Gove Two-Point Night Leads Albany To 3-1 Win

January 9, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


MANCHESTER, NH - Dave Gove score a goal and an assist and Keith Aucoin added two assists of his own as the Albany River Rats beat the Manchester Monarchs 3-1 Wednesday night at Verizon Wireless Arena.

With captain and lead-scorer Keith Aucoin and leading goal-scorer Brandon Nolan back in the Albany lineup after their recent call-up to Carolina, the River Rats were rejuvenated as they squared off with the Monarchs for the second and final time this season. No surprise then that both players factored into the opening goal of the game as Aucoin played Nolan forward down the right side of the offensive zone and then Nolan threaded the puck through a tight window to find Jerome Samson driving to the far post. Samson knocked the pass into the open at 14:05 of the first period, scoring his team-leading 14th goal of the season, assisted by Nolan and Aucoin. Dave Gove doubled the River Rats lead at 17:24 with his 7th goal of the year, a power play goal assisted by J.D. Forrest and Keith Aucoin.

Albany held a majority of the offensive play in the second period, out-shooting the Monarchs 10-5 in the middle frame, but the goaltenders dominated play, as Albany's John Grahame and Erik Ersberg for Manchester kept the puck out of their nets.

The River Rats did not take long to increase their lead in the third period as Jakub Petruzalek made it 3-0 with a power play goal at 2:52, his third goal of the season, assisted by Gove and Brett Carson. Petruzalek had to react quickly to collect the rebound off Carson's shot that caromed to the winger at the bottom of the left circle. He did just that, rifling the puck into the open net before Ersberg could readjust. Manchester spoiled Grahame's shutout bid 61 seconds later when Brian Boyle's shot from the left circle squirted through the pads and into the net at 3:53, his 17th goal of the season. The goal sparked the Monarchs to life, out-shooting Albany 13-7 in the final period, but the River Rats closed the door on Manchester for the 3-1 win.

John Grahame recorded his first career win for Albany, stopping 27-of-28 shots in goal to help the River Rats improve to 21-17-0-2. Erik Ersberg took the loss in goal for Manchester; making 25 saves on 28 shots. Albany finished the game 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Monarchs top-ranked power play was shutdown, 0-for-4.

The River Rats continue their busy week as they travel to Maine for a Friday night game against the Portland Pirates at 7:05 pm at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Albany's next home game comes on Saturday, January 12th against the Worcester Sharks 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 January 9, 2008


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