Saturday, December 1, 2007

Devils Succumb to Sound Tigers in Shootout, 4-3
Lowell and Manchester take the ice for Sunday matinee at Tsongas Arena

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Despite being outshot 57-24, the Lowell Devils were able to salvage a point on the road in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Tied at 2-2 as the two teams entered the third, Lowell took its first lead of the contest just 24 seconds in when Stephen Gionta floated a pass from the left wing boards that a driving Benoit Mondou knocked out of the air before tucking a backhander past the leg pad of Mike Morrison.

Sound Tigers winger Jeff Tambellini made sure that the contest would head to the extra session, receiving a pass from Frans Nielsen and beating Frank Doyle clean with a snapshot from below the hash marks at 6:04 of final frame.  After a scoreless overtime, Tambellini then lit the lamp in the fourth round of the shootout to secure the victory for Bridgeport. 

As has been the case in recent games, the Devils found themselves in penalty trouble in the opening frame.  Lowell was forced to kill off four power plays as the Bridgeport dominating the first twenty minutes of hockey, holding the edge in shots 20-7.

The Sound Tigers took a 1-0 lead on a man-advantage before the first break when Ben Walter’s stuff shot from the far post popped over Doyle’s shoulder and across the goal line.  Lowell would come back to tie the score 2:06 into the next period on Olli Malmivaara’s second goal in as many games.  With the Devils applying good pressure in the offensive zone, Malmivaara fluttered a shot from the point that pinballed toward the net and under the crossbar. 

Though the Sound Tigers regained a 2-1 edge at 8:36 of the second period on Joe Rullier’s goal, the Devils would knot the contest for a second time on a late power play tally by Noah Clarke.  It was his team-leading seventh goal on the man-advantage this season and the only conversion in five opportunities for Lowell.  .

Doyle suffered the loss despite making a team season-high 53 saves.  Patrick Davis registered the lone marker for Lowell during the shootout in which the Bridgeport notched three goals.

It’s Dollar Dawg night on Wednesday, Decmber 5 when the Lowell Devils face the Springfield Falcons at 7:05 p.m.  Listen to all of the action live on 980AM-WCAP as Ryan Johnston brings you all of the play-by-play. Tickets start at just $10; call the Devils office at (978) 458-PUCK for more information or visit www.lowelldevilshockey.com.

- devils -