Rats Tame Sound Tigers In Shootout 2-1

February 24, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


BRIDGEPORT, CT - Bryan Rodney scored the only shootout goal and Michael Leighton stopped all five shooters at his end as the Albany River Rats beat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2-1 in a shootout Sunday afternoon at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

In the eighth and final meeting with Bridgeport during the 2007-08 regular season, Albany found themselves playing their fifth game in seven days, and seventh in their last ten. The River Rats were looking to jump into the lead early in efforts to quiet the crowd. But it took almost the entire period before Albany's strategy unfolded as both goaltenders were solid early and space was hard to come by. Defenseman Mark Flood unleashed a blistering slap shot from the blue line that blazed through the traffic in front and just inside the right post for a power play goal at 18:09, his 10th goal of the season, assisted by Steve Ward and Jamie Johnson.

Eight seconds into the second period Albany defenseman Bryan Rodney was whistled for tripping, but the Sound Tigers could not tie the score on their third power play. Bridgeport then got into some penalty trouble as they took four consecutive minor penalties, even giving Albany a five-on-three advantage for over a minute. The River Rats out-shot the Sound Tigers 12-9 in the second period, but the session closed with the score still 1-0 Albany.

Bridgeport would level the score around the halfway point of the third period as Jeff Tambellini scored a power play goal at 9:12, his 29th of the season. The goal was set up by a smart cross-ice pass from Trevor Smith who found Tambellini open on the back post.

Both teams put pressure on the goalies in overtime, but with neither team finding the winning goal the game went to a shootout. After two scoreless rounds defenseman Bryan Rodney snapped a wrist shot through the legs of goaltender Mike Morrison to put Albany ahead 1-0. All the River Rats had to do was watch as goaltender Michael Leighton did the rest, stopping all five Bridgeport shooters to earn the 2-1 shootout victory.

Michael Leighton made 26 saves on 27 shots through regulation and overtime, then denied all five shootout attempts to record his 19th win of the season, helping Albany improve to 31-24-1-3 on the year. Mike Morrison also stopped 26-of-27 through 65 minutes of play and then blocked four-of-five shooters in the shootout as Bridgeport fell to 30-26-1-1. The River Rats finished the game 1-for-6 on the power play, while the Sound Tigers were 1-for-5 on the afternoon.

Notes: The game was goaltender Michael Leighton's 300th career Pro game and 250th career AHL game. Center Jamie Johnson played in his 350th career Pro game on Sunday, while left wing Trevor Gillies played in his 499th career Pro game and Head Coach Tom Rowe coached his 299th career AHL game as a head coach.

The River Rats will return home to start another busy week of AHL action. Albany will begin their week with a home game on Wednesday, February 27th against the Binghamton Senators 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.



American Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2008


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