PROVIDENCE 4, LOWELL 3 (SO)
Mikko Lehtonen and Martin St. Pierre netted goals in the shootout to give Providence a 4-3 victory over Lowell before 7,991 fans on opening night Wednesday at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Vladimir Sobotka and Byron Bitz each posted a goal and an assist in regulation for the Bruins, and second-year goaltender Tuukka Rask denied all four of the Devils’ shootout tries.
Newcomer Johnny Boychuk added a goal for Providence, which went 3-for-11 on the power play.
Lowell received a pair of goals from rookie Vladimir Zharkov and a single marker off the stick of Jon DiSalvatore. Zharkov’s two goals helped the Devils overcome a 3-1 deficit and force overtime.
Rask, a first-round draft pick in 2005 and an AHL All-Star last season, made 19 saves through regulation and overtime before his perfect shootout performance.
New Devils goaltender Scott Clemmensen stopped 24 of 27 shots in the losing effort.
