Friday night in downtown Albany the Albany Devils faced  an opponent who was also desperate for points in the eastern conference, but for far different reasons.

The Bruins are battling for top spot in the conference and home ice throughout the upcoming Calder Cup playoffs. For Albany they are desperate for points just to get into the tournament. The Bruins are closer to their goal then the Devils are to theirs. Providence scores 3 goals in the 2nd period and defeats Albany 4-1.

Keith Kinkaid started in nets for Albany. He stopped more shots then his counterpart Niklas Svedberg. The Devils only managed a feeble 19 shots on goal. John Merrill scored his 1st career goal for the Devils but it was far too little and far too late. Merrill's tally broke up the shutout with 4 minutes left. Providence didn't get to the top of the east by blowing 4 goal leads in 4 minutes. In fact the Bruins pounced right at the start, scoring 17 seconds into the game on a goal by Justin Florek. It was the quickest goal against the Devils to start a game this year.

Compounding matters for the Devils they lost scoring threat Jacob Josefson before the game as he was recalled by the New Jersey Devils as they are also chasing a playoff spot in the NHL playoff chase.

The Devils did gain a player as they signed former NJ Devils draft pick defensemen Seth Helgeson to an amateur tryout agreement.

Although no games are at the win or you are out stage the Devils face the next step down of must win when they travel to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a Saturday night throw down

 

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