Albany River Rats Notebook

Published on December 18, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The Albany River Rats enter the week riding a season-high four-game winning streak and have earned standings points in seven of their last eight games (6-1-1-0). News, notes and storylines heading into this week's action:

*The River Rats current four-game winning streak is the longest by the club since they won seven in a row March 26 to April 9, 2005. At 14-11-2-0, the River Rats are three games above .500 for the first time since 2004-05 when they were 4-1-1-1. They have not been more than three games above .500 since 1998-99.

*The River Rats recorded their 14th victory December 16 with a 5-2 win at Providence in their 27th game - the fastest the club has reached 14 wins since 1998-99 (22nd game). The River Rats did not record their 14th win last season until their 41st game. They have 30 points, a 40 percent improvement over last season after 27 games (8-17-0-2, 18 points).

*Albany has 30 points after 27 games, a 40 percent improvement over last season (8-17-0-2, 18 points after 27 games). The River Rats didn't record their 30th point last season until their 41st game.

*The River Rats win December 16 at Providence gave the club back-to-back road wins for the first time since they won a season-high four in a row away from home November 3-11.

*Goaltender Justin Peters has started six straight games, posting a 2.14 goals-against average and .927 save percentage in that stretch. In his last four starts - all wins - he has posted a 1.47 goals-against average and .950 save percentage, stopping 115 of 121 shots faced. A second-round pick by Carolina in 2004, the 6-foot-1, 213-pound Blyth, Ontario native is widely regarded as one of the top goaltending prospects in professional hockey.

*Center Ben Guite extended his point streak to six games (three goals, four assists) with an assist December 16 at Providence, matching his career best. Guite's point streak is the second longest recorded by an Albany player this season. Keith Aucoin, currently on recall to the Carolina Hurricanes, had a seven-game point streak October 7 to November 11.

*Right wing Shane Willis registered his third multiple-goal game of the season with a pair of goals December 16 at Providence. His first goal of the game 49 seconds into the contest was his 100th career AHL goal.

*When the River Rats host the Hershey Bears Wednesday, December 20 at 7 p.m. at Pepsi Arena it will be the 5,000th regular-season game in franchise history for the Bears, who entered the AHL in 1938. Special game pucks will be used during the contest commemorating the event.

COMMUNITY APPEARANCES (VIDEO/PHOTO OPPORTUNTIES): December 20: Tom Rowe, Coach's Corner (Exhibition Hall at Pepsi Arena), 6:20 p.m.

ALBANY RIVER RATS UPCOMING GAMES

Albany River Rats vs. Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)
When: Wednesday, December 20 at Pepsi Arena, 7 p.m.
Radio/Internet: ESPN Radio 104.5 FM (WTMM) & B2 Networks.
Promotions: First 100 fans receive a free ski pass from Killington Ski Resort.
Everyone else receives a buy one, get one free lift pass ($65 savings).
Season Series: River Rats trail 0-2-0-0; 0-1-0-0 at Pepsi Arena.
Last Meeting: Albany lost 5-0 October 28 at Hershey.
Hershey Quick Hits: The Bears enter the week in second place in the East Division with 43 points (18-3-3-4), one point in back of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton...Hershey's three regulation losses are the fewest in the AHL, while its .768 points percentage is second best...C Alexandre Giroux leads the Bears in scoring with 32 points (21-11-32). His 21 goals are second most in the AHL...RW Eric Fehr (13-15-28) was a first-round pick by Washington in 2003...G Frederic Cassivi (12-5-4, 2.57 GAA, .913 SCPT) has appeared in 22 of the Bears' first 28 games...The River Rats have not beaten a Hershey team since March 28, 2004 - a streak of 15 consecutive regular-season losses...The AHL record for consecutive wins over one opponent is believed to be held by Philadelphia, which won 16 straight games against Hershey from October 2003 to December 2004.

Albany River Rats vs. Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal Canadiens)
When: Friday, December 22 at Copps Coliseum, 7:30 p.m.
Radio/Internet: ESPN Radio 104.5 FM (WTMM) & B2 Networks.
Season Series: Series tied 1-1-0-0; First meeting in Hamilton.
Last Meeting: Albany lost 1-0 November 1 at Pepsi Arena.
Hamilton Quick Hits: The Bulldogs have won three straight games and five of their last six and enter the week in second place in the North Division with 35 points (17-10-0-1), six points behind Rochester...RW Duncan Milroy (12-16-28) and RW Andrei Kostitsyn (9-17-26) - the 10th pick overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by Montreal - lead the Bulldogs in scoring...G Jaroslav Halak ranks first in the AHL in GAA (1.49), SPCT (.950) and shutouts (five).

Albany River Rats vs. Syracuse Crunch (Columbus Blue Jackets)
When: Saturday, December 23 at Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter, 7:30 p.m.
Radio/Internet: ESPN Radio 104.5 FM (WTMM) & B2 Networks.
Season Series: River Rats trail 0-1-0-0; 0-0-0-0 at Syracuse.
Last Meeting: Albany lost 4-2 November 17 at Pepsi Arena.
Syracuse Quick Hits: The Crunch have lost their last four games and enter the week with the fewest wins (nine), home wins (tied with Milwaukee at three) and points (17) in the AHL...RW Joe Motzko (8-16-24) and C Geoff Platt (13-7-20) lead the Crunch in scoring...LW Alexandre Picard (5-6-11) was the eighth pick overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by Columbus...Ex-River Rat D Derrick Walser has four points (1-3-4) in eight games since being acquired by Columbus from Carolina in exchange for D Mark Flood...G Tomas Popperle (6-9-0, 3.65 GAA, .876 SPCT) has seen the bulk of the action between the pipes.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2006


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