Albany Opens Season with Loss to Bridgeport

Published on October 11, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - The Albany River Rats opened their season with a 4-2 loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in front of a crowd of 7,039 at Times Union Center. Trevor Smith Scored two goals for the Sound Tigers and Dwight Helminen recorded two points in a losing effort for the Rats.

At the start of the first period the energy from the stands was matched by fast paced play on the ice. Shots on goal were limited early on, but opportunities came in bunches at the midpoint of the period. Back-to-back five-on-four penalties against the Rats created a slue of close range opportunities for the Sound Tigers, but goaltender Justin Peters turned them each aside. With about one minute remaining on the Rats' second penalty kill, Albany tallied their first goal of the season, a short handed goal from Mark Flood, who ripped a vicious one-timer from Dwight Helminen past the catching glove of goaltender Yann Denis at 14:17; Helminen and rookie Nick Dodge assisted on the goal. Bridgeport would tie the game with just 15 seconds remaining in the first period on a five-on-three power play goal from Kurtis McLean, which took a little air out of Albany's sails.

The play leveled off until the 9:33 mark of the second period when the Sound Tigers took their first lead of the game. New Bridgeport forward Mike Iggulden sent a fluttering pass across Albany's crease that landed at the feet of Trevor Smith on the back door, giving the visitors a 2-1 lead. The Sound Tigers extended their lead to 3-1 at 17:43 when Tyler Haskins turned the corner on an Albany defenseman and dragged the puck across the crease to his forehand, around goaltender Justin Peters, before sliding it into the open net.

Just 2:48 into the third period Smith scored his second goal of the night to give Bridgeport a three-goal season, smacking a rebound shot passed Peters for the team's second power play goal of the game. Helminen cut Bridgeport's lead in half at 9:04 when he jammed his own rebound passed a sprawling Denis, but the Rats could not close the gap, falling by a final score of 4-2.

Bridgeport starting goaltender Yann Denis stopped 30-of-32 shots to record his first win of the season, as the Sound Tigers improved to 1-1-0-0. Justin Peters recorded 25 saves on 29 shots in the losing effort for Albany, who fall to 0-1-0-0 pm the year. The River Rats outshot the Sound Tigers 32-29 in the game and finished 1-for-8 on the power play, while Bridgeport went 2- for-8 with the man advantage.

Next up for Albany is a match up with the Worcester Sharks on Friday, October 17th at 7:30 pm at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, NY. 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.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 11, 2008


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