River Rats Discharge Admirals 5-2

Published on April 4, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


NORFOLK, VA - Five different forwards scored goals as the Albany River Rats blasted the Norfolk Admirals 5-2 Friday night at the Norfolk Scope.

Norfolk benefited from an early five-on-three power play, when Joey Mormina was called for slashing 46 seconds into Chris Murray's interference penalty. Albany stood tall for the entire 75 seconds of the two-man advantage, but could not hold off the Admirals on the back end of Mormina's penalty. Blair Jones blasted a one-timer from the blue line that rebounded off goaltender Michael Leighton into the slot where Brandon Segal was in perfect position to snap the puck into the open net before Leighton could recover at 7:24. But Albany responded to level the score with just less than five minutes left in the first period. Kiel McLeod skated out of the right wing corner, drove toward the net along the goal line and threaded a clever pass to Nicholas Blanchard at the far post for a tap-in goal at 15:22, tying the game at 1-1. The goal assisted by McLeod and Mike Angelidis, was Blanchard's eight goal of the year.

Norfolk again had a strong, energetic start to the second period, putting five shots on the Albany goal in the first four minutes of the period. But the River Rats were able to counter attack and take advantage of an Admirals defensive breakdown. Jamie Johnson cleared the puck out of the defensive zone and as Jakub Petruzalek pulled the puck off the right wall, he saw Ben Cottreau wide open skating down the middle of the ice. Petruzalek fed Cottreau at the red line and the rookie forward raced off on a breakaway, faked out goaltender Jonathan Boutin and slid his forehand shot into a wide open net at 5:05. The goal was Cottreau's third goal of the season, assisted by Petruzalek and Johnson, giving Albany a 2-1 lead. Carolina Hurricanes 2007 first round draft pick Brandon Sutter then cashed in for his first career pro hockey goal at 7:12. On a power play, and with a delayed penalty pending, Sutter took a pass from Jamie Johnson at the left face off circle, skated one stride towards the net and unleashed a wrist shot up into the top right corner of the net for what would turn out to be the game-winning goal, giving Albany a 3-1 lead. Later in the period Joe Jensen connected with his tenth goal of the year when he tipped a Josh Engel shot from the blue line then picked up his own rebound and roofed a shot into the net at 16:26 for a 4-1 River Rats lead.

Rookie forward Jerome Samson blasted home his 21st goal of the season at 3:19 of the third period, opening up a four-goal lead on the Admirals. The goal was ruled unassisted, but Jakub Petruzalek deserves lots of credit as his tireless fore-checking forced defenseman Vladimir Mihalik to rush a pass up the middle of the defensive zone, right onto the blade of Samson's stick and the rookie right wing sent a sizzling slap shot into the back of the net. 58 seconds later Bracken Kearns pulled one goal back when he knocked in a perfect back-door pass from David Koci at 4:17, but the Admirals would come no closer as the River Rats sealed a 5-2 win.

2007-08 AHL First All-Star Team goaltender Michael Leighton recorded his 28th win of the season by stopping 34-of-36 shots in the game to help Albany improve to 42-27-3-4 on the year. Admirals goaltender Jonathan Boutin suffered the loss, while making 25 saves on 30 shots as Norfolk dropped to 26-43-2-5 on the season; both teams finished the game 1-for-6 on the power play.

The River Rats and the Admirals will square off against on Saturday night, April 5th for a 7:15 pm face off in Norfolk at the Scope. Albany's next home game is on Wednesday, April 9th against Norfolk; a 7:00 pm face off at the Times Union Center.

River Rats playoff ticket packages and individual game tickets for the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs are on sale now, with special pricing available for children and seniors. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2008


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