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Penguins Discard River Rats 4-2

April 10, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


WILKES-BARRE, PA - The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins scored three first period goals on their way to a 4-2 win over the Albany River Rats Friday night at Wachovia Arena.

Playing for the eighth and final time this season against the Penguins, the River Rats grabbed the lead on the first power play of the game. Bryan Rodney fired a slap shot from the point off the leg pads of goaltender John Curry and rookie Nick Dodge swept home the rebound for his 13th goal of the season at 6:17, assisted by Rodney and Jakub Petruzalek and Albany had a 1-0 lead. The advantage would last 35 seconds; Paul Bissonnette tied the game at 6:52 on a pass from behind the goal from J.M. Daoust. The Penguins then took the lead at 9:28 when Tim Wallace threaded a pass from the right corner off the stick of defenseman Mark Flood and right to Connor James on the far post, who one-timed the puck passed a stretched Justin Peters. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tacked on a third-straight goal in the final minute of the period as Mark Letestu tipped a pass from Janne Pesonen at 19:16, Letestu's 24th goal of the season, which gave the Penguins a 3-1 lead after one period.

Shots on goals were sparse for Albany in the second period as the Penguins' defense held the Rats offense to just six shots on target. At 17:22 rookie center Joe Vitale cash in with his first career professional goal, taking a turnover at the blue line into the right circle and then snapping a wrist shot under the blocker of Peters and into the far side of the net. Vitale's goal, assisted by Daoust, gave Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 4-1 lead.

Midway through the third period Ryan Weston scored his ninth goal of the year as he skated around two Penguins defensemen and then blazed a wrist shot under the blocker of Curry at 8:21, assisted by Zach Boychuk and Brandon Sutter to cut the lead to 4-2. The assist for Boychuk was his first career professional point, coming in his AHL debut. Albany increased the pressure on the Penguins goal, even pulling Peters with two minutes remaining, but they could not get any closer as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton held on for a 4-2 win.

John Curry made 22 saves on 24 shots to record his 33rd win of the season and help Wilkes-Barre/Scranton improve to 48-24-3-3. Albany starter Justin Peters stopped 28-of-32 shots in the losing effort as the River Rats fell to 32-40-3-4 on the year. The Penguins out-shot the Rats 32-24 in the game and went 0-for-4 on the power play; Albany was 1-for-5 with the man-advantage.

The River Rats will return home for their final game of the 2008-09 season Saturday, April 11th against the Binghamton Senators at 7:00 pm at the Times Union Center.

River Rats flex ticket packages and individual game tickets are on sale now at the River Rats office and the Times Union Center Box Office. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.



American Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2009


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