. In the regular year, Albany was third on the penalty kill and eighth on the power play. Through two contests, Albany is three for eight on the power play and has killed off all five of Utica’s opportunities with the extra attacker, including a four-minute double minor by Severson, for attempted spearing, in Game 2.

A PPG, a shorthanded goal, and another PPG for the @AlbanyDevils in this second period #ALBvsUTI pic.twitter.com/fr16ZbJJJc

— AHL (@TheAHL) April 23, 2016

 

  • Tags
  • Damon Severson
  • Jim O'Brien
  • Joseph Blandisi
  • Reid Boucher
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 18th 5:55 PM
Other Leagues

Ducks Will Benefit From Gulls’ Temporary Relocation to Irvine

Jan 18th 5:45 PM
Minnesota Wild

Wild Weekly: A Pair Of Comeback Wins Against The Kings

Jan 18th 5:10 PM
Column

Canucks News & Rumors: Edler, Hughes, Miller, Benn & Höglander

Jan 18th 4:35 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues Need Hoffman on Top Power Play Unit

Jan 18th 3:55 PM
Other Leagues

Windsor Spitfires’ 2010 Grubauer Trade Cemented OHL Dynasty

Jan 18th 3:45 PM
Archives

The Strangest Superstitions in NHL History

Jan 18th 3:35 PM
Florida Panthers

Newest Panthers Make Their Mark in the Season Opener

Jan 18th 3:25 PM
Montreal Canadiens

Prospects News & Rumors: Robertson, Caufield, Clarke & Harrison

Jan 18th 3:10 PM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers News & Rumors: Yamamoto, Kahun, Bear, Goalie News, More

Jan 18th 3:00 PM
Column

Flyers Who’s Hot & Who’s Not: Konecny, Hart, Voracek & More

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information