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River Rats Beat Falcons For Fifth-Straight Win

February 13, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - Dwight Helminen scored two goals and Mike Angelidis knocked in the game-winner late in the third period as the Albany River Rats defeated the Springfield Falcons 5-4 Friday night at the Times Union Center.

Albany took an early 1-0 lead when Casey Borer found Dwight Helminen wide open in the low slot and the River Rats center turned and beat Falcon's goalie Devan Dubnyk over the glove at 3:08. The Rats dominated the period and out-shot Springfield 19-3. With a little less than two minutes remaining in the frame, Albany extended its lead to 2-0 when Jerome Samson sent a clever cross-crease pass to defenseman Brett Carson for a power play goal at 18:11; Carson's third goal of the season assisted by Samson and Pat Dwyer.

Springfield narrowed the deficit to one goal just 1:25 into the second period when, on a delayed penalty to Albany, Viacheslav Trukhno slid a shot beneath River Rats goaltender Justin Peters. Later in the frame Springfield's Jake Taylor jumped Rats left wing Joe Jensen from behind and initiated two simultaneous fights; in addition to five minutes for fighting, Taylor received a double minor for roughing. The River Rats cashed in on their four-minute power play by taking their time to work the offensive zone, despite audibly anxious fans. Their patience paid off in the third minute of the advantage when Michael Ryan, Jakub Petruzalek and Helminen connected on a beautiful tic-tac-toe play for Helminen's second goal of the game at 10:08. Albany again headed to the locker room with a two goal lead, leading 3-1 and out-shooting the visitors 29-14.

If the River Rats looked comfortable early in the game, a determined Springfield kept plugging away and made the home side sweat in the final twenty minutes. Midway through the third period the Falcons cut the lead to 3-2 when Ryan Stone finished a rebound after a goalmouth scramble at 8:37. Three minutes later Springfield's Cody Wild tied the game at 3-3 on a sharp-angle shot, assisted by Rob Schremp and Jean-Francois Jacques. However the River Rats reclaimed the lead when Bobby Hughes, who had not played since November 8 and missed 40 games due to injury, put home a rebound from Ryan and Carson at 17:42 for his second goal of the year. 61 seconds later Mike Angelidis gave Albany a two-goal cushion, set up by Nick Dodge and Jerome Samson at 18:43, but Springfield wasn't done yet. With ten seconds to go, and Dubnyk pulled for the extra attacker, Schremp made it 5-4, marking the third time in the game that the Falcons came back to within a goal. However, the Falcons could not gain the offensive zone in the final seconds of the game and Albany skated away with its fifth straight win.

Albany goaltender Justin Peters stopped 16-of-20 shots as he recorded his 13th win of the year as the River Rats improved to 24-23-3-2, marking the first time all season the club has sported a winning record. Springfield goalie Devan Dubnyk allowed five goals on 40 shots for the loss as the Falcons dropped their eight straight game and are now 16-29-6-1 on the season. Albany out-shot Springfield 40-20 and went 2-for-6 on the power play; the Falcons went 0-for-4 with the man advantage.

The River Rats three-game home stand continues on Saturday, February 14th with a Valentine's Day game against the Lowell Devils at 7:00 pm at the Times Union Center. Monday, February 16th Albany hosts the Manchester Monarchs for a special 5:00 pm President's Day face off.

River Rats flex ticket packages and individual game tickets are on sale now at the River Rats office and the Times Union Center Box Office. 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 13, 2009


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