The Albany Devils got some timely scoring combined with some smothering defense and jumped out to an early series lead with a 3-2 win over the visiting Utica Comets in Game 1 of their best-of-five first-round series on Friday.
Game 2 is back in Albany on Saturday.
Ben Thomson, Reid Boucher and Joseph Blandisi all scored for the Devils and Scott Wedgewood (1-0) needed just 12 saves as Albany finished with a 29-14 edge in shots on goal for the game — including a 9-0 blanking of the Comets on the shot clock in the second period.
Darren Archibald and Jordan Subban scored and Ronalds Kenins tallied two assists for Utica. Richard Bachman (0-1) stopped 26 shots on the night.
With the win, Albany improved to 13-0-2-0 all-time against Utica, including 7-0-2-0 this season.
North Division Semifinals – Series “D” (best-of-5)
N2-Albany Devils vs. N3-Utica Comets
Game 1 – Fri., Apr. 22 – ALBANY 3, Utica 2
Game 2 – Sat., Apr. 23 – Utica at Albany, 5:00
Game 3 – Tue., Apr. 26 – Albany at Utica, 7:00
*Game 4 – Thu., Apr. 28 – Albany at Utica, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., Apr. 30 – Utica at Albany, 5:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
Power play goals = key#ALBvsUTI pic.twitter.com/Gd6wo67Ef5
— AHL (@TheAHL) April 23, 2016
