Petruzalek shoulders Albany to 3-2 win in Norfolk

Published on January 25, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


NORFOLK, VA - Jakub Petruzalek had a goal, an assist and a shootout goal to lead the Albany River Rats to a 3-2 shootout win over the Norfolk Admirals Friday night at the Norfolk Scope.

After dropping a close one-goal game at home Wednesday to Hartford, Albany was looking to rebound against the last place team in the East Division. But the River Rats ran into penalty trouble early on in the first period, giving the Admirals three-straight power plays and almost two minutes of five-on-three hockey. Albany killed off the two-man advantage, but the Admirals persisted with less than a minute left on the third minor penalty. Karl Stewart batted in a rebound at 14:02, his ninth goal of the season, putting Norfolk ahead 1-0. The Admirals dominated the scoring chances and out-shot the River Rats 17-5 in the first period.

Albany had more penalty trouble in the second period, as when Dave Gove was whistled for a holding minor their captain Keith Aucoin, in a sign of frustration, shot the puck into the netting after play was stopped and got tagged with a ten-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. However, unlike the first period, the River Rats were able to escape the penalties unscathed. Although there were only ten shots on goal combined between the two teams, on of them went into the net for the River Rats. Jakub Petruzalek raced in on a two-on-one and sent a crossing pass to Brandon Nolan on the right wing. Nolan wound up a blasted a shot into the net, scoring his 19th goal of the season at 16:46 and tying the game 1-1.

In the third period it was Petruzalek who put Albany in the lead at 10:52, when he one-timed a rebound from a Joey Mormina shot from the blue line, scoring his 7th goal of the season assisted by Mormina and Brett Carson. But as the River Rats tried to cling to their one-goal lead the Admirals threw everything they could at the Albany goal. With 1:15 left in regulation Leighton made a great save on Radek Smolenak's deflected shot, but Paul Szczechura was open on the far post to knock in the rebound, sending this game into overtime.

For the third time in four meetings this season between Albany and Norfolk 60 minutes of hockey was not enough to determine a winner. The Admirals dominated the overtime session, due largely to a four-on-three power play, but despite a number of great chances, Norfolk could not put the River Rats away. Norfolk went first in the shootout, but it took until the River Rats third shooter, Jakub Petruzalek, to start the scoring. Petruzalek raced in on goal, faked a quick forehand and then lifted a backhand shot past Boutin for a 1-0 lead. Karl Stewart tied it up with the next attempt in the fourth round, but Jamie Johnson came right back and scored to regain the River Rats lead. With the game in the balance, Michael Leighton stopped Justin Keller's effort in the fifth round, giving Albany a 2-1 win in the shootout and a 3-2 victory overall.

Leighton made 36 saves on 38 shots in through regulation and overtime to record his 14th win of the season; he blocked 4-of-5 shots in the shootout to help Albany improve to 25-20-0-2 on the season. Jonathan Boutin took the shootout loss in goal for Norfolk, stopping 18-of-20 shots in regulation and 2-of-4 shots in the shootout as the Admirals dropped to 13-27-1-4 on the season. Albany was 0-for-3 on the power play, while Norfolk finished 1-for-7 with the man advantage.

The River Rats will remain in Virginia for a second straight game with the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday, January 26th at 7:15 pm at the Norfolk Scope. Albany's next home game comes on Friday, February 1st against their I-90 rivals, the Syracuse Crunch at 7:00 pm at the Times Union Center.

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 January 25, 2008


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