River Rats continue to "March" through season

February 28, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The Albany River Rats host the Lowell Lock Monsters in a 7:00 p.m. face-off at Pepsi Arena on Wednesday night. All seats for the contest are just $10! The Lock Monsters (31-18-1-5, 4th Atlantic) snapped a four-game winless streak with a 3-1 home victory over the Norfolk Admirals on Sunday. C Eric Staal (18-41) and RW Chuck Kobasew (28-28) rank ninth and 10th in the AHL scoring race, with Staal leading the circuit with five shorthanded goals and Kobasew being tied for the league-lead with eight game-winners. Former River Rat D Mike Commodore leads team blueliners with 22 (4-18) points for the top prospects of the Carolina Hurricanes and Calgary Flames this year. Albany holds a 6-5-2-0 record in the all-time regular season series against Lowell, including a 4-1-1-0 record on home ice. The River Rats are 0-1 against the Lock Monsters this season, having dropped a 3-1 decision at Tsongas Arena on November 7th. The two teams face-off another two times on March 25th at Pepsi Arena and the final day of the regular season on April 17th in Lowell.

Albany will make a trip to Central New York for the club's final meeting with the Syracuse Crunch on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. The Crunch (26-25-4-3, 6th North) are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Rochester Americans on the road yesterday and will not play again until Friday. C Brad Moran leads the club with 21 goals, including 12 power play markers and 44 points during the 2004-05 campaign. RW Joe Motzko tops the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets with 24 assists and three game-winning goals this season. Albany holds a 34-30-9-8 record in the all-time season series against Syracuse, including a 13-16-7-4 mark on the road. The River Rats are 0-1-1-1 against the Crunch this season, being outscored 7-4 in the three previous games. LW Dean McAmmond (1-2) and RW Aaron Voros (1-2) top Albany with three points against Syracuse, while C Mark Hartigan shows four (2-2) point against the River Rats this season.

The River Rats finish up the weekend with their final visit to Western New York and a match-up with the Binghamton Senators at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday. The Senators (31-19-4-4, 3rd East), who have won three-in-a-row after defeating Albany 5-3 last Friday, host the Norfolk Admirals on Wednesday and Friday nights. Binghamton's league leaders include C Jason Spezza's 56 assists and 81 points along with LW Denis Hamel, who ranks fourth overall with 29 goals for the AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. Former R.P.I. Engineer D Brian Pothier stands sixth among league defensemen with 36 (9-27) points and LW Brandon Bochenski leads all rookies with 47 (24-23) points. Albany shows a 7-14-3-2 record in the all-time regular season series against Binghamton, including a 3-7-2-1 road record. The River Rats are 4-4-0-0 against the Senators this season, but have been outscored 32-23 in the previous eight games. Albany RW Aleksander Suglobov leads the way with eight (5-3) points versus Binghamton, while Hamel (5-4) and Spezza (4-5) top the Senators with nine points against the River Rats. The East Division rivals close the series when "The Carnival" comes to Pepsi Arena on March 12th.

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

Tuesday, March 1st - Practice at Bethlehem Area YMCA, 10:00am

Wednesday, March 2nd - Game Day Skate at Pepsi Arena, 10:00 a.m.; Lowell Lock Monsters @ RIVER RATS, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 3rd - Practice at Bethlehem Area YMCA, 10:00 a.m.

Friday, March 4th - Game Day Skate at Bethlehem Area YMCA, 10:00am; RIVER RATS @ Syracuse Crunch, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 5th - Game Day Skate at Broome County Arena, 10:00am; RIVER RATS @ Binghamton Senators, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 6th - OFF DAY

Rat Bites: * G Scott Clemmensen moved past Peter Sidorkiewicz into second place on the all-time saves list (3,712) on Saturday night. He trails teammate Ari Ahonen (4,280) for the franchise lead in that category.

* C Pascal Rheaume had a five-game, point-scoring streak snapped on Sunday after becoming the first River Rat to crack the 20-goal mark on Friday night.

* C Zach Parise recorded nine assists in a four-game span to up his AHL rookie-leading total to 32 assists. Albany's All-Star representative ranks second among first year skaters and on the River Rats with 44 (12-32) points during the 2004-05 season.

* LW Ahren Nittel has the longest active goal-scoring streak among AHL skaters with goals in four consecutive games. The 21-year-old has scored 14 goals in just 27 games this season with a team-leading 10 coming on the power play.

Over the Air:

Wed., March 2nd vs. Lowell Lock Monsters, 7:00 p.m. (6:45 p.m. Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

Fri., March 4th @ Syracuse Crunch, 7:30 p.m. (7:15 p.m. Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

Sat., March 5th @ Binghamton Senators, 7:05 p.m. (6:50 p.m. Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

** Hear all the action LIVE at www.albanyriverrats.com**

-More-

Community Outreach Appearances:

Tue., March 1st @ 4:30 p.m. - LW Brett Clouthier will assist a Special Olympics New York Volleyball Clinic at the Capital District Psychiatric Center, which is located at 75 New Scotland Avenue in Albany.

Fri., March 4th @ 6:00 p.m. - "Rowdy" the Rat will visit Schalmont Elementary School to sign autographs and mingle with fans at Schalmont annual carnival. Schalmont Elementary is located at 721 Curry Rd in Schenectady.

Wed., March 9th @ 4:00 p.m. - "Rowdy" the Rat will visit New Day Art to read to youngsters as a part of the clubs "Reading with Rowdy" program. New Day Art is located off of 72nd & 2nd Ave., Albany.

River Rats Rewind: Week 20 - February 22, 2005 (0-2-1-0, 1pt)

February 25th - BNG 5 @ ALB 3 - C Pascal Rheaume notched three (2-1) points and LW Ahren Nittel scored for the fourth straight game but the Senators evened the season series with a road victory. LW Dean McAmmond and C Zach Parise each chipped in two assists and Albany scored a power play goal for the fourth straight game.

February 26th - BRI 4 @ ALB 3 F/OT - C Zach Parise extended his point-scoring streak to four games with two assists as the River Rats finished their four-game homestand with a 2-1-1-0 record. LW Dean McAmmond & C Pascal Rheaume each picked up a point for the fifth consecutive game, while LW Kenny Magowan posted a goal and an assist for the second consecutive contest.

February 27th - ALB 0 @ HER 3 - G Peter Budaj stopped all 22 shots on goal for his fourth shutout as the Bears swept the season series from Albany. Hershey RW Jeff Ulmer notched a goal and two assists and D Brett Clark chipped in two assists. River Rats G Ari Ahonen stopped 30 of 33 shots in taking his 16th loss of the season.

Upcoming Promotions:

Wed., March 2nd vs. Lowell Lock Monsters @ 7:00 p.m. - $10 Wednesday! All seats to the game are just $10!

Sat., March 12th vs. Binghamton Senators @ 7:30 p.m. - The Carnival!

Doors will open 30 minutes early at 6:00 p.m.!

Total Events, LLC & The River Rats present a TRUE Carnival Atmosphere!

Concourse Activities to Include:

Tin Can Alley, Pig Races, Dart Balloon Toss, Pick-A-Horse Wheel, Football Toss,

Milk Bottle Toss, Hole-In-One Golf & Much More!

Radio Disney at the game with Magical fun & prizes!



American Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2005


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