Rats Blank Phantoms To Grab 1-0 Series Lead

Published on April 16, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - Bryan Rodney had a goal and two assists and Michael Leighton blocked all 39 shots he faced as the Albany River Rats shutout the Philadelphia Phantoms 4-0 in Game 1 of the East Division Semifinals Wednesday night at the Times Union Center.

The game started off with a bang, with both teams committing themselves to a hard-hitting, passionate style of play. The River Rats struck first, scoring the opening goal of the entire 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs, to take a 1-0 lead. Just as Albany's first penalty of the game was expiring Mike Angelidis won possession of the puck down on the goal line in the River Rats zone and fired an inch-perfect pass right onto the blade of Jakub Petruzlek as he stepped out of the penalty box. No one was within fifty feet of Petruzalek as he raced into the offensive zone, made a fake on goaltender Scott Munroe and snapped a wrist shot into the net, assisted by Angelidis and Bryan Rodney.

In the second period both teams continued to work the fore check, but neither looked like yielding any space. Late in the period the River Rats efforts paid off as they doubled their lead with a power play goal. Marc Cavosie sent a pass from the right side wall to Jerome Samson standing in the slot. Samson partially fanned on his one-timer, but as the puck was heading wide of the net, it ricocheted off the skate of a Philadelphia defenseman and slid into the goal for a 2-0 lead at 17:06; Cavosie and Rodney were credited on Samson's first career professional playoff game, in his first pro post-season game. Less than two minutes later Bryan Rodney was in the middle of another attack. Mike Angelidis' shot from the slot went wide of the goal, but Nicholas Blanchard jumped on the loose puck behind the goal line and backhanded it out into the slot. Rodney collected the pass and buried a wrist shot into the right side of the net before Munroe could slide across, putting Albany ahead 3-0 at 18:57.

In the third period Cavosie scored a power play goal to boost Albany's lead to 4-0 at 3:12. He took a great pass from Samson in the slot, faked out Munroe and slid a backhand shot into a wide open net, assisted by Samson and Brett Carson. Midway through the period Albany dazzled the home fans by killing off a one-minute and 53 second five-on-three Philadelphia power play. With 29 seconds left in the game a line brawl broke out near the Phantoms bench that resulted in six fighting major penalties (three for each team) and game misconducts against Trevor Gillies and Tim Conboy.

Michael Leighton put together another sparkling performance in goal for Albany, stopping a massive 39 shots to record the victory and the shutout as the River Rats grabbed a 1-0 series lead. Scott Munroe made 21 saves on 25 shots in goal for Philadelphia who falls to 0-1 in the playoffs. Albany finished the game 2-for-6 on the power play, while the Phantoms were 0-for-6.

The series will now move to Philadelphia with Game 2 on Friday night, April 18th at 7:05 pm at the Wachovia Center. Game 3 is on Sunday, April 20th at 5:05 pm in Philadelphia, while Game 4 will take place on Tuesday, April 22nd at 7:00 pm at the Times Union Center.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2008


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