iver Rats Split Week, Remain In Three-Way Tie In East Division

Published on February 4, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany returned to action this week following the AHL's All-Star festivities in Binghamton, NY. All-Stars Michael Leighton and Keith Aucoin both shined during the two-day showcase and the team looked refreshed and ready for the beginning of their February schedule. The River Rats had lost four-straight games to Syracuse this season, but erased that streak by stifling the Crunch with an impressive 5-2 victory Friday at the Times Union Center. Keith Aucoin tied two Albany franchise records with a five-assist performance and Michael Leighton recorded his 16th win of the season. Saturday the River Rats traveled to Hershey for the fourth and final time during the 2007-08 regular season. Albany scored two power play goals in the third period to level the score at 2-2, but Bears scored three times in the final six minutes to keep Albany from taking any points in the game.

Week 19 Preview:

Albany is preparing for their lightest single week game schedule of the season, with just one game on the docket. The River Rats will head to the Glens Falls Civic Center to host their rival Syracuse Crunch on Saturday, February 9th at 7:00 pm. It is the second of three games for Albany in Glens Falls this season and the River Rats will be looking to prove themselves as a very different team than the flu-ridden lineup that lost to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 8-1 on December 15th.

Week 19 Schedule: (Home Games in Bold)

(All games are broadcasted LIVE on ESPN Radio 104.5 FM The Team and on the Internet at www.albanyriverrats.com)

Friday, February 9th - 7:00 pm - Glens Falls Civic Center

vs. Syracuse Crunch (22-25-2-2, 48 pts)

Third Place, North Division

* After losing four-straight games against Syracuse, the River Rats returned to the win column with a 5-2 drubbing of the Crunch on February 1st. Albany is now 2-4-0-0 against Syracuse this season, but has been out-scored by the Crunch 18-14. While the River Rats do not play until Saturday, Syracuse has a Wednesday night game in Rochester prior to their trip to Glens Falls.

* Leading Scorer: Joakim Lindstrom (LW) - 45 points (19 goals, 26 assists) in 36 games played.

* Leading Goaltender: Adam Munro (G) - 2.40 GAA, 0.914 save pct., 9-8-1-1 record in 21 GP.

* Who's Hot: Joakim Lindstrom (LW) - 9 points (5 goals, 4 assists) in last nine games played. Zenon Konopka (C) - 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in last ten games played. Alexandre Picard (LW) - 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) and a +3 rating in last five games played.

Week 18 Game Results:

2/1/08 Syracuse 2 @ Albany 5

ALBANY, NY - The River Rats broke a four-game losing skid to Syracuse with a 5-2 win over the Crunch Friday night at the Times Union Center. Keith Aucoin assisted on all five Albany goals, tying the single-game franchise records for assists and points. Brandon Nolan scored his fifth game-winning goal of the season and added three assist and rookie Jerome Samson returned from injury to score his 16th of the year. Derek Dorsett scored the game's first goal at 2:10 of the first period, but the River Rats rattled off five consecutive goals to put the game out of reach. Bryan Rodney recorded his second multi-point game of the season with a goal and an assist and Michael Leighton stopped 34-of-36 shots to earn his 16th win of the year. 1st Star - Brandon Nolan, 2nd Star - Keith Aucoin, 3rd Star - Jerome Samson.

2/2/08 Albany 2 @ Hershey 5

HERSHEY, PA - The River Rivers erased a 2-0 lead in the third period with a pair of power play goals, but couldn't hold back the Bears as Hershey scored three goals in the last six minutes to beat Albany 5-2 Saturday night at the Giant Center. Eric Fehr scored in the first period and Chris Bourque tallied a short-handed goal in the second period to give Hershey a 2-0 lead. Albany stormed back in the third period with power play goals from Brandon Nolan and Jamie Johnson, but it was not enough. Jason Morgan scored the eventual game-winning goal at 13:59, Joe Motzko scored a power play goal at 14:49 and Morgan added an empty net goal to finish off the River Rats. 1st Star - Jay Beagle, 2nd Star - Josef Boumedienne, 3rd Star - Jamie Johnson.

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 18)

Brandon Nolan - LW - #12 2 GP, 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points, +3, 0 PIMs

Left wing Brandon Nolan has been the model of consistency for the River Rats. Nolan had his 10-game point streak broken on January 23rd vs. Hartford, but has rallied to score in his last four games, including both in Week 18. Nolan had four points against Syracuse, including his team-leading fifth game-winning goal. He then followed it up with a two-point game Saturday in Hershey. It was his eight multi-point game of the season, but the first time this year that he had two or more points in back-to-back games. Nolan has scored points in 20 of his last 22 games, posting 30 points (13 goals, 18 assists) in that stretch.

Rat Bites:

- A RECORD NIGHT - C Keith Aucoin tied two Albany single game Franchise Records on Friday against Syracuse. The River Rats captain had five assists against the Crunch, becoming the second Albany player to accomplish that feat; Craig Darby set the record on March 2, 2003 against Bridgeport. Aucoin's five-point game also tied the Albany record for most points in one game, the twelfth time that has occurred. Aucoin is currently fifth in the AHL in assists (37) and is tied for 12th in the league in scoring (45 points).

- SHORT-HANDED STING - Albany allowed their sixth short-handed goal of the season on Saturday in Hershey. The River Rats are 1-5-0 this season when allowing a short-handed goal.

- ANOTHER MAJOR MILESTONE - Keith Aucoin has already passed some impressive career milestones this season, but another large accomplishment is approaching. The River Rats captain needs one assist to reach his 300th career American Hockey League assist.

- A STRANGE WINNING RECORD - The River Rats have a surprising above-0.500 record this season when being out-shot by their opponents. Albany has been out-shot 28 of their 50 games so far this year, but they have a 15-12-0-1 record in those contests.

- NEW GUYS IN THE LINEUP - C Greg Rallo and LW Joe Jensen made their Albany debuts on Friday against Syracuse. Rallo was called up from the ECHL's defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads, for his first AHL games of the season. Jensen was acquired by Carolina in a trade last Thursday with Pittsburgh in exchange for C Dave Gove.

River Rats Recent Transactions

January 31 - The Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) acquired Joe Jensen (LW) from the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) in exchange for Dave Gove (C), Jensen was then assigned to the Albany River Rats (AHL). Albany (AHL) signed Greg Rallo (C) to a Professional Tryout Agreement and released Jordan Fox (C) from his PTO, returning him to the Flint Generals (IHL).

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: Jamie Johnson (50)

Goals: Brandon Nolan (21)

Assists: Keith Aucoin (37)

Points: Keith Aucoin (45)

Plus/Minus: Casey Borer & Brandon Nolan (+12)

Penalty Minutes: Tim Conboy (185)

Power Play Goals: Jerome Samson (9)

Short Handed Goals: Keith Aucoin, Nicolas Blanchard, Pat Dwyer (1)

Game-Winning Goals: Brandon Nolan (5)

Shots: Jerome Samson (139)

Shooting Percentage: Brandon Nolan (16.3%)

Saves: Michael Leighton (957)

Wins: Michael Leighton (16)

GAA: Michael Leighton (2.17)

Save Percentage: Michael Leighton (0.928)

East Division Standings:

EAST GP RECORD PTS

Philadelphia 49 (31-15-1-2) 65

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 46 (27-17-0-2) 56

Hershey 46 (26-16-0-4) 56

Albany 50 (27-21-0-2) 56

Binghamton 48 (22-18-4-4) 52

Bridgeport 48 (24-23-1-0) 49

Norfolk 48 (15-27-2-4) 36

The River Rats will take their show to Glens Falls, NY on Saturday, February 9th against the Syracuse Crunch for a 7:00 pm face off at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Albany will return to the Times Union Center on Wednesday, February 13th as they host the Binghamton Senators 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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American Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2008


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