Rats Wrap-Up Homestand This Weekend

January 12, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany went 2-0-1-0 in three home games last week to earn five-of-6 possible points, while building a four point lead over the third-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the East Division standings. The River Rats led 3-2 late in Game Seven of the Time Warner Cable Cup series against the Phantoms, but David Laliberte slipped a rebound under Justin Peters with 1:07 remaining and Stefan Legein netted the winner at 4:05 of overtime for a 4-3 final Wednesday night. Albany netted three shootout goals in four rounds Friday night and Peters turned-aside all three Monarchs attempts to earn a 3-2 shootout decision. River Rats All-Star representative Peters started his third game of the week Saturday night and claimed his second straight win, as Jacob Micflikier scored a goal and added an assist for a 3-1 final over the Hartford WolfPack.

Week 16 Preview:

Albany completes its season long five-game home-stand this weekend with a pair of games Friday and Saturday, before hitting the road Sunday to complete its three-in-three weekend. The River Rats host the East Division-leading Hershey Bears Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Saturday night at 5:00 p.m. They then face the Bruins on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. in Providence.

Week 16 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)

Friday, January 15th - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Hershey Bears (29-8-0-2, 60 pts)

1st Place, East Division

- Hershey swept its two-game weekend set in Winnipeg to extend its winning streak to a team record 12 games. The Bears have earned an AHL-high 60 points this season, good for a 14-point lead over Albany atop the East Division. Hershey has not lost since a 3-0 setback against the River Rats on Dec. 11th. Albany also won its previous match-up with the Bears, a 3-1 decision on December 4th, and the River Rats hold a 2-1 lead in the eight-game season series. The clubs next meet on February 12th at the Times Union Center.

- Leading Scorer: Keith Aucoin (C) - 45 points (19 goals, 26 assists) in 32 GP.

- Leading Goaltender: Braden Holtby (G) - 1.45 GAA, .950 save pct., 11-1-1 in 13 GP.

- Who's Hot: Keith Aucoin (C) is on a seven-game point streak with 13 points (5-8-13) and a plus-eight rating over that stretch. Alexandre Giroux (LW) is also on a seven-game point streak with seven points (2-5-7) and a plus-five rating during that span. Andrew Gordon (RW) is on a three-game goal-scoring streak.

Saturday, January 16th - 5:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (21-17-1-2, 45 pts)

T-5th Place, Atlantic Division

- The Sound Tigers swept their home-and-home series against the Falcons last week, winning both games by 3-2 finals. Bridgeport blew an early 2-0 lead Friday night in Springfield, but Micheal Haley broke a third period tie to clinch the game for the Sound Tigers. Former River Rats defenseman Mark Flood was the hero Saturday night in Bridgeport, netting the overtime-winner with five seconds remaining in the sudden-death frame. Saturday will be the second of four meetings this season between Albany and Bridgeport. The Sound Tigers earned a 4-1 home win against the River Rats on October 25th for a 1-0 lead in the season series, which concludes with a pair of games later this month. Albany hosts Game Three on January 22nd, then the clubs head to Connecticut on January 26th.

- Leading Scorer: Sean Bentivoglio (C) - 25 points (12 goals, 13 assists) in 41 GP.

- Leading Goaltender: Scott Munroe (G) - 2.34 GAA, .925 save pct., 11-8-1 in 21 GP.

- Who's Hot: Jesse Joensuu (LW) is on a seven-game point streak with nine points (3-6-9) and a plus-six rating over that stretch. Trevor Smith (LW) is on a four-game point streak with four points (2-2-4) and a plus-3 rating during that span. Dustin Kohn (D) has three assists in his last two games.

Sunday, January 17th - 4:050 pm - Dunkin Donuts Center - Providence, RI

vs. Providence Bruins (19-20-2-0, 40 pts)

7th Place, Atlantic Division

- The P-Bruins are winless in four of their last five games and sit five points behind the sixth-place Sound Tigers in the Atlantic Division. Providence earned its lone win last week at home against Adirondack on Friday, before falling 4-3 in Worcester on Saturday. The Bruins closed-out their week on Sunday at home with a 2-1 overtime loss to Hartford. Sunday's match-up will be the second and final game this season between Albany and Providence. The River Rats won the first meeting 3-1 in Providence on December 12th.

- Leading Scorer: Mikko Lehtonen (RW) - 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 41 GP.

- Leading Goaltender: Dany Sabourin (G) - 2.52 GAA, .915 save pct., 16-13-0 in 30 GP.

- Who's Hot: Jordan Knackstedt (RW) has four assists and a plus-3 rating in his last two games. Zach Hamil (C) is on a two game goal-scoring streak. Levi Nelson (C) has three points (1-2-3) in his last two games.

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 15)

Jacob Micflikier - RW - #18

Day Opponent G A Pts. Notable

Wed. vs. ADK 0 0 0

Fri. vs. MCH 0 2 2 Scored the shootout game-winner in the first round

Sat.. vs. HFD 1 1 2 Second straight two-point night

Totals 1 3 4

River Rats forward Jacob Micflikier tallied a team-high four points in three games last week to earn his club's Player Of The Week nomination. The third year forward assisted on both of Albany's regulation tallies Friday night against Manchester, before scoring the shootout game-winner in the first round to give the River Rats a 3-2 victory. Micflikier turned-in his second consecutive multi-point effort the following night against Hartford, assisting on Albany's first goal of the game and then sealing the club's 3-1 win with an empty-net marker. The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native ranks ninth on the River Rats in scoring with 14 points (6-8-14), despite playing in less than half of Albany's 40 games this year (19).

Rat Bites:

- RATS INFEST RALEIGH - Four of Albany's top six point-getters are currently on NHL recall to Carolina, leaving the River Rats without a single 10-goal scorer. Jerome Samson scored his first career point with an assist in his NHL debut this weekend, and defenseman Brett Carson scored his first NHL goal in his 16th game of the year and 21st career NHL game. In all, 10 different River Rats have been called-up to the Hurricanes this season.

- FIRST HALF RECORD - Albany's 21-15-2-2 record marks the organization's best first-half since the 1998-99 campaign, when the team went 24-11-1-4. See below for the team's first-half records and winning percentages since that impressive season.

SEASON 1st Half Record Winning %

2009-10: 21-15-2-2 (0.575)

2008-09: 13-17-3-2 (0.3875)

2007-08: 21-17-0-2 (0.55)

2006-07: 18-19-2-1 (0.4875)

2005-06: 13-25-0-2 (0.35)

2004-05: 10-22-4-4 (0.35)

2003-04: 12-18-5-5 (0.425)

2002-03: 13-17-6-4 (0.45)

2001-02: 9-17-7-6 ( 0.3875)

2000-01: 12-24-3-1 (0.35)

1999-00: 14-21-4-1 (0.4125)

1998-99: 24-11-1-4 (0.6625)

- DECISIVE FRAME - The River Rats show a 16-1-1-1 record when scoring the game's first goal and are 12-0-2-1 when leading after the first period. Albany has been out-shot 414-411 in that decisive opening frame, while out-scoring opponents 33-30.

- GO FOR THREE - Albany is 17-3-2-2 when scoring three or more goals in a game.

- LEAGUE LEADERS - Jerome Samson continues to lead the league in shots with 169, while Zach FitzGerald's 33 minor penalties also top the circuit. Jacob Micflikier's 0.250 shooting percentage is third in the league and Justin Peters' 2.17 GAA is good for sixth place. Zach Boychuk is tied for ninth in the league's rookie scoring race with 24 points (11-13-24), while Stefan Chaput is in a tie for fourteenth place with 21 points (7-14-21).

River Rats Recent Transactions

January 2010 January 9 DELETE - Marc Cavosie (C) - Released from PTO

January 7 DELETE - Jerome Samson (RW) - Recalled from loan by Carolina (NHL)

January 6 ADD - Marc Cavosie (C) - Signed to PTO

January 5 DELETE - Jiri Tlusty (LW) - Recalled from loan by Carolina (NHL)

DELETE - Zach Boychuk (C) - Recalled from loan by Carolina (NHL)

January 2 ADD - Jiri Tlusty (LW) - Returned on loan by Carolina (NHL)

ADD - Zach Boychuk (C) - Returned on loan by Carolina (NHL)

January 1 ADD - Matthew Pistilli (RW) - Recalled from loan to Florida (ECHL)

ADD - Matt Schepke (LW) - Signed to PTO

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

DELETE - Zach Boychuk (C) - Recalled from loan by Carolina (NHL)

Promotional Information

Cargill Souvenir Puck Night

Date: Friday, January 15, 2010 vs. Hershey Bears

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

Puck Giveaway: The first 2,000 fans through the doors will receive a free souvenir puck courtesy of Cargill.

Dollar Dogs: all fans can get $1.00 hot dogs and small sodas at select Times Union Center concession stands.

Battle of the Bands: "Mariaville Cattle Company," the winner of the 2009-10 Battle of the Bands, presented by Success Recordings & Molson Canadian, will take the stage for the first time as the River Rats House Band.

KidPower Night Presented By MVP Health Care

Date: Saturday, January 16, 2009 vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers

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

Giveaway: The first 3,000 fans will get a free pair of MVP Health Care Thunderstix

Concourse Carnival: Everyone will be treated to the Total Events Carnival, featuring over 12 carnival-style games complete with balloons and prizes on the Times Union Center Concourse

Mystery Pucks: The American Red Cross returns the Mystery Puck promotion, in which every River Rat player has signed a limited number of special-edition pucks that were then gift-wrapped to cover the autograph from view. These "Mystery Pucks" will be sold on the concourse throughout the night for $10.00 each, with all of the proceeds benefiting the ARC of Northeastern NY.

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: Chaput, Dodge & Terry (40)

Goals: Jerome Samson (13), Zach Boychuk & Pat Dwyer (11)

Assists: Jerome Samson (17), Stefan Chaput (14), Zach Boychuk (13)

Points: Jerome Samson (30), Zach Boychuk (24)

Plus/Minus: Nick Dodge (+8), Jacob Micflikier & Jonathan Paiement (+6)

Penalty Minutes: Zack FitzGerald (121), Nicolas Blanchard (107)

Power Play Goals: Drayson Bowman, Zach Boychuk, Pat Dwyer & Jerome Samson (3)

Short Handed Goals: Pat Dwyer (2)

Game-Winning Goals: Zach Boychuk (4), Jerome Samson (3)

Shots: Jerome Samson (169)

Shooting Percentage: Jacob Micflikier (0.250%)

Saves: Justin Peters (767)

Wins: Justin Peters (13)

GAA: Justin Peters (2.17)

Save Percentage: Justin Peters (0.928)

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River Rats 2009-10 pro-rated season and flexible 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 January 12, 2010


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