River Rats Down Penguins In Shootout

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


WILKES-BARRE, NY - The Albany River Rats scored three goals in the second period to erase a 2-0 deficit on their way to a 4-3 shootout win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Wednesday night at Wachovia Arena. The win pulls Albany within three points of first place in the East Division with five games remaining in the regular season.

The Penguins came racing out in front of their home fans, keeping the puck in Albany's defensive zone for the first 90 seconds of play. But the Rats pushed back and managed several good scoring chances of their own. Momentum shifted to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as Albany ran into some penalty trouble in the first period. Jerome Samson was called for boarding at 8:07 and thirteen seconds later it was 1-0 Penguins as Chris Minard tipped a Tim Brent shot past goaltender Michael Leighton for a power play goal at 8:20. The second penalty of the game was on Kiel McLeod for hooking at 15:35 and fourteen seconds later it was 2-0 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Alex Goligoski blasted a slap shot from the blue line that eluded the traffic in front and found the net at 15:49; the rookie defenseman's tenth goal of the year.

Albany came storming back in the second period with three straight goals to leapfrog into the lead. River Rats leading scorer Jamie Johnson cracked the armor of goaltender John Curry with a power play goal at 8:57 as he slapped home a one-timer from just above the crease, finishing off a beautiful back-door pass by Bryan Rodney. Albany tied the game at two later in the period when Nicholas Blanchard redirected a Ben Cottreau shot up into the top corner for his seventh goal of the season, assisted by Ben Cottreau and Bryan Rodney. Blanchard's tip was the second redirection, as Cottreau's shot hit a Penguins defender and then Blanchard's stick before finding the net at 15:06. The River Rats struck for a third time in the second period at 16:22 to grab a 3-2 lead on Joe Jensen's ninth goal of the year. Brandon Sutter sent Jerome Samson down the right wing on a two-on-one rush with Jensen and Samson skated almost to the goal line before sliding the puck to Jensen, who poked his shot home; Sutter recorded his first career AHL and Pro hockey point with an assist on the goal.

Former River Rats forward Dave Gove came back to haunt his old club in the third period. Ryan Stone slid a clever backhand pass to Gove on the far post, setting up Gove's 18th goal of the season at 8:53, tying the game at 3-3.

After a scoreless overtime session, the game went to a shootout and the Penguins went in front on a third-round shootout goal by J.M. Daoust. But Albany rookie Ben Cottreau scored in the fourth round to tie the game and Michael Leighton made a spectacular sliding save on Ryan Stone in the fifth round. That save set up defenseman Bryan Rodney with a chance to win the game and Rodney snapped a twisted wrist shot past the block of Curry and inside the far post to win the shootout and the game for the River Rats.

Michael Leighton made 29 saves on 32 shots through overtime and stopped four-of-five shootout attempts to earn his 27th win of the season, helping Albany improve to 41-27-3-4 on the season. John Curry blocked 20-of-23 shots through overtime and went three-for-five in the shootout as the Penguins fell to 44-26-0-4 on the year.

The River Rats will play their next three games against the Norfolk Admirals, beginning with two games this weekend in Virginia. The Rats are back in action on Friday, April 4th for a 7:15 pm face off in Norfolk at the Scope. Albany's next home game is on Wednesday, April 9th against the Norfolk Admirals; 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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