River Rats 2004-05 season hits final week

Published on April 11, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The Albany River Rats host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in the eighth and final meeting between the two clubs on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. All seats are just $10 for the final Wednesday game of the season. The Sound Tigers (35-37-4-1, 6th East) dropped a 6-2 decision to the Binghamton Senators at home on Sunday. D Chris Campoli has scored four goals in the last five games and ranks second among all AHL defensemen with 15 goals, while placing fourth with 47 points for the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders. Albany has an 8-14-5-4 record in the all-time regular season series against Bridgeport, including a 6-5-3-1 record on home ice. The River Rats are 3-1-2-1 against the Sound Tigers this season and each team has scored 17 goals in the seven games. LW Dean McAmmond (2-4) and C Zach Parise (0-6) lead the River Rats with six points, while RW Rob Collins holds five (3-2) points versus Albany this year.

Albany then makes its first and only appearance at the Hartford Civic Center to take on the Wolf*Pack Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The Wolf*Pack (48-22-3-3, 2nd Atlantic) are coming off a 2-1 road loss to the Providence Bruins on Sunday and will host Manchester on Wednesday night. LW Alexandre Giroux leads the Wolf*Pack with 30 goals and 51 points, while goaltenders Jason LaBarbera (30-15-2, 1.84) and Stephen Valiquette (18-10-1, 1.72) have the AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers as the only club giving up less than two goals per game (1.96). Albany holds an 11-14-3-3 record in the all-time season series against Hartford, including a 5-6-2-3 at home. The River Rats posted a 5-1 victory over the Wolf*Pack on January 14th at Pepsi Arena in the only other meeting between the two clubs.

The River Rats close the home portion of the 2004-05 campaign against the Philadelphia Phantoms at Pepsi Arena on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. The Phantoms (43-22-3-4, 2nd East) turned in a 3-2 overtime win over the Rats last night and visit Hershey on Friday. Fan Appreciation Day features an appearance by Donnie and Eliza of The Wild Thornberry's and a drawing for a trip to Disney World! D Dennis Seidenberg, who scored the winner last night, has seven (2-5) points in the last five games and ranks second among team blueliners with 40 (13-27) points. Albany shows a 14-15-4-4 record in the all-time season series against the AHL Affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, including a 9-5-2-2 home mark. The River Rats are 0-2-2-1 against the Phantoms this year and have been outscored 18-11 in the five games. Albany's McAmmond leads with six (2-4) points, while LW Jon Sim shows eight (4-4) points during the season series.

The 2004-05 regular season concludes with a Sunday afternoon matinee against the Lowell Lock Monsters from Paul E. Tsongas Arena at 4:05 p.m. The Lock Monsters (44-26-1-5, 3rd Atlantic) dropped a 3-2 home decision against the Portland Pirates on Sunday Lowell visits Springfield on Wednesday, Manchester on Friday and will then host the Portland on Saturday. AHL First Team All-Star RW Chuck Kobasew leads the league with 11 game-winner and is tied for second overall with 37 goals for the top prospects of the Calgary Flames and Carolina Hurricanes. Albany sports a 6-7-2 record in the all-time regular season series against Lowell, which includes a 2-4-1 record on the road. The River Rats are 0-3-0-0 against the Lock Monsters this season, having been outscored 12-5 in the three previous games. Albany's Parise shows three (1-2) points versus Lowell, while Kobasew has posted six (2-4) points during the season series.

River Rats this week: * Practice times are subject to change, please call the River Rats office to confirm dates and times.

Tuesday, April 12th - Practice at Knickerbacker Arena, 10:00 a.m.

Wednesday, April 13th - Game Day Skate at Pepsi Arena, 10:00 a.m.; Bridgeport Sound Tigers @ RIVER RATS, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 14th - Practice at Knickerbacker Arena, 10:00 a.m.

Friday, April 15th - Game Day Skate TBD, 10:00am; RIVER RATS @ Hartford Wolf*Pack, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, April 16th - Game Day Skate at Pepsi Arena, 10:00am; Philadelphia Phantoms @ RIVER RATS, 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 17th - RIVER RATS @ Lowell Lock Monsters, 4:05 p.m.

(END OF REGULAR SEASON)

Rat Bites: * The River Rats' seven-game winning streak was the longest since the 1998-99 club put together seven straight wins from March 28 - April 9, 1999. Albany remains unbeaten through regulation in the last eight (7-0-1-0) games.

* LW Ryan Murphy has eight (6-2) points in the last 10 games and has set career-highs with 13 goals, 22 assists for 35 points this season. The 26-year-old also leads the River Rats with a +14 rating in 71 games.

* C Zach Parise leads the River Rats with 39 assists and places second on the team with 56 points during his rookie season out of the University of North Dakota, where his brother Jordan starred as a goaltender in the 2005 NCAA Frozen Four.

* Goaltenders Ari Ahonen and Scott Clemmensen have combined to set a franchise record with six shutouts this year. Ahonen set the single-season record of four, while Clemmensen has added two blankings during the season.

-More-

Over the Air:

Wed., April 13th vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 7:00 p.m. (6:45 p.m., Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

Fri., April 15th @ Hartford Wolf*Pack, 7:05 p.m. (6:50 p.m., Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

Wed., April 16th vs. Philadelphia Phantoms, 4:00 p.m. (3:45 p.m., Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

Wed., April 17th @ Lowell Lock Monsters, 4:05 p.m. (3:50 p.m., Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

Community Outreach Appearances:

Mon., April 11th @ 4:00 p.m. - Communications Coordinator Erin Cassavoy will attend New Day Arts "Explore Your Career Day" to assist the children in an earl career decision exercise. The New Day Art is located at 74 Second Avenue in Albany.

Sat., April 16th @ 9:00 a.m. - "Rowdy" The Rat will attend the 51st Colonie Little League Opening Day Parade. The Colonie Little League Opening Day Parade will be kick off at Cook Park on Shambrook Parkway in Colonie.

River Rats Rewind: Week 26 - April 4, 2005 (3-0-1-0, 7pts)

April 6th - ALB 3 @ BRI 2 - RW Brian Gionta & LW Ahren Nittel scored 28 seconds apart during the third period for Albany's fifth consecutive win. LW Tuomas Pihlman netted the River Rats' first goal during the second period and G Ari Ahonen stopped 18 shots for his fourth straight victory.

April 8th - ALB 4 @ NOR 1- RW Brian Gionta scored for the second straight game and C Zach Parise tallied the game-winner later in the first period as the River Rats recorded the franchise's first-ever win at Norfolk. C Pascal Rheaume and RW Aleksander Suglobov added power play goals, while G Scott Clemmensen stopped 41 of 42 shots on goal for the victory.

April 9th - ALB 2 @ NOR 0 - LW Ryan Murphy scored the game-winning goal just under six minutes into the game and LW Ilkka Pikkarainen closed the scoring with an empty net goal. G Ari Ahonen stopped 37 shots for his fifth straight win and set a franchise record with his fourth shutout of the 2004-05 campaign.

April 10th - ALB 2 @ PHI 3 F/OT - LW Ryan Murphy scored for the second consecutive game and C Zach Parise added another third period goal as the Rats saw their seven-game winning streak end. C Pascal Rheaume picked up a point for the third straight game and G Scott Clemmensen stopped 32 shots with Albany remaining unbeaten in regulation over the last eight (7-0-1) games.

Upcoming Promotions:

Wed, April 13th vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers @ 7:00 p.m. - $10 Wednesday!

All seats are just $10 for the final time this season!

Sat, April 16th vs. Philadelphia Phantoms @ 4:00 p.m. - Fan Appreciation Day!

Meet The Wild Thornberry's Donnie & Eliza! Radio Disney AM 1460 with the FINAL drawing for a trip to Disney World!

River Rats prizes including Autographed Jerseys and more!

Intermission prizes from NY Lottery, Panera and Phillips Hardware!

Pre-Game Block Party @ 1:00 p.m!

Live Music from North Allen!

Food, Fun and Games!

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American Hockey League Stories from April 11, 2005


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