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Albany Unloads Six Straight On Rochester

October 10, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY- Six different River Rats found the back of the net and Goaltender Mike Murphy made 28 saves in his professional debut as Albany beat the Rochester Americans 6-1 Saturday night at the Times Union Center.

The River Rats led 1-0 after a tightly contested first period, but Albany's special teams blew the game open in the second with three unanswered goals en route to their second win of the weekend.

Pat Dwyer made it 2-0 early in the frame with a short-handed marker for his first goal of the season; the River Rats captain took a partial breakaway hard to the net and snuck the puck up-high on Amerks goalie Tyler Plante's short side. Albany's power play unit made it a three goal game at 5:50 when Jerome Smason dropped a pass to Drayson Bowman, who sent a sniper into the top corner for his third goal in as many games. Goaltender Alexander Salak replaced Plante following the score.

In his first professional action, River Rats Goaltender Mike Murphy withstood Rochester's ensuing offensive surge, highlighted by a strong poke-check move to deny a Mike York breakaway at the midpoint of the second period. Bowman and Samson connected again on for a power play goal at 14:28 to make it 4-0; this time Samson was on the receiving end of a pass in-front for the close-range put-away.

Samson earned his third point of the night in the closing period with an assist on Albany's fifth goal. The third-year forward set-up Zach Boychuk for a one-timer, but Boychuk's stick snapped in half on the attempt and the puck caromed to Stefan Chaput who finished the play for his first of the year. Rugged defenseman Zach Fitzgerald made it 6-0 with his first score of the season on a long wrist-shot that skipped on the ice before eluding Salak.

Murphy's shut-out bid ended with 6:03 remaining as David Brind took advantage of a River Rats turnover deep in Albany's end and buried the game's final goal.

Nick Dodge scored the game's first point during an evenly played opening period. Bowman carried the puck across the top of the faceoff circle and found River Rats captain Pat Dwyer for a blocked one-timer that rebounded squarely onto Dodge's blade for an open put-away.

Albany goaltender Mike Murphy stopped 28-of-29 shots faced to earn the win as The River Rats improved to 2-1-0-0 on the year. Rochester starting goalie Tyler Plante allowed three goals on 13 shots in the opening 25:48; his replacement, Alexander Salak, was beaten three more times on 15 shots in the final 34:10. The Americans out-shot Albany 29-28 in the contest and went 0-for-6 on the power play; the River Rats were 2-for-8 on the man advantage.

Albany returns to action on Wednesday, October 14th at the Times Union Center when they face the Norfolk Admirals at 7:00 p.m. River Rats 2009-10 season and flex ticket packages are now on sale at the River Rats executive offices at the Times Union Center, by calling (518) 487-2244 or by logging onto www.albanyriverrats.com.



American Hockey League Stories from October 10, 2009


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