Recent Results (Dec. 12, 14, 15)

Wed., Dec. 12 at Times Union Center
Albany 6 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3 

Bobby Butler tied franchise records with four goals and five points in the Devils 6-3 win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Wednesday at Times Union Center. Butler joined Matt Halischuk and David Clarkson as the only AHL Devils to produce five points in a game. Like Butler, Halischuk and Clarkson both registered four goals and an assist. Halischuk’s performance came against Worcester on Oct. 11, 2008, while Clarkson’s was against Philadelphia on Jan. 12, 2007.

Additionally, Butler notched the team’s first hat trick since Joe Whitney potted three at Springfield on Jan. 21, 2012. Also, it was Albany’s first four goal performance and hat trick at home since Chad Wiseman accomplished the feat on March 9, 2011 against Bridgeport.

Butler, who entered the night with a goal and three points in the previous three outings, scored at 17:42 of the first, 1:48 and 8:03 of the second – shorthanded – and at 5:35 of the third.

Steve Zalewski, Harri Pesonen, Jacob Josefson and Whitney also registered multiple points. Zalewski had a goal and two assists, while Pesonen netted a goal and assisted on Zalewski’s tally. Josefson and Whitney both had two assists.

In goal, Keith Kinkaid moved his winning streak to four games and he is now 5-5-3 on the season. He turned aside 24 shots.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton received goals from Riley Holzapfel, Brian Dumoulin and Jayson Megna. Between the pipes, Brad Theissen made 24 stops.

Fri., Dec. 14 at XL Center
Albany 4 at Connecticut 3 

The Devils did not lead against the Connecticut Whale Saturday at XL Center until the final 2:19. The team rallied from three deficits and Harri Pesonen netted the game-winning goal on a breakaway in the closing minutes to give the Devils a 4-3 win.

Albany extended its winning streak to five games, tying a franchise record. The team won five in a row three other times: Nov. 21-29, 2008, Nov. 7-14, 2009 and Mar. 9-16, 2011.

Tim Sestito, Eric Gelinas and Bobby Butler all scored for Albany. Sestito registered his second of the season, while Gelinas posted his first. Butler, extended his scoring streak to five games with his team-leading ninth tally.

Notably, Jacob Josefson, who sprung Pesonen for the winner, and Mattias Tedenby both had two assists.

Keith Kinkaid moved his winning streak to five games by making 15 saves.

Connecticut received goals from Ryan Bourque, Kris Newbury and Christian Thomas. In goal, Cameron Talbot made 28 stops. Albany outshot Connecticut, 32-18.

Sat., Dec. 15 at Times Union Center
Albany 1 vs. Providence 2 – Shootout 

The Devils attempt for a record sixth straight victory was halted by the Providence Bruins, 2-1, in a shootout Saturday at Times Union Center. Jeff Frazee, who allowed just one regulation goal in his first start since Nov. 30, helped keep Albany alive during a marathon shootout session. In the end, Providence’s David Warsofsky netted the deciding goal in the ninth round, giving his team a 3-2 shootout advantage.

With a goal, Bobby Butler extended his scoring streak to six games — his stretch is tied for the fourth longest in franchise history.

Bruins rookie defenseman Zach Trotman opened the scoring with a seeing-eye shot from the point at 10:46 of the first period.

In the second, Adam Larsson and Joe Whitney worked the puck near the top of the left face-off circle. Whitney walked the half-wall and then sent a pass through two defensemen and found a cutting Butler for the one-touch, power-play tally at 5:59.

After a scoreless third and overtime, the Devils received shootout goals from Mattias Tedenby in the first round and Mike Sislo in the third. The Bruins had goals from Tardif in the second, Chris Bourque in the third and finally Warsofsky in the ninth round.