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Hughes Goal Ignites Comeback Win Over Amerks

December 19, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - The Albany River Rats came back from a two-goal deficit to beat the Rochester Americans 3-2 Wednesday night at the Times Union Center.

The River Rats were looking for some extra energy to start the game, with the ECHL's leading scorer Yannick Tifu making his AHL debut and most of their roster players recovered from the stomach virus that so waylaid Albany last weekend. But it would be the Amerks who took the lead early on as Rob Globke finished off a beautiful three-man passing combination with Clarke MacArthur and Marek Zagrapan at 4:44 of the first period. Their assists found Globke wide open at the top of the crease and all the Rochester forward had to do was tap the puck into the open net for a 1-0 lead.

The Amerks continued to pressure Albany and their leading scorer caught the River Rats right down route one. Defenseman Mike Weber fired a pass from the middle of his own zone right down the center of the ice, linking up with Clarke MacArthur at the Albany blue line. MacArthur took the puck in-stride and raced in all alone and beat goaltender Justin Peters for a 2-0 Rochester lead at 3:51. Albany seemed to lack the spark they needed to rally back until Wade Brookbank sent rookie Bobby Hughes in on a breakaway and Hughes provided the spark by sliding a backhand shot through the legs of Amerks goalie David Shantz at 6:53.

The comeback was in full force when Brandon Nolan turned in a coast-to-coast highlight reel move to tie the game. Nolan skated the puck from his defensive zone, though every defender and deked his way past Shantz for his 11th goal of the year at 9:42, assisted by Casey Borer and Jamie Johnson, tying the game 2-2. Late in the period Brett Carson's slap shot from the blue line was redirected by Dave Gove into the far corner at 18:28, Gove's 5th goal of the season, assisted by Carson and Derek Damon, putting the River Rats ahead for good.

In the third period Rochester gave Albany three-straight power plays and ample opportunities to put the game on ice, but Shantz made some excellent saves in goal to keep the game close. At the other end of the ice goalie Justin Peters remained focused, stopping every potential game tying effort he faced.

Peters earned his third win of the season, improving to 3-0 this season for Albany in games he starts, making 22 saves on 24 shots as the River Rats bettered their record to 17-12-0-2. David Shantz stopped 26-of-29 shots in the losing effort for Rochester, the Americans seventh consecutive loss. Albany was 0-for-8 on the power play, while the Amerks finished 0-for-4.

Earlier in the day the River Rats called up defenseman Bryan Rodney from the Elmira Jackals (ECHL) and signed him to a standard AHL players contract. Albany released left wing Derek Damon from his Professional Tryout Agreement and signed him to a standard AHL players contract. The River Rats also reassigned defenseman J.D. Forrest to Elmira (ECHL).

This weekend the River Rats are on the road approaching the Christmas holiday. Friday Albany heads to Syracuse for a 7:30 pm face off with the Crunch at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Saturday Albany with have a rematch with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Wachovia Arena, exactly one week after their game in Glens Falls.

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 December 19, 2007


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