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River Rats Face Manchester, Binghamton & Portland This Week

December 8, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany will face another physically demanding run this week as they have three-games on three-days on the slate. The River Rats head to New Hampshire on Friday, December 12th for their first meeting of the season with the Manchester Monarchs. Then Albany returns home for a two-game weekend set at the Times Union Center; Saturday the Rats host East Division rival Binghamton at 7:00 pm and Sunday the Atlantic Division-leading Portland Pirates come to town for a 5:00 pm game.

Even though Albany had two winless streaks of six and four games early this season, this past weekend was the first time they had lost two straight games in regulation. The River Rats are 6-3-1-1 in their last ten game, but they still have their work cut out for them as they look to get back into the East Division playoff hunt; they trail fourth place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton by seven points with one game in had.

Friday, December 12 - 7:30 pm - Verizon Wireless Arena - Manchester, NH

@ Manchester Monarchs (10-9-0-3, 23 pts)

Tied-Sixth Place, Atlantic Division

*Manchester is 7-3-0-0 in their last ten games. The Monarchs caught fire in November and rattled off a season-high seven game winning streak, but they have cooled off and dropped three of their last four. While the River Rats are off until they meet on Friday, Manchester begins a grueling stretch of eight games in twelve days on Wednesday night at Portland.

*Leading Scorer: Teddy Purcell (RW) - 19 points (9 goals, 10 assists) in 22 games played.

*Leading Goaltender: Jonathan Quick (G) - 2.63 GAA, 0.922 save pct., 5-5-0-1 record in 11 GP.

*Who's Hot: Marty Murray (C) - 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) and a +1 rating in last five games played. Bud Holloway (RW) - 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) and a +2 rating in last five games played. Brian Boyle (C) - 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) in last two games - his first in the AHL this season.

Saturday, December 13 - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Binghamton Senators (11-9-2-3, 27 pts)

Fifth Place, East Division

*The B-Sens are just 2-2-0-2 in their last six games and have fallen outside of the playoff spots in the East Division. Binghamton will have a very light schedule this week with just two games, hosting the Portland Pirates on Friday night and then making the short two-hour trip to Albany on Saturday. Captain Denis Hamel had a rough start to 2008-09, scoring just one goal in his first 12 games played. But Hamel has found his form of late and has five points in his last five games.

Former River Rats forward Marc Cavosie will make his return to the Times Union Center for the first time in a Binghamton uniform; he is scoreless in his first nine games with the Senators.

*Leading Scorer: Ilya Zubov (C) - 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 20 games played.

*Leading Goaltender: Brian Elliott (G) - 2.81 GAA, 0.910 save pct., 10-6-0-1 record in 20 GP.

*Who's Hot: Ilya Zubov (C) - 7 points (2 goals, 5 assists) in last five games played. Denis Hamel (LW) - 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) and a +4 rating in last five games played. Peter Regin (C) - 4 goals and a +4 rating in last five games played.

Sunday, December 14 - 5:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Portland Pirates (14-6-1-2, 31 pts)

Tied-First Place, Atlantic Division

* The last time Albany faced Portland, on November 14th in Lewiston, ME, the Pirates boasted the best record in the AHL. Portland won the game, part of an eight game winning streak, but they have cooled off lately winning just three of their last ten games. The Pirates will be very road-weary when they arrive in Albany as it will be their fourth game in five days with travel.

Portland hosts Manchester on Wednesday, then hits the road to face Binghamton on Friday and they are in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday night before heading to the Times Union Center.

*Leading Scorer: Mark Mancari (RW) - 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 16 games played.

*Leading Goaltender: Jhonas Enroth (G) - 2.42 GAA, 0.918 save pct., 8-2-0-2 record in 13 GP.

*Who's Hot: Colton Fretter (C) - 8 points (6 goals, 2 assists) and a +2 rating in last five games played. Tim Kennedy (LW) - 5 assists in last five games played. Marek Zagrapan (C) - 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in last five games played.

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