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Devils Shutout by IceCaps + New Jersey Devils Prospect Notes

December 1, 2012, 12:52 PM ET [1 Comments]
Todd Cordell
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Albany Devils hosted the St. John's IceCaps last night in hopes that they could win a game and climb up the standings a little bit - but that wasn't the case. The Devils were shutout 1-0 in regulation and are now dead last in the entire American Hockey League. Here are some notes on the loss as well as some New Jersey Devils prospect notes.

- Jeff Frazee got the nod last night in the loss to the IceCaps. He stopped 22-of-23 and made some pretty good stops to keep Albany in the game. Unluckily for him, the Devils couldn't score - at all.

- After the Devils regulation loss last night combined with a couple other teams around them getting points, the Devils are now dead last in the entire league. Dead last. Think about that.

- Statistical leaders for the Devils last night were Jacob Josefson and Steve Zalewski with four shots each. Mike Hoeffel was right there with three.

- The Devils take on the Adirondack Phantoms tonight in Adirondack. The Phantoms have been struggling, too, but this will be a tough task - especially now that the Devils are missing Adam Henrique. I expect Keith Kinkaid to be between the pipes tonight.

- Let's head to the Canadian Hockey League where some Devils prospects actually posted some impressive stat lines and produced Friday night. Reid Boucher had a hat trick and registered two assists in a 7-4 Sarnia win over Saginaw last night. His five point night now gives him 31 points (19 goals, 12 assists) in 27 games on the year. Boucher will be right in the mix for a spot on the United States World Junior squad.

- Devils prospects Ben Thomson and Ben Johnson squared off last night as Thomson's Kitchener Rangers beat the Johnson's Windsor Spitfires in a shootout. I was impressed with what I saw from both of them last night, but Johnson especially.

I'll start with Thomson. He had a quiet first period but he was very good in the 2nd and 3rd periods both in terms of creating some chances and stirring it up. He landed a few big hits and seemed to be really getting in the face of some Spitfires players. Thomson didn't record a point but he had a solid overall game.

As for Johnson, he was awesome. He scored his first goal since early November last night and was buzzing all around the ice. He was creating chances, mixing it up physically, good defensively and was winning tons of puck battles in the corner. I was very impressed with him last night and thought he was one of the best players on the ice. Honestly, he's like a lesser Zach Parise out there. ..and you all knew how much I like Zach Parise.

- In the WHL, both Reece Scarlett and Graham Black were minus-1 in a 7-2 Swift Current loss to Spokane. Given the score, a minus-1 rating isn't half bad.

- Damon Severson scored last night in a 3-2 Kelowna win over the Moose Jaw Warriors. It was Severson's third goal of the year and first tally in 18 games.

- Stefan Matteau was plus-1 and won 5-of-8 faceoffs in a 5-2 BLB Armada win over Baie-Comeau. You can see Matteau and the Armada on Sportsnet/NHL Network next Wednesday in a special Wednesday edition of Friday Night Hockey. I recommend you tune in if you can.

- In action across the CHL tonight: Ben Thomson, Reid Boucher, Reece Scarlett, Graham Black and Damon Severson.

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