Penguins Hold Off River Rats 4-3

Published on December 20, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


WILKES-BARRE, PA - Mike Angelidis scored two goals and added one assist but the Albany River Rats came up just shot as they lost to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4-3 Saturday night at Wachovia Arena.

Looking to head into the holiday break on a positive note, the River Rats knew they needed to play a simple, grinding road game as they tried to deal with a slew of injuries to their roster. Albany got what they were looking for as they stuck first just 2:01 into the game as defenseman Jonathan Paiement blasted a shot from the right point and Mike Angelidis tipped it home for a power play goal and a 1-0 lead. But the Penguins answered right back 40 seconds later as rookie Janne Pesonen drilled in a slap shot, almost a mirror image of Paiement's shot, for a power play goal to tie the game at 2:41. Albany would not be denied the lead as they continued to put pressure of the Wilkes-Barre defense. Bryan Rodney fired the puck from the left point that Angelidis tipped on goal, then picked up his own rebound and backhanded the puck through the legs of goaltender John Curry at 4:46. The goal was Angelidis' second of the game, his ninth of the season, and it was assisted by Rodney and Ryan Weston, Weston's first career AHL assist.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton stormed back in the second period, tying the game at 2-2 on a goal from Tommy Goebel at 6:09. The teams battled to a deadlock through most of the period, but a late penalty to Rats defenseman at 17:57 gave the home team an opening. The Penguins took just 14 seconds to capitalize on the power play as Chris Minard scored his AHL-leading 20th goal of the season at 18:11, assisted by Pesonen and Dustin Jeffrey. It was the first time in the game that Wilkes-Barre had the lead and they were able to carry the 3-2 advantage into the second intermission.

Goebel lit the lamp again at 3:15 of the third period as his wrist shot from the right circle glanced off the catching glove of Albany goaltender Daniel Manzato and into the net for a 4-2 lead. The goal was Goebel's second goal of the game, his third AHL goal of the season, but what he didn't know was that it would prove to be the game-winner. Rats rookie Ryan Weston answered back to keep the visitors in the game with his second goal of the season at 5:22, assisted by Paiement and Angelidis, making it a 4-3 game. Albany pressure the Penguins goal the rest of the game, out-shooting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 12-3 in the final frame, but even pulling Manzato for the final minute for the extra attacker wasn't enough as they came up just short.

John Curry made 25 saves on 28 shots to record the win and help Wilkes-Barre/Scranton improve to 17-11-1-1 on the season. Daniel Manzato stopped 17-of-21 and took the loss as the River Rats dropped to 10-15-3-2. Albany out-shot the Penguins 28-21 in the game and went 1-for-4 on the power play; Wilkes-Barre was 2-for-6 on the man advantage.

The River Rats are now off for the AHL's Christmas Break and will return to action on Saturday, December 27th at 5:00 pm against the Rochester Americans 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.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 20, 2008


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