Albany Explodes For 6-2 Comeback Win

March 19, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - The Albany River Rats rallied from a 2-0 first period deficit by scoring six unanswered goals to beat the Hershey Bears 6-2 Wednesday night at the Times Union Center. The win gave Albany 82 points on the season with ten games remaining, passing their 2006-07 total of 81 points.

Albany put the pressure on the Bears defense right off the opening face off, getting a lot of energy going on their fore check and making it difficult for Hershey to break the puck out of their own zone. The intensity and physical play continued to rise and the building was ignited when Nicolas Blanchard and Hershey's Louis Robitaille dropped the gloves. But Albany ran into penalty trouble as Trevor Gillies was called for high-sticking at 15:53. Eight seconds into the power play Scott Barney tipped a Chris Bourque shot into the net for a 1-0 Bears lead. Gillies was then called for interference at 16:24, leading to another Hershey power play as Kyle Wilson threaded a perfect back-door pass to Barney who slammed the puck into the open net for his second goal of the game, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead at 17:42.

The River Rats slowly chipped away at the Hershey lead, finally scoring their first goal at 11:15 of the second period when Jamie Johnson took a quick snap shot from the slot, beating goaltender Daren Machesney to the far post, assisted by Jakub Petruzalek and Nicolas Blanchard. Late in the second period Hershey forward Andrew Joudrey took an interference penalty that carried over into the final period.

Albany did not waste any time in tying the game in the third as Brett Carson blasted a shot from the right point for a power play goal, his second goal of the season, just 23 second into the period, assisted by Blanchard and Johnson. Kiel McLeod gave Albany a 3-2 lead at 5:42 as he tipped a Jamie Johnson shot past Machesney, his fourth goal of the season and the eventual game-winner. With the floodgates wide open, Johnson scored his second of the game at 8:07, roofing a wrist shot over Machesney's catching glove, his 19th goal of the season, assisted by Pat Dwyer. Marc Cavosie kept the hit parade going with his third goal of the year for Albany, scoring on an amazing individual effort to regain possession along the boards, then cutting the middle before sending a fierce wrist shot into the top corner at 9:06. Dwyer rounded out the scoring in the final minute of play, as he was sent free on a short handed breakaway by Brett Carson and Dwyer also went upstairs with his shot to cap off a 6-2 win. The five-goal third period by the River Rats was a 2007-08 season-high for goals in a single period.

Michael Leighton stopped 23-of-25 shots in goal to record his 25th win of the season as Albany improved to 38-26-2-4 on the year. Daren Machesney suffered his tenth loss of the season while making 22 saves on 28 shots as Hershey dropped to 34-28-1-5. Albany finished the game 1-for-3 on the power play and the Bears were 2-for-5.

Notes: Sarnia, Ontario native Mark Pavli signed an Amateur Tryout Agreement with Albany Wednesday afternoon and made his AHL and professional hockey debut with the River Rats Wednesday night. Pavli just completed his senior season and four-year career at Division I American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The River Rats will now hit the road for seven straight games away from home, beginning on Friday, March 21st against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:05 pm at Wachovia Arena. Albany's next home game is on Wednesday, April 9th against the Norfolk Admirals, a 7:00 pm face off at the Times Union Center.

River Rats playoff ticket packages 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.



American Hockey League Stories from March 19, 2008


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