Albany Sweeps Week, Blanks Penguins and Bears On The Road

Published on October 29, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Week 4 Recap:

Led by the stellar performance of goaltender Michael Leighton, Albany swept all three games in Week 4. Jamie Johnson scored two first period goals, Brandon Nolan tallied his second goal of the season and Leighton made 30 saves in the River Rats 3-2 win over Syracuse on Wednesday. Friday in Wilkes-Barre Pat Dwyer scored his first goal of the season, the only goal of the game, as Leighton stopped all 24 shots for a 1-0 shutout of the Penguins. Albany completed their brief road trip with a 2-0 win in Hershey; Nicolas Blanchard and Mike Angelidis each lit the lamp and Leighton stopped 30 shots for his second straight shutout. For allowing just two goals in three wins (two shutouts) Leighton was named the Rbk/AHL Player of the Week.

The River Rats begin their second four-game home stand with a big match up on Wednesday, October 31st, against the unbeaten Toronto Marlies. Friday the Hershey Bears are in town for a rematch and Saturday Albany hosts the Lowell Devils; all three games are scheduled for 7:00 pm face offs.

Week 5 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, October 31 7:00 pm vs. Toronto Marlies (6-0-0-1, 13 pts) First Place, North Division

Friday, November 2 7:00 pm vs. Hershey Bears (2-4-0-0, 4 pts) Seventh Place, East Division

Saturday, November 3 7:00 pm vs. Lowell Devils (4-4-0-0, 8 pts) Tied-Sixth Place, Atlantic Division

Week 4 Game Results:

10/24/07 Syracuse 2 @ Albany 3

ALBANY, NY - Jamie Johnson scored twice in the first period as the Albany River Rats edged the Syracuse Crunch 3-2 Wednesday night at the Times Union Center.

For the third straight game Albany came out flying off the opening face off. Jamie Johnson redirected a Casey Borer slap shot from the blue line past Syracuse goaltender Tomas Popperle at 2:46 for a 1-0 lead. Two and a half minutes later Brandon Nolan one-timed a centering feed from Bobby Hughes to double the River Rats lead at 5:17, assisted by Hughes and Jerome Samson. Johnson scored his second goal of the period, his third of the season, at 11:40, unleashing a vicious shot from the slot for a power play goal, assisted by Samson and Jakub Petruzalek. After Albany's third goal, the Crunch pulled Popperle from the net and replaced him with backup Adam Munro.

But Syracuse rebounded three minutes later when Derek MacKenzie was tripped up by two Albany defensemen and referee Nygel Pelletier awarded the Crunch a penalty shot. MacKenzie converted the penalty shot, snapping a quick wrist shot through the legs of River Rats starter Michael Leighton, putting Syracuse on the board at 14:45.

In the second period MacKenzie set up Joakim Lindstrom at the right face off circle and Lindstrom's shot hit Leighton, but managed to fight through the pads for a second Crunch goal. The strike came at 2:37, assisted by MacKenzie and Bruno St. Jacques. Leighton clamped down after that goal, doing everything he could to keep Albany in front.

Syracuse mounted more pressure in the third period, out-shooting Albany 12-4 in the final 20 minutes, but Leighton turned aside everything thrown his way. At the other end of the ice, Munro did everything his team could ask, shutting down the River Rats offense. In the end Leighton prevailed, leading Albany to a narrow 3-2 win.

Leighton was clearly the difference in the final two periods, earning his second victory of the season by stopping 30-of-32 shots in goal for the River Rats. Tomas Popperle took the loss for Syracuse, allowing 3 goals on 9 shots in 11:40 of the first period; Adam Munro blocked all 14 shots he faced over the last 47:53 of play. Albany finished 1-for-8 on the power play, while the Crunch were 0-for-6 with the man-advantage.

10/26/07 Albany 1 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0

Wilkes-Barre, PA - The Albany River Rats recorded their first road shutout since April 9, 2005 with a 1-0 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Friday night at Wachovia Arena.

Known for their strong starts at home, the Penguins were given the added boost of a power play just 27-seconds into the first period and another three minutes later. But the River Rats penalty kill units and goaltender Michael Leighton stood strong, holding off both advantages. Albany caught Wilkes-Barre off guard on a face off in the Penguins defensive zone as Dave Gove won a clean draw back to Pat Dwyer who one-timed the puck into the net at 16:18. The goal, assisted by Gove, was Dwyer's first goal and point of the season for Albany.

In the second period, the River Rats slowed down the pace of the game, limiting Wilkes-Barre to just five shots on goal and those were turned aside by Leighton. Gove and Jamie Johnson had Albany's best two scoring chances of the period, but both were denied by excellent saves from Penguins starter Ty Conklin.

In the third period, Albany continued to stifle the Penguins offense. Limiting Wilkes-Barre to just 6 shots in the final frame, Leighton was unrelenting in goal. The Penguins pulled Conklin for the final 60 seconds, but the River Rats would not give up their lead, holding on for a 1-0 shutout. After allowing 13 shots on goal to the Penguins in the first period, Albany allowed just 11 Wilkes-Barre shots over the final two periods.

Michael Leighton earned his first shutout of the season for Albany, stopping all 24 shots he saw for his third win of the year. Ty Conklin took the loss for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, making 16 shaves on 17 shots. The River Rats finished 0-for-6 on the power play, but blanked the Penguins power play 0-for-5.

10/28/07 Albany 2 @ Hershey 0

Hershey, PA - Goaltender Michael Leighton stopped all 30 shots he faced as the Albany River Rats earned their second straight shutout, beating the Hershey Bears 2-0 Sunday afternoon at Giant Center.

The River Rats came out strong against the Bears, creating several good scoring chances early, but they were denied by Hershey goaltender Frederic Cassivi. Rookie forward Nicolas Blanchard opened the scoring with a blistering slap shot from the high slot that beat Cassivi at 14:35, assisted by Brandon Nolan and Ryan Bayda for a 1-0 River Rats lead.

Blanchard was again involved in the scoring at 5:47 of the second period when he set up Mike Angelidis for a goal off a three-on-two rush. Blanchard and Tim Conboy earned the assists on what would be Angelidis' second goal of the year.

Leighton and the Albany defense shut the door on Hershey in the third period, denying all 13 shots in the frame. The Bears pulled Cassivi for the extra attacker with a full two minutes remaining on the game clock, but the River Rats would not allow the Bears to find the net.

Michael Leighton won his third straight start, blocking all 30 shots sent his way for his second shutout of the season and his 24th career AHL shutout; Leighton and the River Rats have not allowed a goal in their last 157:23, spanning almost 8 full periods of action. Frederic Cassivi took the loss in goal for Hershey; making 24 saves on 26 shots. Albany was 0-for-6 on the power play, but improved their record to 5-2-0-1 (11 points). Hershey was 0-for-4 on the power play and dropped to 2-4-0-0 (4 points) on the season.

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 4)

Michael Leighton - G - #29 3 GP, 3-0-0, 0.67 GAA, 0.977 save pct., 2 shutouts

Michael Leighton started and won all three games during Week 4, including back-to-back shutouts on the road Friday in Wilkes Barre and Sunday in Hershey. For the week Leighton has a 0.67 GAA, and a 0.976 save percentage and improved his season record to 4-2-0-1, with a 1.56 GAA & 0.948 save percentage.

Rat Bites:

- NO SOUP FOR YOU - Goaltender Michael Leighton recorded back-to-back shutouts this week, just the third time in Albany franchise history that the River Rats have shutout their opponents in consecutive games. It was the first time in Team History that one goaltender had two-straight shutouts in consecutive games.

- STREAKING TO THE RECORD BOOK - Goaltender Michael Leighton set a new Albany franchise record for longest shutout streak by one goaltender. Leighton has not allowed a goal since Syracuse scored at 2:37 of the 2nd period on Wednesday night, October 24th. Leighton's shutout streak is at 157:23 and counting.

- FIRST GAME - Rookie defenseman/forward Brett Peterson played in his first career AHL game on Wednesday, October 24th versus Syracuse. In his 4th season as a pro, Peterson played in 211 games in the ECHL before earning his first ever AHL call up this week; he appeared in all three games for Albany in Week 4.

- SUCCESS IN HERSHEY - The River Rats 2-0 win at the Giant Center was just the second win for Albany against the Bears in their last 21 meetings. From 2004-2007 the River Rats are 2-16-0-3 against Hershey, with both wins coming on the road in Pennsylvania.

- HISTORICAL START - Albany has won five games in the month of October for the sixth time in franchise history. Their 5-2-0-1 record (11 points) is the second highest total, with one game to play on October 31st vs. Toronto. The 1994-95 River Rats hold the top mark in the month with a 5-2-2 record (12 points); they went on to win the 1995 Calder Cup.

- ONE MORE SHUTOUT FOR ANOTHER RECORD - Michael Leighton's two shutouts during Week 4 puts him one away from equaling the Albany team record of three shutouts in one season; currently held by Corey Schwab (1994-95) and Peter Sidorkiewicz (1995-96, 1997-98).

River Rats Recent Transactions

October 27 - The Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) returned Ryan Bayda (LW) on loan to the Albany River Rats (AHL).

October 22 - The Albany River Rats (AHL) recalled Brett Peterson (D) from loan with the Florida Everblades (ECHL).

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Goals: Jamie Johnson, Jerome Samson (3)

Assists: Keith Aucoin (5)

Points: Jerome Samson (7)

Plus/Minus: Nicolas Blanchard, Bobby Hughes (+4)

Penalty Minutes: Brandon Nolan (31)

Power Play Goals: Jerome Samson (3)

Short Handed Goals: N/A (0)

Shots: Pat Dwyer (27)

Shooting Percentage: Jamie Johnson (23.1%)

Saves: Michael Leighton (200)

Wins: Michael Leighton (4)

GAA: Michael Leighton (1.56)

Save Percentage: Michael Leighton (0.948)

East Division Standings:

EAST GP RECORD PTS

Philadelphia 9 (8-1-0-0) 16

Albany 8 (5-2-0-1) 11

Binghamton 8 (4-3-1-0) 9

Bridgeport 7 (3-4-0-0) 6

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 8 (3-5-0-0) 6

Norfolk 9 (3-6-0-0) 6

Hershey 6 (2-4-0-0) 4

The River Rats begin another four-game home stand at the Times Union Center this week. On Wednesday, October 31st Albany will host the Toronto Marlies at 7:00 pm; the first ever meeting between the two clubs. Next Friday, November 2nd, Hershey is in town and Saturday, November 3rd the River Rats will square off with the Lowell Devils; both games begin at 7:00 pm.

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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American Hockey League Stories from October 29, 2007


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