Dwyer Does It Again! Rats Surge Passed Norfolk

Published on March 11, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - Captain Pat Dwyer scored two goals for the third time in his last four games, including the game-winner as the Albany River Rats scored all five of their goals in the final period to beat the Norfolk Admirals 5-3 Wednesday night at the Times Union Center.

Norfolk broke through for the game's first goal at 15:41 of the opening frame on a wrist shot from assistant captain Brandon Segal; the right wing let it fly from the top of the right face-off circle and beat Albany goaltender Daniel Manzato under the blocker on the far side for his 22nd of the year. Just 54 seconds later the Admirals doubled their lead in the opening seconds of a power play. Captain Zenon Konopka won the face off back to Blair Jones, who sent a hard one-timer to the net; Manzato made the initial save, but left wing Justin Keller sent the rebound home to make it 2-0. The River Rats bench argued that Keller had kicked the puck over the goal-line for the tally, but the officials promptly dismissed the argument and restarted the action, cementing Norfolk's two goal lead.

Albany took the edge in scoring chances during the middle frame, but the Admirals' defense forced a lot of River Rats shots to the glass. Norfolk goaltender Riku Helenius stopped the six shots that did get through to goal and the Admirals headed into the second intermission with their two goal lead intact.

River Rats forward Jerome Samson put his team on the board in bizarre fashion at 6:11 of the third period. Defenseman Brett Carson sent a fluttering bloop-shot towards the net that bounced off of Samson's outstretched hand, off Helenius and then off of the crossbar before Samson knocked it into the net. Later Aaron Clarke evened the score at 11:57 when Ryan Weston stripped the puck from Norfolk's goalie behind the net and found his line-mate before Helenius scrambled back into position; it was Clarke's second goal in as many games for Albany. With just 3:59 to play the River Rats grabbed their first lead when rookie left wing Mathieu Roy, in his first game called-up from the ECHL's Florida Everblades, finished-off a rebound from a Samson partial break-away. Just 46 seconds later River Rats captain Pat Dwyer gave his club a two-goal cushion with another rebound put-away, this one from a Yannick Tifu shot. The Admirals pulled their goalie in the final minutes of play and brought it to within one at 18:43 on a Zenon Konopka goal, but Dwyer answered right back with an empty net goal, his second of the game and sixth goal in his last four games, sealing the 5-3 victory for the River Rats.

Albany goaltender Daniel Manzato stopped 33-of-36 shots faced to earn his 14th win of the season as the River Rats improved to 29-28-3-3 on the season. Norfolk goalie Riku Helenius allowed four goals on 36 shots and took the loss as the Admirals fell to 26-32-3-5 on the year. Albany out-shot the Admirals 37-36 in the game and went 0-for-7 on the man advantage; Norfolk went 1-for-4 on the power play.

Notes: Defenseman Brett Carson and left wing Yannick Tifu each extended their points streaks in the game. Carson had two assists on the night and now has a six-game point streak (1 goal, 6 assists) and Tifu finished with one assist to extended his point streak to four games (1 goal, 3 assists).

The River Rats continue their four-game home stand on Friday, March 13th as they host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the Times Union Center. Saturday, March 14th the Philadelphia Phantoms are in town for a special 5:00 pm face off with Albany.

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 March 11, 2009


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