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Rats Set For Holiday Weekend

December 21, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany split a pair of road games last weekend to remain in second place in the East Division. The River Rats show a league best 8-1-1-0 record in their last 10 games and they remain on a seven-game, home-winning streak heading into the Holiday weekend. The Lowell Devils ended Albany's seven game winning streak Friday night in Massachusetts with a 3-2 final. Zach Boychuk scored in the first period and Jamie McBain gave the River Rats a 2-1 lead early in the second, but Devils leading scorer Ben Walter knotted the game moments later and Alexander Vasyunov broke the third period tie with 8:17 remaining. Albany rebounded in Syracuse the following night with a 5-2 decision over the Crunch. River Rats Center Stefan Chaput scored the game winner in the second period and goaltender Mike Murphy stopped 37-of-39 shots on goal for his seventh win of the year..

Week 13 Preview:

Albany plays a home-and-home series this weekend against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, beginning on Saturday, December 26th at 7:05 p.m. at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. Both teams then travel to Albany on Sunday, December 27th for a 5:00 p.m. faceoff at the Times Union Center.

Week 13 Game Schedule:

(All games are broadcast LIVE on WROW 590 AM "Newstalk 590," are streamed free over the Internet at www.wrow.com and can be watched via internet pay-per-view video on www.ahllive.com)

Saturday, December 26th - 7:05 pm - Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza - Wilkes-Barre, PA

Sunday, December 27th - 5:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scrnaton Penguins (14-14-1-1, 30 pts)

Fifth Place, East Division

- The Penguins went 1-2-0-0 last week to fall to fifth place in the East Division with a .500 record. Dustin Tokarski turned in a 36-save shutout and Admirals forwards Brandon Bochenski and Mark Parrish netted the game's only goals as Norfolk blanked the Penguins 2-0 Wednesday night in Virginia. The Baby Pens rebounded for their only win of the week Friday night in Syracuse, as Dustin Jeffrey broke a third period 2-2 tie just 38 seconds into the final frame, before Wilkes-Barre/Scranton tacked on two more for a 5-2 win. The Penguins led 2-1 early in the second period of their only home game of the week Saturday night against Toronto, but the Marlies scored three straight goals and held on for a 4-3 final.

- Leading Scorer: Dustin Jeffrey (C) - 30 points (8 goals, 22 assists) in 28 GP.

- Leading Goaltender: John Curry (G) - 2.45 GAA, .909 save pct., 12-11-1 in 24 GP.

- Who's Hot: Dustin Jeffrey (C) has four points (3-1-4) and a plus-3 rating in his last two games. Nick Johnson (RW) has four points (2-2-4) and a plus-3 rating in his last two games. Ben Lovejoy (D) had three points (1-2-3) and a plus-2 rating in his last game.

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 12)

Zach Boychuk - LW - #11

Day Opponent G A Pts. Notable

Fri. @ Lowell 1 0 1 Scored his eighth of the year

Sat.. @ Syracuse 1 0 1 Scored his ninth of the year

Totals 2 0 2 Plus-2 rating, Two game scoring streak

River Rats forward Zach Boychuk netted two of the season's prettiest goals this weekend to earn Albany's Player Of The Week nomination. The rookie scored the Rats' first goal Friday night in Lowell, stick-handling through a pair of converging defensemen at the blue line and darting wide of a charging goalie to pot his eighth of the year. Carolina's first round pick (14th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft showed off his hands again on Saturday in Syracuse, driving wide of defenseman Grant Clitsome and then cutting inside while dragging the puck through the defender's legs, before finishing with a laser to the top corner. Boychuk is tied for second place on the team in scoring with 20 points (9-11-20) and is tied for 10th place in the league's rookie scoring race.

Rat Bites:

- ON TARGET - Albany and Syracuse combined for a season-high 78 shots Saturday night in Central New York, split evenly at 39 per squad. The River Rats have allowed 39 or more shots-against three other times this season, but they've only taken more than 39 shots once (44 on NOV 18 vs. SYR).

- HOME SWEET HOME - The River Rats remain on a seven-game home winning streak heading into the holiday weekend, three wins shy of the AHL season-record, set by Rochester earlier this year (10 games, 10/09-11/27). Albany's 13 home wins are tied with Manchester for the most in the AHL.

- FIRST AHL POINT - Defenseman Elgin Reid made his AHL debut Friday night in Albany's 3-2 loss in Lowell, and scored his first AHL point the following night with an assist in the River Rats' 5-2 win in Syracuse. The third-year pro has 47 points (19-28-47) in 71 ECHL games played with the Elmira Jackals, Wheeling Nailers and Florida Everblades.

- LEAGUE LEADERS - Jerome Samson continues to lead the league in shots with 141, while Zach FitzGerald's 27 minor penalties top the AHL. Jacob Micflikier is third in the league in shooting percentage with a 0.263 mark (5-for-19). Justin Peters' 2.08 GAA is good for fifth in the league and his 0.929 save percentage ranks fourth. Nicolas Blanchard's 13 major penalties rank fifth in the AHL. Stefan Chaput and Zach Boychuk are tied for 10th place in the rookie scoring race with 20 points each. Boychuk's three game-winning goals are tied for second most among rookies.

River Rats Recent Transactions

December 2009

December 20 ADD - Bryan Rodney (D) - Returned to loan by Carolina (NHL)

December 18 ADD - Michael Ryan (LW) - Loaned by Carolina (NHL)

ADD - Elgin Reid (D) - Recalled from loan to Florida (ECHL)

December 13 ADD - Pat Dwyer (RW) - Returned on loan by Carolina (NHL)

ADD - Jiri Tlusty (LW) - Returned on loan by Carolina (NHL)

December 12 ADD - Michael Leighton (G) - Loaned by Carolina (NHL)

December 11 DELETE - Pat Dwyer (C) - Recalled from loan by Carolina (NHL)

DELETE - Jiri Tlusty (LW) - Recalled from loan by Carolina (NHL)

ADD - Harrison Reed (RW) - Reassigned by Carolina (NHL) from Florida (ECHL)

ADD - Matthew Pistilli (RW) - Reassigned by Carolina (NHL) from Florida (ECHL)

December 7 DELETE - Brett Carson (D) - Recalled from loan by Carolina (NHL)

December 6 ADD - Bryan Rodney (D) - Returned on loan by Carolina (NHL)

DELETE - Jay Harrison (D) - Recalled from loan by Carolina (NHL)

December 3 ADD - Jiri Tlusty (LW) - Loaned by Carolina (NHL)

ADD - Jacob Micflikier (RW) - Recalled from loan to Florida (ECHL)

DELETE - Bryan Rodney (D) - Recalled from loan by Carolina (NHL)

DELETE - Matthew Pistilli (RW) - Loaned to Florida (ECHL)

December 1 ADD -Pat Dwyer (RW) - Returned to loan by Carolina (NHL)

Promotional Information

Team Photo Giveaway and Post Game Autograph Session

Date: Sunday, December 27, 2009 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Time: 5:00 p.m. at Times Union Center

Team Photo Night: All fans receive the 2009-10 Albany River Rats team picture.

Post Game Autograph Session: Fans are invited onto the ice to meet the River Rats after the game for autographs and pictures.

Yankee Trails World Travel Giveaway: The first 1,000 fans through the doors will receive a free Casino Day Pass to either Foxwoods or Turning Stone, courtesy of Yankee Trails World Travel.

Dora To Take In Game 5 of the TWCC Series

Date: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 vs. Adirondack Phantoms

Time: 7:00 p.m. at Times Union Center

Dora: Dora The Explorer will be on the concourse for pictures and fun.

TWCC: All Time Warner Cable customers will receive a $3 discount with their TWC bill at the Times Union Center Box Office.

Ticket Info: Tickets can be purchased by calling the Times Union Center box office at 487-2000, by visiting or calling www.tickets.com at 1-800-30-EVENT, or by visiting select Price Chopper Outlets.

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: Five Players Tied (32)

Goals: Pat Dwyer & Jerome Samson (11)

Assists: Stefan Chaput & Jerome Samson (14)

Points: Jerome Samson (25)

Plus/Minus: Nick Dodge (+10)

Penalty Minutes: Zack FitzGerald (104)

Power Play Goals: Pat Dwyer & Jerome Samson (3)

Short Handed Goals: Pat Dwyer (2)

Game-Winning Goals: Zach Boychuk & Jerome Samson (3)

Shots: Jerome Samson (141)

Shooting Percentage: Jacob Micflikier (0.263%)

Saves: Justin Peters (524)

Wins: Justin Peters (11)

GAA: Justin Peters (2.08)

Save Percentage: Justin Peters (0.929)

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River Rats 2009-10 season and flex ticket 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 December 21, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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