ROCHESTER, NY – Mike Sislo’s team-leading 21st goal of the season stood as the 
lone tally and Yann Danis stopped all 22 shots he faced to lift the Albany Devils to a 1-0 win over the Rochester Americans in the first of two meetings this weekend Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena. The loss snaps a brief two-game win streak for the Amerks, who fall to 23-22-2-1 on the season heading into Saturday’s rematch with the Devils in Albany.
Chad Ruhwedel recorded a team-high four shots in his return to the lineup after missing the previous 15 games with an injury and Linus Ullmark turned aside all but one in a 27-save effort while starting for the third time in four games. Rookie forward Nick Baptiste also returned from a 12-game injury absence tonight as did team captain Cal O’Reilly, who missed each of the last two for Rochester.
Sislo potted the game’s lone tally to extend his point streak to three games while Danis posted his second straight shutout – and franchise-best sixth of the season – to push his shutout streak to 127:48.
While the first period featured just seven combined shots and very little scoring opportunities between the two teams, there was certainly no shortage of chances during the second for either side. The Amerks and Devils totaled 25 shots on goal during the middle frame and generated many more chances offensively, none more so for Rochester, but solid goaltending coupled with several shots off the post kept it a scoreless affair through the first 40 minutes.
Rochester twice hit iron during the second period, beginning with the Amerks on the power-play when Matt Donovan’s blast from the point made its way through traffic before clanking squarely off the right post. Then, a short time later and with Rochester at full strength, Evan Rodrigues wristed one that whizzed by Danis only to have his offering rebuffed by the same post that denied Donovan just minutes prior.
Albany had its best chance of the frame when Max Novak broke into the Rochester zone uncontested, but Jerry D’Amigo was able to catch up with the Albany rookie at the last second and allow Ullmark to make the save.
The Devils eventually broke through 6:15 into the third period with a shorthanded tally from Sislo. The veteran forward jumped on a turnover inside the Rochester zone and raced down the right side before beating Ullmark from in close.
Donovan nearly tied it for Rochester just minutes later on a breakaway, but Danis came up big again for the Devils, who held on for the win.
With Amerks game report
