River Rats Face Four Games In Five Nights

Published on January 23, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The Week Ahead: The Albany River Rats host the Lowell Lock Monsters in a 7:00pm face-off at Pepsi Arena on Wednesday night (6:45pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ). The Lock Monsters (17-21-4-4, 5th Atlantic) defeated the Hartford Wolf*Pack 3-2 on the road Sunday night. C Keith Aucoin ranks fifth in the AHL with 32 assists and 49 points in 42 games playing for the top prospects of the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche. The River Rats hold an 8-9-2-0 all-time regular season record against Lock Monsters, including a 5-3-1-0 mark on home ice. Albany shows a 2-1-0-0 record against Lowell this season, holding a 13-11 scoring advantage through the first three games this year. Albany will then host the Binghamton Senators on Ladies Night this Friday at 7:00pm (6:45pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ). The Senators (17-21-2-2, T-6th East) are coming off a 6-2 loss to the Norfolk Admirals at home on Saturday night. Captain Denis Hamel stands fourth on the circuit with 25 goals and is tied for sixth overall with 48 points in 38 games for the AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators. The River Rats have an 8-18-3-2 record in the all-time regular season series against the Senators, which includes a 5-9-1-1 record at home. Albany sports a 1-2-0-0 mark against Binghamton this season, with both clubs scoring nine goals in the first three of six match-ups this year. The River Rats close out their season-long homestand Saturday on Guys Night Out in a 5:00pm face-off against the Manchester Monarchs at Pepsi Arena (4:45pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ). The Monarchs (26-11-1-4, 2nd Atlantic) dropped a 4-1 decision to the Peoria Rivermen on the road Sunday and host Toronto on Friday. RW Brad Smyth (21-26) and LW Jeff Tambellini (21-23) are tied for the team lead in goals for the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings. The River Rats have a 2-8-1-3 record in the all-time regular season series against the Monarchs, which includes a 2-3-0-2 home mark. Albany is 0-3-0-1 against Manchester this year, having been outscored 11-5 in the previous four contests. Albany's pre-All-Star schedule concludes on the road Sunday night against the Hartford Wolf*Pack at 7:00pm (6:45pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ). The Wolf*Pack (23-14-2-5, 3rd Atlantic) dropped the 3-2 decision to the Lock Monsters at home yesterday and host Springfield on Wednesday before a weekend home-and-home with Lowell. Rookie LW Nigel Dawes is tied for tops on the club with 20 goals and ranks second with 35 points for the AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers during the 2005-06 campaign. The River Rats have an 11-17-3-3 record in the all-time regular season series against the Wolf*Pack, which includes a 6-10-1-0 road record. Albany has a 0-2-0-0 mark against Hartford this year, being outscored 9-3 in the first two meetings.

River Rats Practice Schedule: * The schedule is subject to change, so please verify with the Communications Staff Tues., January 24, 2006 - 10:00am practice @ Bethlehem YMCA Wed., January 25, 2006 - 10:00am Game Day Skate @ Pepsi Arena; Lowell Lock Monsters @ RIVER RATS, 7:00pm Thurs., January 26, 2006 - 10:00am practice @ Bethlehem YMCA Fri., January 27, 2006 - 10:00am Game Day Skate @ Pepsi Arena; Binghamton Senators @ RIVER RATS, 7:00pm Sat., January 28, 2006 - Manchester Monarchs @ RIVER RATS, 5:00pm Sun., January 29, 2006 - RIVER RATS @ Hartford Wolf*Pack, 7:00pm Mon., January 30, 2006 - OFF DAY

Story Ideas Petr Vrana - He has three assists in the last five games and is tied for second among active skaters with 21 (7-14) points in his rookie season. The longer schedule and pace of the game usually require an adjustment for a player coming out of juniors. Matt DeMarchi - The third year defenseman is starting to heat up offensively. He has four (1-3) of his seven (2-5) points this season over the last 10 games in what could be considered an important year by developmental standards.

Rat Bites: * G Frank Doyle leads the American Hockey League in minutes (1,920) and is the only goaltender on the circuit to have stopped over 1,000 pucks (1,013). * Albany has picked up nine points during January, the club's most productive month of the season with another four games still ahead in 2006's first month. * RW Aaron Voros has scored five goals in the last 10 games and is one shy of the 11 tallies he posted in 71 games during the 2004-05 season. He ranks third on the club with 100 PIM and is tied for the team lead with two game-winning goals. * RW Alexander Mogilny recorded his first assist as a River Rat on home ice Friday night and has two (1-1) points in four games with the club.

River Rats Rewind: Week 16 - January 17, 2006 (1-1-1-0, 3pts) January 18 - NOR 3 @ ALB 4 - LW Tuomas Pihlman posted two points, including the game-winning power play goal 10:22 into the second period. RW David Clarkson, D Dan McGillis and Krisjanis Redlihs all recorded a goal and an assist, while G Frank Doyle stopped 32 shots for the win. January 20 - POR 7 @ ALB 4 - RW David Clarkson and D Dan McGillis both scored for the second straight game, while RW Alexander Mogilny picked up his first assist as a River Rat. C Chris Minard netted two goals and G Gregg Naumenko made his Albany debut in relief of G Frank Doyle, who stopped 29 shots through two periods of play. January 21 - PHI 3 @ ALB 2 F/OT - Albany RW Aaron Voros forced overtime with his second goal of the game late in the third period in front of 5,693 fans at Pepsi Arena. LW Tuomas Pihlman and C Petr Vrana each picked up an assist for the third straight game and G Frank Doyle stopped 21 shots in the River Rats' first overtime loss of the season.

Upcoming Promotions:

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 @ 7:00pm - Kids In Free Wednesday! All Children 12 & Under Get In FREE With A Paid Adult! Special "Mouse Trap" Kids Concession Stand with Discounts!

Friday, January 27, 2006 @ 7:00pm - Ladies Night & Family Fun Friday! Radio Disney Fun Zone with Games, Music & Prizes! Win a Hockey Makeover courtesy of The Hockey Store-N-More! Great LADIES NIGHT Prizes including: Spa Packages from Total Image Spa & Salon! Clinique Makeover courtesy of Boscov's! 500 FREE Tanning Coupons from Total Tan! One lucky lady will win a remote car starter courtesy of East Coast Audio Concepts!

Saturday, January 28, 2005 @ 5:00pm - Guys Night Out! Meet the Hooter Girls LIVE! Manly Prizes including: Win a Phillips Hardware Power Saw! A Butcher Block Steak Dinner! One luck guy will win a remote car starter courtesy of East Coast Audio Concepts! Ms. Total Tan Contest @ Broadway Joe's after the game!

For further information on 2005-06 season and flex ticket packages contact (518) 487-2244 or visit www.albanyriverrats.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2006


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