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Notes on the Albany Devils, Pavel Zacha and more:
1) Albany's season reached its end on Monday night as the A-Devs fell to the Toronto Marlies, 4-3, in Game 7.
The Devils actually led 2-1 early in the 3rd period but it turned into a barn burner the rest of the way and they failed to keep up despite outshooting the Marlies, 13-7, in the final frame.
Rich Clune scored the eventual series winner with just 2:30 to go in the 3rd period.
This was a tough way for the A-Devs to go out - especially with all the injuries they were dealing with - but they can rest easy knowing they gave the best AHL team in years all they could handle.
2) One of the bigger positives to come from the Devils v Marlies series was the play of forward Nick Lappin.
In seven games he scored five goals and tallied 33 shots (4.7 per game) while being one of the more impactful players on the ice.
Personally I didn't expect much from him when he was signed, especially as a first year pro, but if not anything else he has proven to be a very good AHL player.
Tom Fitzgerald deserves some credit for this one.
3) I can't help but wonder if the series would have been any different with Pavel Zacha in the lineup. He registered six points in his first seven AHL games (including playoffs) prior to leaving Game 1 against Toronto and missing the next six.
He was not only producing but was one of the team's better two-way forwards, too, so his absence was felt at both ends of the rink.
In saying that I am glad Zacha was not rushed back into the lineup. There has been no clarity about what his injury actually is but, given he left after taking a high hit, I think it's more likely than not it's a concussion.
Good on the Devils for not rushing him back and not risking the future of a promising 19-year-old. His health is most important.
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