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Albany Takes Three Points Out Of Six In Division Games

February 18, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


2007-08 Record: 28-21-0-23, 59 points, (16-11-0-2 Home, 12-12-0-1 Road), Tied-Fourth Place, East Division

Week 20 Recap:

Albany's struggles continued through the beginning of Week 20, needing a two-goal comeback effort in the third period just to salvage a point in a shootout loss to Binghamton on Wednesday. Friday the River Rats looked in control in the second period against Bridgeport after erasing a 2-0 Sound Tigers lead, but the visitors pulled away to win 6-3 Friday night. Saturday was turn around time as the River Rats beat the first Philadelphia Phantoms in a 3-2 overtime thriller at the Times Union Center, snapping a season-long four game winless streak.

Week 21 Preview:

Finding themselves in a three-way tie for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East Division, the River Rats will embark on their most enduring week of the season. They will play five games in seven days, beginning with a President's day Matinee in Philadelphia against the Phantoms. Wednesday Albany travels to Rochester for their only road game of the year against the Americans at Blue Cross Arena. Albany will return home for a pair of games at the Times Union Center, Friday, February 22nd vs. Bridgeport and Saturday, February 23rd against the Lowell Devils. Finishing off the exhausting schedule will be a Sunday afternoon game down in Bridgeport at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Week 21 Schedule: (Home Games in Bold)

(All games are broadcasted LIVE on ESPN Radio 104.5 FM The Team and on the Internet at www.albanyriverrats.com)

Monday, February 18th - 4:05 pm - Wachovia Spectrum

@ Philadelphia Phantoms, (35-17-2-2, 74 pts)

First Place, East Division

The River Rats snapped Philadelphia's four-game winning streak by beating them 3-2 in overtime last Saturday night in Albany. In two games at the Wachovia Spectrum this year Albany is 0-2 against the Phantoms, being out-scored 5-1 and out-shot 72-57.

Leading Scorer: Jared Ross (C) - 43 points (14 goals, 29 assists) and +11 rating in 45 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Brian Boucher (G) - 2.45 GAA, 0.918 save pct., 23-13-2-1 record in 41 GP.

Who's Hot: Stefan Ruzicka (RW) - 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) and +2 rating in last five games played. Jared Ross (C) - 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) and +2 rating in last five games played. Alexandre Picard (D) - 5 points (0 goals, 5 assists) and +2 rating in last five games played.

Wednesday, February 20th - 7:05 pm - Blue Cross Arena

@ Rochester Americans (16-33-4-4, 40 pts)

Seventh Place, North Division

Albany won their first meeting of the year 3-2 on December 19th at the Times Union Center. Trailing by two goals early in the second period the River Rats scored three unanswered goals in the second and goaltender Justin Peters stopped 22-of-24 shots to earn the win.

Leading Scorer: Mark Mancari (RW) - 41 points (15 goals, 26 assists) in 57 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Adam Dennis (G) - 2.99 GAA, 0.900 save pct., 13-16-1-2 record in 32 GP.

Who's Hot: Marc-Andre Gragnani (D) - 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) and a +2 rating in last five games played. Anthony Stewart (RW) - 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) and +2 rating in last five games played. Marek Zagrapan (C) - 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in last five games played.

Friday, February 22nd - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center

vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (29-24-1-0, 59 pts)

Tied-Fourth Place, East Division

Bridgeport has won four games in a row and eleven of their last fourteen games, pulling themselves into a three-way tie with Albany and Binghamton for fourth place in the East Division. The River Rats are 2-1 at home against the Sound Tigers this season.

Leading Scorer: Jeff Tambellini (C) - 56 points (28 goals, 28 assists) in 43 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Mike Morrison (G) - 2.60 GAA, 0.915 save pct., 17-10-0-0 record in 28 GP.

Who's Hot: Tim Jackman (RW) - 8 points (2 goals, 6 assists) in last five games played. Kyle Okposo (RW) - 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) and +3 rating in last five games played. Trevor Smith (C) - 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) and +6 rating in last five games played.

Saturday, February 23rd - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center

vs. Lowell Devils (16-33-4-4, 40 pts)

Seventh Place, Atlantic Division

After suffering a 12-game winless streak that began on January 9th, the Devils has stopped the bleeding and taken points from their last three games, going 2-0-1-0 in that span. Albany is 3-0 against Lowell this season, with Saturday's game being the last of their four-game season series.

Leading Scorer: Petr Vrana (C) - 42 points (9 goals, 33 assists) in 53 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Frank Doyle (G) - 3.09 GAA, 0.902 save pct., 10-16-5-3 record in 34 GP.

Who's Hot: Barry Tallackson (LW) - 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists) in last five games played. Petr Vrana (C) - 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists) and +3 rating in last five games played. Grant Marshall (RW) - 4 points (0 goals, 4 assists) and +1 rating in last five games played.

Sunday, February 24th - 4:00 pm - Arena at Harbor Yard

@ Bridgeport Sound Tigers (29-24-1-0, 59 pts)

Tied-Fourth Place, East Division

This game will prove to be another critical turning point in the battle for playoff position in the East Division. The River Rats are 1-1-0-1 in three games in Bridgeport this year and this will be Albany's last trip to the Arena at Harbor Yard in the regular season.

Leading Scorer: Jeff Tambellini (C) - 56 points (28 goals, 28 assists) in 43 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Mike Morrison (G) - 2.60 GAA, 0.915 save pct., 17-10-0-0 record in 28 GP.

Who's Hot: Tim Jackman (RW) - 8 points (2 goals, 6 assists) in last five games played. Kyle Okposo (RW) - 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) and +3 rating in last five games played. Trevor Smith (C) - 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) and +6 rating in last five games played.

Week 20 Game Results:

2/13/08 Binghamton 3 @ Albany 2 - Shootout (1-0)

2/15/08 Bridgeport 6 @ Albany 3

2/16/08 Philadelphia 2 @ Albany 3 - Overtime

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 20)

Jamie Johnson - C - #21 3 GP, 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points, -3, 0 PIMs

Center Jamie Johnson scored points in all three of Albany's games during Week 20 and continues to be a leader on the ice for the River Rats. The Port Franks, Ontario native registered a two-point game on Wednesday against Binghamton, scoring a power play goal and then setting up another, leading the Albany comeback from a 2-0 third period deficit. Friday Johnson had an assist in a loss to Bridgeport, then on Saturday he scored his 13th goal of the season in the third period, putting the River Rats into the lead for the first time in the last five games.

Rat Bites:

- STREAKING AGAIN - Having already set a team-high ten game point streak earlier this season, LW Brandon Nolan is back at it with an eight game point streak (13 points) and a new team-high seven game assist streak (9 assists).

- PLAYING IN THE BIGS - D Joey Mormina made his NHL debut with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC. In his third season as a pro, Mormina has played in 175 career AHL games, with 30 points (4 goals, 26 assists) and 250 penalty minutes.

- MILESTONES - D Mark Flood played in his 150th career Pro game and also his 100th career AHL game on Saturday against Philadelphia. LW Mike Angelidis needs 1 GP to play in his 100th career Pro game. LW Brandon Nolan needs 1 GP for his 200th career AHL game and 2 points for his 200th career Pro point. G Michael Leighton needs 3 GP to reach his 300th career Pro game and his 250th career AHL game.

- OVERTIME THRILLERS - Rookie RW Jerome Samson scored twice on Saturday night, including the game-winning goal at 2:13 of overtime as the River Rats beat the first place Philadelphia Phantoms. It was Samson's 18th goal of the season and helped Albany improve to 6-0-3 in games that go past regulation; the River Rats are 4-0 in overtime decisions and 2-3 in shootouts this season.

- A STREAK IS SNAPPED - The River Rats 3-2 overtime win over Philadelphia on Saturday broke Albany's longest winless streak of the season. They were winless in their last four games, going 0-3-0-1 before beating the Phantoms.

River Rats Recent Transactions

February 18 - DELETE - Joe Jensen (LW) - Recalled by Carolina (NHL). February 17 - DELETE - Greg Rallo (C) and John Adams (D) - Released from their PTOs, returned to Idaho (ECHL) and Texas (ECHL) respectively. February 16 - ADD - Joey Mormina (D) - Returned on loan by Carolina (NHL). February 15 - ADD - John Adams (D) - Signed PTO, called up from Texas Wildcatters (ECHL). DELETE - Milan Maslonka (D) - Released from PTO, returned to Youngstown Steelhounds (CHL). February 14 - DELETE Casey Borer (D), Tim Conboy (D) and Joey Mormina (D) - Recalled from loan by Carolina (NHL). DELETE - Kevin Nastiuk (D) - Reassigned to the Florida Everblades (ECHL). ADD - Steve Ward (D) - Recalled from loan to Florida (EHCL). ADD Justin Peters (G) - Reassigned by Carolina (NHL) from Florida (ECHL). ADD Chris Blight (RW) - Signed PTO, called up from Reading (ECHL). February 12 - DELETE Ryan Bayda (LW) - Recalled from loan by Carolina (NHL).

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: Jamie Johnson (54)

Goals: Brandon Nolan (22)

Assists: Keith Aucoin (37)

Points: Brandon Nolan (48)

Plus/Minus: Casey Borer (+11)

Penalty Minutes: Tim Conboy (189)

Power Play Goals: Jerome Samson (10)

Short Handed Goals: Keith Aucoin, Nicolas Blanchard, Pat Dwyer (1)

Game-Winning Goals: Brandon Nolan (5)

Shots: Jerome Samson (148)

Shooting Percentage: Brandon Nolan (16.3%)

Saves: Michael Leighton (1084)

Wins: Michael Leighton (17)

GAA: Michael Leighton (2.23)

Save Percentage: Michael Leighton (0.927)

East Division Standings:

EAST GP RECORD PTS

Philadelphia 56 (35-17-2-2) 74

Hershey 52 (29-18-0-5) 63

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 52 (29-20-0-3) 61

Bridgeport 54 (29-24-1-0) 59

Albany 54 (28-23-0-3) 59

Binghamton 54 (25-20-5-4) 59

Norfolk 54 (19-29-2-4) 44

The River Rats begin an arduous schedule of five games in seven days on Monday with a 4:05 pm matinee against the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Wachovia Spectrum. Albany's next home game is slated for Friday, February 22nd at 7:00 pm against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the Times Union Center.

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.



American Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2008


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