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Leighton Shoulders River Rats To Crucial 4-1 Win

February 22, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - Goaltender Michael Leighton stopped 42 shots and added his first point of the season with an assist as the Albany River Rats downed the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4-1 Friday night at the Times Union Center. The win put Albany one point ahead of Bridgeport in the standings and back into the fourth place playoff spot in the East Division.

The River Rats wasted little time going on the offense against Bridgeport, the team they came into the game trailing by one point in the standings. Pat Dwyer was perfectly positioned near the crease to bang home a rebound from a Mike Angelidis shot at 1:02, putting Albany ahead 1-0. The goal was Dwyer's 7th goal of the year, assisted by Angelidis and Nicolas Blanchard. The River Rats doubled their lead at 8:09 when Jerome Samson redirected a Joey Mormina slap shot past goaltender Joey MacDonald, Samson's 20th goal of the season and his team-leading 12th power play goal. But the Sound Tigers got on the board late in the period on a Trevor Smith goal at 18:32, just following a Bridgeport power play. Albany failed the clear the zone after killing off a Mormina tripping penalty and the visitors made them pay as Smith took a shot from close range, then got his own rebound and scored, his ninth of the year. Bridgeport unloaded 21 shots on the Albany goal in the first period, a season-high for the River Rats for most shots allowed in one period.

The pace slowed slightly in the second period as is appeared that both teams were trying to control their defensive zones and not allow the wide-open play that prevailed in the first period. Albany took three more minor penalties, giving the Sound Tigers a total of six power plays in forty minutes of hockey, but the Rats penalty killers and goaltender Michael Leighton kept the Bridgeport scorers at bay.

The River Rats added some insurance in the third period when Joe Jensen's backhand pass from behind the net, intended for Jamie Johnson, bounced off a Bridgeport defenseman and into the net at 9:38 to put Albany ahead 3-1. The goal was credited to Jensen, his third goal of the season and first since joining the River Rats, assisted by Steve Ward and Casey Borer; for Ward the assist was his first career AHL point. As time wound down Bridgeport pulled MacDonald in an effort to spark a comeback, yet it would not be in the cards. Jamie Johnson added an empty net goal on a sharp angle shot, shooting from just below the left face off circle at 18:44 to cap off a 4-1 win. Johnson's goal, his 14th of the season, was assisted by Dwyer and Leighton; it was Leighton's first point of the season.

Michael Leighton stopped 42-of-43 shots to record his 18th win of the season and help the River Rats improve to 29-24-1-3 on the year. Joey MacDonald had 24 saves on 27 shots in goal for Bridgeport, who dropped to 30-25-1-0 on the season. Albany finished the game 1-for-4 on the power play and the River Rats penalty killers shutdown all eight of Bridgeport's power play chances.

The River Rats are back in action on Saturday night, February 23rd as they host their old affiliate the Lowell Devils at 7:00 pm at the Times Union Center. Sunday Albany will travel to Bridgeport for a 4:00 pm matinee with the Sound Tigers 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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