Rats Drop Sharks 5-3

March 17, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY-River Rats leading scorer Jerome Samson had a four point night with a goal and three assists, as Albany defeated the Worcester Sharks 5-3 on Wednesday night at the Times Union Center.

Oskar Osala scored two goals for Albany and Drayson Bowman netted the game-winner, as the River Rats extended their point streak to eight games with their fourth consecutive win.

The sides were knotted at 1-1 late in the second period, when Samson took matters into his own hands to reclaim his club's lead. The league's third leading goal-scorer pounced on a loose puck off of a faceoff, lowered his shoulder into a defenseman and drove to the net before deking Worcester goalie Frank Doyle to his knees and finishing upstairs with 28 seconds remaining in the frame.

Samson then helped Albany to a 3-1 lead early in the third period with a perfect backhand pass to Cedric McNicoll on the back-door for the rookie's seventh goal of the season at 2:38. Danny Groulx brought Worcester back to within a goal at 4:15, but Bowman scored the deciding goal at 8:06 of the final period on a 2-on-1 feed from Jacob Micflikier. Samson set-up Albany's fifth tally at 9:57, threading a breakaway feed to Osala for the big-bodied winger's second goal of the night on a strong backhand to forehand deke. Worcester's Dennis McCauley closed-out the score sheet at 15:27.

Osala scored the game's first goal at 5:59 of the opening period, chipping his own rebound past Doyle after getting robbed on his initial back-door attempt, set-up by Samson. Worcester drew even at 7:24 of the second period, when Clifton Park native Nick Petrecki' expiring penalty created an odd-man-rush. Petreki dished to Andrew Desjardins on the right wing, who found trailer Jason Demers at the top of the faceoff circle for a one-time blast past River Rats goalie Mike Morrison.

Morrison stopped 37-of-40 shots faced in the game to earn his fifth straight win, as the River Rats improved to 38-24-3-5 this season. Doyle allowed five goals on 29 shots and took the loss, as the Sharks fell to 41-21-2-3 this year. Worcester out-shot Albany 40-29 in the contest and went 0-for-4 on the power play, while the River Rats were 1-for-3 on the man-advantage.

Albany travels to Hershey on Friday for a 7:00 p.m. match-up against the defending Calder Cup Champions, before playing a home-and-home series this weekend against the Senators. Binghamton hosts the first game on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. and Albany hosts game two at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. River Rats 2010 Calder Cup playoff packages are now on sale at the River Rats executive offices at the Times Union Center, by calling (518) 487-2244 or by logging onto www.albanyriverrats.com.



American Hockey League Stories from March 17, 2010


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