Leighton, Rats Set New Franchise Shutout Records

Published on December 10, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The River Rats swept up all four points in Week 10, starting with a magnificent defensive effort in a 2-0 shutout of the Portland Pirates Friday night. Michael Leighton recorded his 5th shutout of the season and the River Rats tallied their 7th team shutout, both new franchise records. Sunday in Hershey, the River Rats snapped a three game losing skid against the Bears, beating them 4-3 in a shootout, the team's first shootout win in three tries this season. With the four-point week, and the win over Hershey, Albany maintained their second place standing in the East Division, five points behind first place Philadelphia and two points ahead of the third place Bears.

Week 11 Preview:

After a light week with only two games in Week 10, the River Rats are back to four games in five nights this week, starting with a Wednesday night showdown in Bridgeport at 7:30 pm. Friday Albany will head to Lowell for their third meeting this season with the Devils. Saturday the River Rats play their first of three home games at the Glens Falls Civic Center, hosting the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 5:00 pm. The Rats will finish off the weekend with a 4:00 pm Sunday face off back in Bridgeport, their second game of the week against the Sound Tigers.

Week 11 Schedule: (Home Games in Bold)

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

Wednesday, December 12 - 7:30 pm - The Arena at Harbor Yard

@ Bridgeport Sound Tigers (9-12-1-0, 19 pts)

Seventh Place, East Division

The River Rats begin a busy road week with their first of two trips to Bridgeport this week. Albany took three points out four in their first two meetings; winning in Albany 5-2 on November 24th and dropping a shootout 4-3 on November 25th in Connecticut. The River Rats at 11-15-5-5 (32 points) in 35 games with the Sound Tigers.

Leading Scorer: Jeff Tambellini (LW) - 21 points (7 goals, 14 assists) in 20 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Mike Morrison (G) - 2.76 GAA, 0.903 save pct., 5-4-0 record in 9 games played.

Who's Hot: Tim Jackman (RW) 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) and +4 in last five games. Sean Bentivoglio (F) 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in last five games.

Friday, December 14 - 7:05 pm - Tsongas Arena

@ Lowell Devils (8-14-2-1, 19 pts)

Tied-Sixth Place, Atlantic Division

Albany has won both games against the Devils this season; a 5-2 win on November 3rd at the Times Union Center, then a 3-0 shutout on November 23rd in Lowell. The River Rats are 4-2-0-0 (8 points) All Time against the Devils. This is the second and final trip by Albany to Lowell during the 2007-08 season.

Leading Scorer: Petr Vrana (C) - 23 points (5 goals, 18 assists) in 25 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Jordan Parise (G) - 2.79 GAA, 0.911 save pct., 3-6-0 record in 9 games played.

Who's Hot: Petr Vrana (C) - 7 points (1 goal, 6 assists) and +3 in last 5 games. Noah Clarke (LW) - 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) and +2 in last 5 games.

Saturday, December 15 - 5:00 pm - Glens Falls Civic Center

vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (12-12-0-0, 24 pts)

Fifth Place, East Division

Albany has won both games against the Penguins this season; a 1-0 shutout by Michael Leighton in Wilkes-Barre on October 26th and a 4-0 shutout by Kevin Nastiuk on November 17th in Albany. The River Rats are 15-24-5-2 (37 points) in 46 games All Time against Wilkes-Barre. This is the first of three games at the Glens Falls Civic Center this season. After Saturday's game, the River Rats will not host the Penguins at the Times Union Center again until March 15th. Due to an injury to Pittsburgh starter Marc-Andre Fleury, Ty Conklin was recalled from Wilkes-Barre, meaning the Penguins have called up goalies John Curry and David Brown from the Wheeling Nailers, their ECHL affiliate.

Leading Scorer: Jeff Taffe (C) - 18 points (12 goals, 6 assists) in 24 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Ty Conklin (G) - 2.21 GAA, 0.919 save pct., 11-7-0 record in 18 games played.

Who's Hot: Jeff Taffe (C) - 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) and +3 in last 5 games. Nathan Smith (C) - 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) and +3 in last 5 games.

Sunday, December 16 - 4:00 pm - The Arena at Harbor Yard

@ Bridgeport Sound Tigers (9-12-1-0, 19 pts)

Seventh Place, East Division

Three of the four River Rats game in Bridgeport during 2007-08 are on Sunday. After this game, Albany will not return to Bridgeport until February 24th, another 4:00 pm Sunday game. They will not host the Sound Tigers again until January 19th. Keith Aucoin (C) leads the Rats in scoring against Bridgeport with 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in two games. Four different Sound Tigers have two points in two games against Albany.

Leading Scorer: Jeff Tambellini (LW) - 21 points (7 goals, 14 assists) in 20 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Mike Morrison (G) - 2.76 GAA, 0.903 save pct., 5-4-0 record in 9 games played.

Who's Hot: Tim Jackman (RW) 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) and +4 in last five games. Sean Bentivoglio (F) 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in last five games.

Week 10 Game Results:

12/7/07 Portland 0 @ Albany 2

ALBANY, NY - Brandon Nolan broke a scoreless tie at 4:45 of the third period with a between-the-legs backhand shot that slipped past Pirates goaltender Gerald Coleman. Keith Aucoin doubled the Albany lead at 18:13 and goaltender Michael Leighton stopped all 26 shots he faced for his 5th shutout of the season. Mark Flood had two assists, while Coleman finished with 32 saves. 1st Star - Leighton, 2nd Star - Coleman, 3rd Star - Flood.

12/09/07 Albany 4 @ Hershey 3 - Shootout (2-1)

HERSHEY, PA - Hershey forward Jay Beagle scored first at 10:55 with a power play goal, but Albany's Jamie Johnson answered with a power play goal of his own at 15:04 to tie the game. Mark Flood put the River Rats ahead at 2:11 of the second period, his fourth goal of the year. Rookie Derek Damon battled a rebound out of mid-air into the open net for a power play goal at 5:50, giving Albany a 3-1 lead. But Hershey battled back to tie the game 3-3 after two periods. After a scoreless third period and overtime session the game went to a shootout. Keith Aucoin and Jay Beagle each scored in round one, but it was Derek Damon's goal in round four, which gave Albany the win. Aucoin and J.D. Forrest each had two assists for the River Rats. Michael Leighton made 35 saves on 38 shots in regulation and stopped 4-of-5 in the shootout for his 10th win of the year; Daren Machesney made 32 saves for Hershey. 1st Star - Aucoin, 2nd Star - Forrest, 3rd Star - Machesney.

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 10)

Mark Flood - D - #4 2 GP, 1 Goal, 2 Assists, 3 Points, +2

Defenseman Mark Flood has emerged as an offensive threat from the blue line this season. Flood topped all River Rats scorers this week, registering 2 assists on Friday against Portland, then scoring a goal on Sunday in Albany's shootout win in Hershey. Flood has 9 points this season (4 goals, 5 assists), which is the second most amongst Albany defenseman.

Rat Bites:

- THE SHUTOUTS KEEP COMING - G Michael Leighton recorded his AHL-leading 4th shutout of the season in Wednesday's 7-0 win over Norfolk, tying an Albany franchise record for shutouts in one year, held by Ari Ahonen (2004-05). It was his 26th career AHL shutout and ranks him 8th All Time in the AHL, just one shutout behind Jean-Francois Labbe (1993-2003).

- BLANKING ON A WEEKLY BASIS - The River Rats 2-0 shutout of the Portland Pirates on Friday marked the 5th consecutive week that Albany has recorded at least one shutout during their weekly action. This current streak began in Week 6 with a 2-0 shutout of the Binghamton Senators on November 7th and has continued through Week 10.

- A NEW RECORD - G Michael Leighton set a new Albany single season franchise record with his 5th shutout of the year on Friday against Portland. Leighton passed Ari Ahonen, who had four shutouts during the 2004-05 season. It was Leighton's 27th career AHL shutout, tying him for 7th All-Time with J.F. Labbe.

- CAN'T GET ENOUGH SHUTOUT STATS - The shutout against Portland was Albany's AHL-leading 7th shutout of the year, which breaks the River Rats team record for most in one season; their previous record of six shutouts was set in 2004-05.

- FIFTY HELPERS - Left wing Brandon Nolan recorded his 50th career AHL assist on Sunday in Hershey. Through 179 career AHL games, Nolan has 86 points (36 goals).

- ONE HUNDRED AND COUNTING - Defenseman Tim Conboy played in his 100th game for the Albany River Rats on Friday vs. Portland. Conboy has recorded 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) and 246 penalty minutes in 101 career games for the River Rats.

- A BIG PLUS - Defenseman Casey Borer leads the River Rats with a +11 Plus/Minus rating, which ties him for 9th in the AHL; he is also tied for 2nd amongst AHL Rookies and tied for 3rd amongst AHL Defensemen.

River Rats Recent Transactions

December 5 - The Albany River Rats (AHL) returned Kirk MacDonald (RW) on loan to the Florida Everblades (ECHL).

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Goals: Brandon Nolan (10)

Assists: Keith Aucoin (18)

Points: Keith Aucoin (22)

Plus/Minus: Casey Borer (+11)

Penalty Minutes: Tim Conboy (83)

Power Play Goals: Jerome Samson (6)

Short Handed Goals: Pat Dwyer (1)

Game-Winning Goals: Brandon Nolan (3)

Shots: Jerome Samson (80)

Shooting Percentage: Mike Angelidis (17.9%)

Saves: Michael Leighton (614)

Wins: Michael Leighton (10)

GAA: Kevin Nastiuk (1.20)

Save Percentage: Kevin Nastiuk (0.959)

East Division Standings:

EAST GP RECORD PTS

Philadelphia 25 (17-7-1-0) 35

Albany 26 (14-10-0-2) 30

Hershey 24 (13-9-0-2) 28

Binghamton 25 (12-9-3-1) 28

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 24 (12-12-0-0) 24

Norfolk 26 (10-13-1-2) 23

Bridgeport 22 (9-12-1-0) 19

The River Rats have four games on their schedule for this week, beginning on Wednesday, December 12 at Bridgeport. Friday, December 14th Albany will play in Lowell for a 7:05 pm face off. Saturday the River Rats host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 5:00 pm at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Sunday Albany is back in Bridgeport for a 4:00 pm game at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

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 December 10, 2007


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