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Albany Splits Four Games In Flu-Filled Week

December 17, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The River Rats started off the week in high spirits, beating the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4-3 Wednesday in Connecticut. They continued their road success, winning their third straight contest away from home on Friday in Lowell, coming from two-goals down in the third period to win 3-2 in overtime. Saturday at the Glens Falls Civic Center the winning streak was snapped by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The River Rats were riddled by a severe flu outbreak in the ranks, leaving Albany with just 14 skaters, who were overwhelmed by a healthy Penguins squad 8-1. Sunday Albany called up seven players from the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL for their game in Bridgeport, but they could not overcome a Jeff Tambellini hat trick in a 4-3 loss.

Week 12 Preview:

Albany is looking to rebound from both the flu and two straight losses as they head into Week 12. First up for the River Rats is a Wednesday night home game against the Rochester Americans, December 19th at 7:00 pm at the Times Union Center. Friday night Albany will head west across Interstate 90 for another match up with the Syracuse Crunch, a 7:30 pm face off at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Saturday the River Rats will head into their holiday break with a rematch with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Wachovia Arena in Pennsylvania.

Week 12 Schedule: (Home Games in Bold)

(All games are broadcasted LIVE on ESPN Radio 104.5 FM The Team & on the Internet at www.albanyriverrats.com)

Wednesday, December 19 - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center

vs. Rochester Americans (10-16-1-2, 23 pts)

Fifth Place, North Division

The River Rats square off with the Amerks just two times during the 2007-08 season. After Wednesday's game, Albany travel to Rochester on Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 at Blue Cross Arena.

Leading Scorer: Clarke MacArthur (LW) - 24 points (9 goals, 15 assists) in 20 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Adam Dennis (G) - 3.33 GAA, 0.895 save pct., 9-8-1 record in 18 games played.

Who's Hot: Clarke MacArthur (LW) 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists) in last five games. Marek Zagrapan (C) 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in last five games.

Friday, December 21 - 7:30 pm - War Memorial at Oncenter

@ Syracuse Crunch (13-15-1-1, 28 pts)

Third Place, Atlantic Division

The River Rats and the Crunch have split their season series so far in two games played. Albany beat Syracuse at home in October, while the Crunch returned the favor at the War Memorial in November. Game four of the eight game series this season will be on Friday, January 4th at the Times Union Center.

Leading Scorer: Joakim Lindstrom (LW) - 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists) in 25 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Adam Munro (G) - 2.54 GAA, 0.909 save pct., 5-6-1 record in 13 games played.

Who's Hot: Joakim Lindstrom (LW) - 9 points (2 goals, 7 assists) and +3 in last 3 games. Zenon Konopka (C) - 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) and +4 in last 5 games.

Saturday, December 22 - 7:05 pm - Wachovia Arena

@ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (14-12-0-1, 29 pts)

Fifth Place, East Division

After shutting out the Penguins in their first two meetings this year, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton handed the River Rats their worst loss of the season, an 8-1 defeat last Saturday at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Albany will not face the Penguins at all in the next two months, squaring off again on March 15th at the Times Union Center.

Leading Scorer: Jeff Taffe (C) - 21 points (12 goals, 3 assists) in 27 games played.

Leading Goaltender: John Curry (G) - 2.31 GAA, 0.920 save pct., 2-3-1 record in 6 games played.

Who's Hot: Jeff Taffe (C) - 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists) and +3 in last 5 games. Chris Minard (C) - 4 goals in last 5 games.

Week 11 Game Results:

12/12/07 Albany 4 @ Bridgeport 3

BRIDGEPORT, CT - The River Rats came out flying against the Sound Tigers, scoring the first four goals of the game. Casey Borer scored two goals and one assist, Ryan Bayda had one goal and two assists and Keith Aucoin added a goal and an assist for a 4-0 lead after 33 minutes of play. Bridgeport fought back, scoring once late in the second period and twice in the third, but fell short as goaltender Justin Peters earned his first win in his first start since being called up from the Florida Everblades (ECHL) earlier in the week. 1st Star - Casey Borer, 2nd Star - Ryan Bayda, 3rd Star - Keith Aucoin.

12/14/07 Albany 3 @ Lowell 2 - OT

LOWELL, MA - Losing their first two meetings with Albany, the Devils scored 26 seconds into the game and looked to be in control of the game with Noah Clarke doubled their lead late in the second period. But rookie Bobby Hughes scored two power play goals in the third period to drag the River Rats back into the game and force overtime. Lowell's penalty trouble hurt them in overtime, giving Albany another power play and Andrew Ladd made them pay, tipping in the game-winner on a Keith Aucoin shot at 2:45 of overtime. Goalie Justin Peters made 30 saves for his second straight win. 1st Star - Andrew Ladd, 2nd Star - Noah Clarke, 3rd Star - Bobby Hughes.

12/15/07 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 8 @ Albany 1

GLENS FALLS, NY - With many players suffering from a fierce case of the flu, Albany started the game with just 14 skaters in the lineup. Penguins forward Jonathan Filewich scored twice in the first five minutes of the game, Kurtis McLean tallied three assists and Chris Minard added two goals of his own, leading the visitors to an 8-1 rout of the River Rats. Bobby Hughes scored Albany's only goal of the game three minutes into the third period to avoid a shutout. Goaltender John Curry made 37 saves to record the win for the Baby Pens. 1st Star - John Curry, 2nd Star - Jonathan Filewich, 3rd Star - Kurtis McLean.

12/16/07 Albany 3 @ Bridgeport 4

BRIDGEPORT, CT - With a whopping 13 roster players out of the lineup due to injury and/or the flu, Albany bolstered their squad by calling up seven players from the Elmira Jackals (ECHL). Rookie Jerome Samson scored his 10th goal of the season to Albany ahead in the first period. But Sound Tigers forward Jeff Tambellini turned things around with two second period goals, including a short-handed goal on Albany's first power play of the afternoon. Defenseman Joey Mormina tied the game with his first goal of the year and after Darryl Bootland regained the lead for Bridgeport, Samson scored his second of the game, a power play goal tying things up 3-3. But Albany just couldn't stop Tambellini, who finished off his hat trick with a power play goal at 16:30, winning the game for the home team 4-3. 1st Star - Jeff Tambellini, 2nd Star - Jerome Samson, 3rd Star - Ben Walter.

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 11)

Bobby Hughes - C - #19 4 GP, 3 Goal, 2 Assists, 5 Points, -4

Rookie forward Bobby Hughes has broken out with six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in his last five games played, including all four games in Week 11. Hughes' week was highlighted by scoring two goals in the third period Friday at Lowell to bring Albany back from a 2-0 deficit; the River Rats would win in overtime. Hughes currently has 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in 18 games played, which ranks sixth on Albany in scoring.

Rat Bites:

- A WINNING RUN - The River Rats overtime win at Lowell Friday night marked the third straight road win for Albany, their longest road winning streak of the season. Their 4-3 loss to Bridgeport Sunday afternoon snapped the streak. Friday's win was the River Rats was their fourth consecutive win, their longest overall winning run this year.

- BITTEN BY THE BUG - The River Rats roster suffered a horrendous bout of the flu this weekend. Due to a stomach illness that ravaged the team, Albany managed to dress only 14 skaters Saturday vs. Wilkes-Barre in their first Glens Falls game. Sunday against Bridgeport, the River Rats had a massive 13 roster members out with either injury or illness.

- A CALL UP RECORD - Due to the flu that debilitated the roster, Albany was forced to call up seven players from the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL for Sunday's road game in Bridgeport. The transactions were an AHL/ECHL record for most players in one day to be called up to the AHL from one ECHL team.

- A NEW ACCOUNT IS OPEN - Defenseman Joey Mormina scored his first goal of the season, and first in a River Rats uniform, in the third period on Sunday at Bridgeport. The goal was Mormina's third career AHL; he had two goals during the 2006-07 season while playing in 62 games for the Manchester Monarchs.

- AN OFFENSIVE DEFENSMAN'S FIRST - Defenseman Casey Borer scored two goals and one assist in Wednesday's 4-3 win in Bridgeport. It was the first 3-point effort by an Albany defenseman this season.

- HALFWAY TO A THOUSAND - Defenseman Wade Brookbank played in his 500th career Pro game on Sunday in Bridgeport. In 500 games in professional hockey, Brookbank has 56 points (10 goals, 46 assists) and 2,211 penalty minutes; he has played 226 career AHL games with 19 points and 857 PIMs.

River Rats Recent Transactions

December 17 - The Albany River Rats (AHL) released Kevin Ulanski (LW), Bobby Robins (C), Pierre-Luc Faubert (RW), Brett Pilkington (RW), Bryan Rodney (D), Chris Busby (D), and Joe Grimaldi (D) from their Professional Tryout Agreements, returning them to the Elmira Jackals (ECHL).

December 16 - The Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) recalled Andrew Ladd (LW) from his conditioning stint with the Albany River Rats (AHL). The Albany River Rats (AHL) signed Kevin Ulanski (LW), Bobby Robins (C), Pierre-Luc Faubert (RW), Brett Pilkington (RW), Bryan Rodney (D), Chris Busby (D), and Joe Grimaldi (D) to Professional Tryout Agreements, all from the Elmira Jackals (ECHL).

December 12 - The Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) reassigned Justin Peters (G) to the Albany River Rats (AHL) from the Florida Everblades (ECHL).

December 11 - The Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) assigned Andrew Ladd (LW) on a four-game conditioning stint to the Albany River Rats (AHL). Carolina (NHL) also reassigned Daniel Manzato (G) from Albany (AHL) to the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL).

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Goals: Jerome Samson (11)

Assists: Keith Aucoin (22)

Points: Keith Aucoin (27)

Plus/Minus: Casey Borer (+13)

Penalty Minutes: Tim Conboy (92)

Power Play Goals: Jerome Samson (7)

Short Handed Goals: Pat Dwyer (1)

Game-Winning Goals: Brandon Nolan (3)

Shots: Jerome Samson (92)

Shooting Percentage: Bobby Hughes (17.9%)

Saves: Michael Leighton (650)

Wins: Michael Leighton (10)

GAA: Kevin Nastiuk (1.20)

Save Percentage: Kevin Nastiuk (0.959)

East Division Standings:

EAST GP RECORD PTS

Philadelphia 28 (19-8-1-0) 39

Albany 30 (16-12-0-2) 34

Hershey 26 (14-10-0-2) 30

Binghamton 28 (13-11-3-1) 30

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 27 (14-12-0-1) 29

Bridgeport 26 (11-14-1-0) 23

Norfolk 28 (10-15-1-2) 23

Next up for Albany is a Wednesday match up with the Rochester Americans on December 19th at 7:00 pm at the Times Union Center. Friday the River Rats head to Syracuse for a 7:30 pm face off with the Crunch at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Saturday Albany with have a rematch with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Wachovia Arena, exactly one week after their game in Glens Falls.

Partial season tickets packages and flex tickets for the 2007-08 River Rats season are on sale now. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.

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