Friday, December 7, 2007

Devils Held Off By Wolf Pack, 3-1
Bergfors gets goal in return to line-up

HARTFORD, Conn. – The Lowell Devils could not solve goaltender Al Montoya but once in a 3-1 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday at the Hartford Civic Center.    

Looking for their first win against the Wolf Pack this season, the Devils’ struggled on offense as they failed to convert on four power play opportunities in the contest.  For most of the first two periods, the game was a duel between Lowell netminder Jordan Parise and Montoya.  It wasn’t until 15:38 of the second that Nicklas Bergfors broke the scoreless tie.  Playing in his first game since November 21, Bergfors stickhandled into the Hartford zone and fired a wrist shot from the far circle that Montoya inadvertently tipped into his own net.  The unassisted tally was Bergfors’ second of the season. 

While the Devils were able to get the first goal of the game, the Wolf Pack would snag two quick ones with under two minutes left in the second period and take a 2-1 lead into the intermission.  Hartford tied the score at 18:37 when Artem Anisimov streaked down the left side and found Hugh Jessiman alone in the slot for a bouncing backhand shot that snuck by Parise.  Soon after Jessiman’s marker, the Wolf Pack found themselves with a two-man advantage.  Nigel Dawes converted with a slapshot from the blueline that tickled the twine with just 7.1 seconds left in the frame. 

Unlike the last game in Hartford on November 24, the Devils would be unable to manage the game-tying goal in the third period as Montoya repeatedly denied them.  The goalie stoned Devils captain Stephen Gionta on a breakaway at 13:12 and helped preserve the Wolf Pack’s lead with 80 seconds left, diving across the crease to deny Barry Tallackson after a turnover left Hartford with an open net.  Mike Ouellette completed the scoring with an empty-net goal at 19:46. 

Parise takes the loss despite an impressive performance that saw him stop 28-of-30 shots.  

The Devils travel to Springfied to face Falcons on Saturday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. before heading to play the Providence Bruins on Wednesday, December 12 at 7:05 p.m.  On Friday, December 14, when the Devils face the Albany River Rats at 7:05pm, two lucky fans will leave with a Christmas tree courtesy of North Pole Xmas Trees of Nashua. The following night on Saturday, December 15, it’s Devils Dawg’s birthday as the Devils take on the Providence Bruins at 7:05pm.  Help Lowell’s mascot and his friends celebrate the big day, as the Devils will be giving away Devil Dawg bobbleheads to the first 2,500 fans courtesy of Pepsi.  Listen to all of the action live on 980AM-WCAP as Ryan Johnston brings you all of the play-by-play.  Ask about our Holiday Hat Trick; call the Devils office at (978) 458-PUCK for more information or visit www.lowelldevilshockey.com.