Hamilton, Borer Lead Albany To 2-1 Win Over Philadelphia

Published on March 2, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - Jeff Hamilton scored the go-ahead goal with 66 seconds left in regulation as the Albany River Rats beat the Philadelphia Phantoms 2-1 Sunday night at the Times Union Center for their seventh consecutive win.

Philadelphia opened the scoring at 11:58 of the first period. After a long, grinding shift of working the puck along the boards Phantoms captain Boyd Kane followed up his own rebound and stuffed the puck between Leighton and the post for a 1-0 lead.

The lead held up through a scoreless second period and but did not last long into the third. Kiel McLeod won a face off at the left circle cleanly back to the point and defenseman Casey Borer blazed a one-timer just inside the far post at 3:51 for his sixth goal of the year, tying the game 1-1. Borer's goal was the first Albany goal allowed by Philadelphia goaltender Scott Munroe since their game on November 11th at the Wachovia Spectrum, when coincidentally it was Borer who scored a first period power play goal. Munroe's shutout streak of the River Rats lasted 148 minutes and 21 seconds, spanning seven-plus periods of action.

The low scoring, playoff-style game continued through the rest of the period as both teams were searching for the knockout blow. It came with just over a minute remaining in regulation. Defenseman Joey Mormina unleashed a heavy slap shot from the blue line that hit Jeff Hamilton and redirected behind Munroe and into the net at 18:54. The goal was Hamilton's first AHL goal in over two years, assisted by Mormina and Marc Cavosie, and it gave the River Rats a 2-1 victory.

Michael Leighton pitched a gem in goal for the River Rats, stopping 29-of-30 shots to earn his 22nd win of the season, lifting Albany to 35-24-1-3, just seven points the East Division leaders. Scott Munroe made 27 saves on 29 shots and was tagged with the loss in goal for Philadelphia, who dropped to 38-19-2-3. The River Rats were 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Phantoms were held without a power play in the game.

The River Rats hit the road next week with a Wednesday, March 5th trip to Binghamton for a 7:05 pm face off with the Senators at the Broome County Veterans Memorials Arena. Albany's next home game will take place on Saturday, March 8th as they host Binghamton at the Glens Falls Civic Center 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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