Albany Downs Amerks 3-2

December 27, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - Dwight Helminen scored two goals as the Albany River Rats beat the Rochester Americans 3-2 Saturday night at the Times Union Center.

The two teams were evenly matched in the first period, recording just four shots a piece during virtually non-stop back-and-forth action. Both sides sped through 20 minutes of play in just 24 minutes of real-time and despite an Albany power play opportunity late in the frame, neither team could break the deadlock.

The Americans took the momentum in the second period by out-shooting the River Rats 5-1 through the first 14 minutes of play. However, Albany scored the game's first goal when right winger Jakub Petruzalek raced down the ice on an odd-man rush and fed Michael Ryan for a beautiful far-post one-timer; Ryan's ninth goal of the season, assisted by Petruzalek and Harrison Reed at 14:11. The River Rats doubled their lead just 1:14 later when Dwight Helminen whipped a sniper-shot over the far shoulder of goalie Chris Beckford-Tseu; Pat Dwyer and recent ECHL call-up Yannick Tifu assisted on Helminen's eighth of the season. Two Rochester penalties late in the frame prevented the Americans from responding and Albany headed to the locker room up 2-0.

Helminen extended the River Rats lead to three with his second goal of the game, a power play goal at 3:12 off of a rebound from defensemen Brian Rodney and Brett Carson. Rochester spoiled goaltender Justin Peters' bid for a shutout at 14:32 when Jacob Mickflikier sent a close-range rebound across the goal mouth to a waiting Janis Sprukts for the put-away. The game wasn't over just yet, as the Americans cut the lead to one with just 3:21 remaining in the game on a Karl Stewart goal from David Brine and Peter Aston. However, Peters and the River Rats held-off the surging Rochester team for the rest of regulation to finish the 3-2 victory.

Albany's Justin Peters stopped 18-of-20 shots and earned this fifth win of the year as the River Rats improved to 11-15-3-2 on the season. Americans starter Chris Beckford-Tseu allowed three goals on 24 shots and took the loss, as Rochester fell to 9-22-0-2 on the year. Albany out-shot the Americans 24-20 and went 1-for-5 on the power play; Rochester went 0-for-4 with the man advantage.

Albany will hit the road for a Sunday afternoon 5:00 pm face off against the first place Hershey Bears at the Giant Center. The River Rats will return to the Times Union Center next Tuesday, December 30th for a 7:00 pm face off against their old affiliate the Lowell Devils.

River Rats flex ticket packages and individual game tickets are on sale now at the River Rats office and the Times Union Center Box Office. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.



American Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2008


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