2013-14 Albany Devils and ECHL Thread

[vadvlfan]

Cool! Give us your thoughts on Merrill, Gelinas, Boucher and Matteau

Boucher is a lil small, and defensively looked not very good in neutral zone, (he was caught 2-3 times getting blown by) but very quick leathal shot, matteau was almost unnoticeable, looked kind of ordinary amongst other big men, both Gelinas/Merril looked  good especially in "O" zone.  Both move puck well out of the D zone. (prev Albany teams struggled w/ this) Merrill in 3rd was paired w/ Kelly. Gel w/ Burlon (Burlon has serious wheels btw) Helgeson is a big boy.  

Kowalski was comfy rolling 4 lines. We have a great forecheck. And something else that was new they seemed to have a winger curl back to cover D-man trying to make his 1st pass out of our zone and used this winger, really helped us move the puck up the ice. Matteau & Bouch look OK,  but kinda like boys getting used to playing w/ men. Gotta remember how young they are. 

This team looks good. Wouldn't be shocked to see Whitney called up. (plays w/ a lil chip on his shoulder) Look forward to this evenings tilt.

[vadvlfan]

Went to great Albany win last night. Matteau was very good! (even played point on pp once) timmins was rocked by a check last, (they brought out the gurney but he left on his feet) Timmins is their go to faceoff guy. reid boucher looked very good as well.  Played w/ more passion and has a very quick release. I didn't realize it but I think norfolk Admirals has Joe Whitney's  brother? even smaller than Joe!  Merril/ gelinas looked excellent . Wedgewood is going ot be awesome. He was funny in SO. Just before the opposing player starts skating at him, he is hugging the post one side or the other, and jumps out after they approach. 4 skaters no goals.  matteau had a great so goal, as did whitney. Gibson was great again tonight. A couple fights.  we outshot them again and this team looks good from stem to stern. Seth Helgeson moves people around,.  Merrill did an excellent 'spin a rama" around an attacking fw last night. Funny last night Joe Whitney slammed Yonkman in the corner boards last twice on one shift (yonkman 6-6 260) When the whistle blew whitney stayed right in his face. Like gionta/Chara. Sorry this is all over the board, but we've got a lot to be excited about.

[vadvlfan]

To edit the above a lil, Wedge was facing the stands completely when  shooter started. Wedge very composed and fires the puck very well except once (he tried to go up the middle onto an admirals stick.) 

[Derlique]

Good stuff Vadvlfan. Thanks for the update

[Triumph]

Thanks for the writeup, vadvlfn, always like your Norfolk reports.  

 

Albany outshooting opponents 136-119.  Gelinas with 4 shots a game over the first 5.  Timmins might be a nice 50 point AHL player, something which I always think NJ could use more of.

[thefiestygoat]

Thanks for the insight vadvlfan! Always nice to get a viewpoint from someone at the game instead of a short youtube clip!

I'm intrigued a bit by Timmins. It seems like he's getting a great opportunity to show what he can do in all situations with Albany this year. He mentioned recently in this article, that San Antonio used him more as a 3rd/4th liner and on the PK, so he's enjoying getting the chance to show what he can do offensively now.

[vadvlfan]

Thanks for the insight vadvlfan! Always nice to get a viewpoint from someone at the game instead of a short youtube clip!

I'm intrigued a bit by Timmins. It seems like he's getting a great opportunity to show what he can do in all situations with Albany this year. He mentioned recently in this article, that San Antonio used him more as a 3rd/4th liner and on the PK, so he's enjoying getting the chance to show what he can do offensively now.

Timmin's is valuable in Kowalski's tool kit.  I'm more impressed with their overall team play. They seem to be comfy playing to win a 1-0 game. Play w/ confidence. 1st line PP is really very good. Merril is/was all over cause he's a very good skater. I have nothing else to compare them too but, quick crisp passing.  McElvie was on 4th line but also versatile and plays w/ a lil chip on his shoulder. Norfolk has 3-4 "intimidating " types (Yonkman, Stortini, Kurtz, Exelby) we didn't back down.  They weren't about to take stupid penalties.

[Marshall]

Thanks for the reports, always good to get something more than just the boxscore and highlights where all prospects look like first liners.

[Devilsfan118]

Glad to see Albany finally having some success as well.

[thefiestygoat]

Albany defeated Utica 4-1 as they continued their hot start of 4-1-0-1. Scoring for the Devils was Whitney (Kelly, Timmins), Merrill (PP, Whitney, Boucher), McKelvie (K. Zajac), and Whitney (EN, Boucher, Helgeson). Kinkaid stopped 22 of 23 shots, only allowing a PPG. Whitney was 1st star with his 2 goal, 1 assist, +3, 3 shot effort. Merrill was 2nd star with his PPG, E, and team high 4 shot effort. Albany went 1/8 on the PP and 4/5 on the PK. Shots were even at 23 a side. Here is the gamesheet. I don't know if highlights will be made available for this one.

Kinkaid is 2-1-0-1 with a 1.97 GAA and .912 SV% facing an average of 22.75 shots a game. Wedgewood is 2-0-1-0 with a 0.96 GAA and .961 SV% facing an average of 25.5 shots a game. Fun with small sample sizes.

 

Some hot starts:
Joe Whitney: 6 GP 5-4-9, +6, 6 PIM, 16 Shots
Scott Timmins: 6 GP 3-5-8, +5, 4 PIM, 15 Shots
Jon Merrill: 6 GP 1-4-5, +2, 0 PIM, 9 Shots
Reid Boucher: 6 GP 1-4-5, +3, 0 PIM, 14 Shots

[Steadevils]

Glad to see that the poaching of Gelinas by that annoying team in NJ didn't hurt Albany's hot start. GO A-DEVS! 

[DJ Eco]

A-Devs are looking great this year, scoring a lot of goals (for Devils standards)... Future looks bright, as far as the kids are concerned. Merrill and Gelinas seem to be the real deal..

[Devilsfan118]

Glad to see that the poaching of Gelinas by that annoying team in NJ didn't hurt Albany's hot start. GO A-DEVS! 

 

Now now, remember where Albany falls on the food chain 

[Triumph]

A-Devs are getting some shooting luck, but I bet that defense is pretty good.  If the goaltending can be good, the A-Devs can make the AHL playoffs even with that weak offense.

[thefiestygoat]

AHL

Albany injury update from Pete Dougherty of the Times Union:

 

Albany Devils coach Rick Kowalsky after practice today forward Darcy Zajac, who missed Wednesday night’s 4-1 victory in Utica, will miss “significant time” with an upper-body injury.

 

Mike Sislo, who also missed last night’s game becuase of an upper-body injury, is “day to day,” according to Kowalsky.

 

Kelly Zajac, a former Union player and Darcy’s younger brother, played for the first time Wednesday, picking up an assist and finishing the night plus-1.

 

ECHL

Elmira lost to Wheeling 3-2 back on 10/18. Elmira outshot Wheeling 42-18. Here is the gamesheet. Devils prospects in that game:
Raman Hrabarenka: +1, 3 Shots
Riley Boychuk: +1, 3 Shots
Harry Young: -2, 1 Shot
Maxime Clermont: 15 Saves on 18 Shots

[maxpower]

Whipping up on Hartford so far tonight.  4-1 after 2.  Hoffel, Matteau, Merrill (PP), Timmins with the goals.

[maxpower]

Held on to win 4-3.   Garbage time PP goal for Hartford very late in the 3rd on a 6 on 4.   Wedgewood stopped 23 of 26.

[devils102]

Weirdest statistic for Albany this year may be Cam Janssen 7GP only 4 PIM which means NO fighting majors. Maybe he's trying to become a more rounded player.

[thefiestygoat]

Awesome to see Albany extend their winning streak to 3 games and point streak to 6 games. Bill Cain of The Daily Gazette had a pre-game article with injury updates and a lot of quotes from the coach and players. Highlights:

 

ECHL
Elmira lost to Reading 3-1 despite outshooting them 34-19. Devils prospects:
Raman Hrabarenka: E, 1 Shot, 2 PIM (Interference)
Riley Boychuk: E, 1 Shot, 7 PIM (Charging Major, Roughing)
Harry Young: E, 2 PIM (Cross-Checking)
Maxime Clermont: 16 Saves on 19 Shots

[Daniel]

Weirdest statistic for Albany this year may be Cam Janssen 7GP only 4 PIM which means NO fighting majors. Maybe he's trying to become a more rounded player.

I believe there's a fight limit in the AHL.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[NJDevs26]

Weirdest statistic for Albany this year may be Cam Janssen 7GP only 4 PIM which means NO fighting majors. Maybe he's trying to become a more rounded player.

 

If that's the case it ain't working, since Janssen's the only skater (forward or defense) that doesn't have a point yet.

[Triumph]

I believe there's a fight limit in the AHL.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

There is no fight limit.  Janssen did seem shot as a fighter the last few fights I saw him in, though.  He's almost always the smaller guy, that has to take its toll eventually.

[thefiestygoat]

AHL
Albany lost to Portland 5-2, however the last 2 Portland goals were on an empty net. Scoring for the Devils was Timmins (McKelvie, Janssen) and Boucher (Kelly, Merrill). Wedgewood stopped 20 of 23 shots. The Devils outshot Portland 36-25 with Boucher leading the way with a game high 7 shots followed by Whitney and Timmins with 4 each. Albany was 0/6 on the PP. Here is the gamesheet. Below are the highlights with a glass shattering hit by Helgeson about a minute in:

Timmins has at least a point in all 8 games, scoring 5 goals to go along with 5 assists. Boucher has a 3 game point streak with a goal and 3 assists. Merrill has a 3 game point streak with 2 goals and an assist.

ECHL
Elmira defeated Reading 3-1 despite being outshot 47-25. Here is the gamesheet. Devils prospects:
Raman Hrabarenka: E
Riley Boychuk: DNP (Think he had an automatic 1 game suspension)
Harry Young: E
Maxime Clermont: Called up to Albany with Kinkaid in NJ Edited October 27, 2013 by thefiestygoat

[thefiestygoat]

Albany lost to Syracuse 4-1, dropping their 2nd game in a row. Scoring for the Devils was Boucher (Timmins, Whitney). Timmins now has a 9 game point streak with 5 goals and 6 assists, the longest currently in the AHL. Wedgewood stopped 15 of 19 shots, however 2 of the goals came on a Syracuse PP, one of which was a 5 on 3. Overall, Albany outshot Syracuse 25 to 19, went 2/4 on the PK, and 0/6 on the PP. Boucher, 3rd star, and Whitney each had a game high 5 shots. In the first 9 games they are each averaging 3.2 and 3 shots per game respectively. Here is the gamesheet. I'll edit in the highlights later.

Lines and Pairs via Bill Cain:
Matteau-Pelley-Pesonen
Hoeffel-Wohlberg-Sestito
Boucher-Timmins-Whitney
McKelvie-K.Zajac-Janssen

Merrill-McPherson
Kelly-Burlon
Helgeson-Scarlett

[thefiestygoat]

AHL

Albany lost to Norfolk 3-0, dropping their 3rd game in a row. Albany outshot Norfolk 34-21 but was 0/5 on the PP. Wedgewood stopped 9 of 12 shots in 28:17 before being pulled for Clermont who stopped all 9 shots he faced in 31:43. Timmins saw his 9 game point streak come to an end. Boucher had a game high 5 shots followed by Timmins and the returning Sislo who had 4 each. Here is the gamesheet. Below are the highlights:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaKhABkN2S8

Wedgewood's rough start: 6 GP 3-3-1-0, 2.71 GAA, .885 SV%

 

ECHL

Elmira defeated Greenville 3-0. Here is the gamesheet. Devils prospects:
Raman Hrabarenka: Assist, +1, 3 Shots, 2 PIM (Roughing)
Riley Boychuk: DNP
Harry Young: E, 1 Shot