River Rats Weekly (Week 30)

Published on April 28, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


2008 Playoff Record: 3-3 (1-2 Home, 2-1 Road), Tied 3-34 In East Division Semifinal

Week 30 Recap:

The River Rats headed into Week 30 on a high, having earned a split of Games 2 & 3 in Philadelphia to take a 2-1 series lead back to Albany. But the Phantoms were not deterred by playing in the Times Union Center, as they shutdown the River Rats offense last Tuesday with a 2-1 win in Game 4 to even the series. Then history was made. Thursday night's Game 5 on April 24th will go down in the annals of hockey lore as the two teams battled it out into the fifth overtime before the Phantoms grabbed a 3-2 win, setting an AHL record for the longest game in the league's 72-year history. Faced with a win-or-go-home situation, the River Rats traveled back to Philadelphia and stayed alive as Kirk MacDonald scored in overtime to give Albany a 1-0 win in Game 6, forcing a decisive Game 7 at the Wachovia Center.

Week 30 Preview:

The season and the series is on the line for the River Rats as they face off with the Philadelphia Phantoms one more time this year in Game 7 of the East Division Semifinals on Tuesday night at the Wachovia Center. The winner of the series will travel to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to face the Penguins in the East Division Finals, the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Week 31 Schedule:

(All games are broadcasted LIVE on the Internet at www.albanyriverrats.com and either ESPN Radio 104.5 FM The Team or 88.3 FM The Saint)

Tuesday, April 29 - 7:05 pm - Wachovia Center

@ Philadelphia Phantoms (3-3)

East Division Semifinals - Game 7

* The River Rats and Phantoms have played in back-to-back overtime games and Game 7 is expected to be as tightly contest a game as any in the series. Albany is looking for revenge against Philadelphia, after losing to the Phantoms in their only other playoff meeting, the 1998 Western Conference Finals, where they lost in six games.

* Leading Scorer: Four tied with 3 points - Ross, Zingoni, Kane & Ruzicka.

* Leading Goaltender: Scott Munroe (G) - 1.46 GAA, 0.947 save pct., 3-3 record in 6 GP, 1 shutout.

* Who's Hot: Pete Zingoni (C) - 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) and a +1 rating in last five games played. Jared Ross (C) - 3 goals in last five games played. Boyd Kane (LW) - 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) and a +1 rating in last five games played. Stefan Ruzicka (RW) - 3 assists in last five games played.

Week 30 Game Results:

4/22/08 Philadelphia 2 @ Albany 1

4/24/08 Philadelphia 3 @ Albany 2 - 5 OT

4/26/08 Albany 1 @ Philadelphia 0 - OT

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 30)

Michael Leighton - G - #29 3 GP, 1-2 record, 5 GA, 1.15 GAA, 0.970 Save Pct.

River Rats goaltender Michael Leighton was at the top of most goaltending statistical categories during the regular season and it is no different in the playoffs. Last week Leighton followed up a 3-2 lost in Game 4 by setting an AHL record for minutes played in one game, shots faced and saves in Albany's five-overtime loss in Game 5. His mastery came out in Game 6 as he stopped all 40 shots he faced for his second shutout of the playoffs, leading the River Rats into a winner-take-all Game 7. In three games last week Leighton posted a 1.15 goals-against average, a 0.970 save percentage, made 162 saves and allowed only five goals.

Rat Bites:

- AHL HISTORY - Albany's Game Five quintuple overtime loss to Philadelphia was the longest game in the AHL's 72-year history. The game ended at 2:58 of the fifth overtime, it lasted five hours and 38 minutes from start to finish and was 142:58 in on-ice action, including 82:58 of overtime play.

- PEPPERED WITH SHOTS - Goaltender Michael Leighton set three AHL records in Game 5 by facing 101 shots, making 98 saves and logging 142:58 of ice time.

- HISTORY AGAIN - Albany forward Marc Cavosie remained at the top of the AHL's record book during Thursday's marathon five-overtime game. Cavosie has now played in the two longest games in AHL history. Cavosie was a member of the 2003 Houston Aeros team that lost to the Hamilton Bulldogs in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals on May 30, 2003 in four overtimes (134:56). Houston went on to capture the 2003 Calder Cup Championship.

- SHUTOUT RECORD - Michael Leighton set a franchise record and tied another one with his second shutout of the playoffs in Game 6 at Philadelphia. Leighton became the first River Rats goaltender to record two shutouts during the same year of playoffs and in the same series. He also tied Mike Dunham for most career playoff shutouts (2).

- WATCH OUT POWER PLAYS - Early in the season Albany's penalty killing percentage ranked amongst the top five in the AHL. Although it wavered a bit down the stretch, the River Rats have amped up their special teams efforts in the playoffs. Through six games played, Albany has a 90.3% success rate killing off penalties, allowing just three power play goals in 31 chances.

River Rats Recent Transactions

April 16 - ADD David Cornacchia (D) and Kirk MacDonald (RW) - Recalled from loan with the Florida Everblades (ECHL). DELETE - Chris Terry (C) - Released from ATO.

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: 17 tied with (6)

Goals: Bryan Rodney (3)

Assists: Brett Carson, Marc Cavosie & Bryan Rodney (3)

Points: Bryan Rodney (6)

Plus/Minus: Tim Conboy, David Cornacchia & Jakub Petruzalek (+2)

Penalty Minutes: Tim Conboy (21)

Power Play Goals: Five tied with (1)

Short Handed Goals: None

Game-Winning Goals: Brett Carson, Kirk MacDonald & Jakub Petruzalek (1)

Shots: Jakub Petruzalek (23)

Shooting Percentage: Bryan Rodney (30.0%)

Saves: Michael Leighton (276)

Wins: Michael Leighton (3)

GAA: Michael Leighton (1.06)

Save Percentage: Michael Leighton (0.972)

After back-to-back overtime games, the East Division Semifinals is tied at three-games each and everything will be on the line for Game 7 on Tuesday, April 29th at 7:05 pm from the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. The winner of the series will move on to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the East Division Finals of the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs.

River Rats playoff ticket packages and individual game tickets for the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs are on sale now, with special pricing available for children and seniors. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com .

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American Hockey League Stories from April 28, 2008


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