River Rats Earn Two Big Wins Over Atlantic Division Opponents

Published on December 15, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Week 10 Recap:

Albany started the week off in style with another high-scoring win. While the ice was building up and knocking out electricity to homes throughout the northeast, the River Rats picked apart the Manchester Monarchs 7-1 Friday night at Verizon Wireless Arena. Left wing Michael Ryan had a hat trick and tied a franchise single-game record with five points against Manchester, while Jakub Petruzalek tacked on four points and captain Pat Dwyer had a three-point game.

Saturday the offense dried up as Binghamton goaltender Brian Elliott put forth a sensational performance to lead the Senators to a 3-0 win over Albany at the Times Union Center. But the River Rats rallied on Sunday as they held of the Portland Pirates 3-1, getting the game-winner from rookie Ryan Weston's first professional goal.

Week 11 Preview:

After having some success against two Atlantic Division opponents last week, the River Rats now turn their attention to their own East Division as they hit the road for three games in Week 11. Albany will journey south for their first sojourn to Virginia for two games against the Norfolk Admirals on Wednesday and Friday night. Then it's back to Pennsylvania for a chance at redemption against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. On Monday the River Rats returned defenseman Ryan McGinnis to the Florida Everblades (ECHL) and had a lively practice at RPI's Houston Field House. The team will board the bus early Tuesday morning for the long ride (approximately eight driving hours) to Norfolk and will not return to Albany until the early hours of Sunday morning, right before the AHL's holiday break.

Week 11 Schedule:

(All games are broadcast LIVE on 104.5 FM "The Team" ESPN Radio, are streamed free over the Internet at www.albanyriverrats.com and can be watched via internet pay-per-view video on www.ahllive.com)

Wednesday, December 17 - 7:15 pm - Norfolk Scope - Norfolk, VA

@ Norfolk Admirals (9-16-1-4, 23 pts)

Seventh Place, East Division

Friday, December 19 - 7:15 pm - Norfolk Scope - Norfolk, VA

@ Norfolk Admirals (9-16-1-4, 23 pts)

Seventh Place, East Division

The Admirals are going through a rough patch where they have lost three of their last four games and have just two wins (2-5-0-1) in their last eight contests. Norfolk's only win last week was a hard fought 3-2 home victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In their first two games with Albany this season, the Admirals were out-scored 11-3 by Albany, who swept the two game series at the Times Union Center in the first week of December. The Admirals have allowed a league-high 123 goals in 30 games this season, which ranks them 29th in team goals-against average (4.10). One plus for Norfolk was the return of left wing Radek Smolenak, who sent down by Tampa Bay after his first stint in the NHL.

Leading Scorer: Brandon Segal (RW) - 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists) in 29 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Mike McKenna (G) - 3.52 GAA, 0.881 save pct., 4-6-0 record in 12 GP.

Who's Hot: Grant Potulny (RW) - 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in last five games played. Justin Keller (LW) - 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist) and a +4 rating in last three games played. Bracken Kearns (C) - 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in last five games played. Saturday, December 20 - 7:05 pm - Wachovia Arena - Wilkes-Barre, PA

@ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (16-11-1-1, 34 pts)

Tied-Third Place, East Division

The Penguins are in strong form right now, entering the week having won five of their last seven games. In their last five wins Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has out-scored their opponents 27-11; in their two losses in that stretch they were out-scored 6-2. The Penguins offense has been deadly this year and the team is currently ranked second in the AHL in goals scored (99), trailing only the first place Hershey Bears in that category.

Getting leading-scorer Chris Minard and goaltender John Curry back from Pittsburgh also helps the club, which is currently ranked 6th in the league in goals-scored per game (3.41). While Albany plays two games in Norfolk before heading to Wachovia Arena to face the Penguins Saturday night, Wilkes-Barre has a light schedule; they play a home game against Hershey on Friday night before hosting the River Rats. Leading Scorer: Chris Minard (LW) - 32 points (19 goals, 13 assists) in 23 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Adam Berkhoel (G) - 2.33 GAA, 0.923 save pct., 11-5-1 record in 17 GP. Who's Hot: J.M. Daoust (RW) - 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) and a +3 rating in last six games played. Janne Pesonen (LW) - 6 points (1 goal, 5 assists) and a +1 rating in last five games played. Paul Bissonnette (LW) - 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) and a +5 rating in last five games played. Week 10 Game Results:

12/12/08 Albany 7 @ Manchester 1

12/13/08 Binghamton 3 @ Albany 0

12/14/08 Portland 1 @ Albany 3

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 10)

Michael Ryan - LW - #21 3 GP, 6 Points (3 Goals, 3 Assists), +1 rating, 0 PIMs

Rats left wing Michael Ryan continues to be one of the most influential offensive players on the squad as he racked up a team-leading six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in Albany's three games in Week 10. The Boston, Massachusetts native started the week in record-setting fashion as he scored the River Rats' first hat trick in almost two calendar years and added two assists in a blow out win over Manchester. Ryan's five point effort against the Monarchs tied a franchise record for most points in a game; he posted the 13th five point game in team history. Ryan also added an assist on Sunday against Portland to complete his six-point week and it gives him 16 points (7 goals, 9 assists) in 18 games for the River Rats this season.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2008


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