River Rats Fall Short In Syracuse 2-1

Published on January 16, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


SYRACUSE, NY - Rookie Maksim Mayorov broke a 1-1 tie with 4:33 remaining in the game as the Syracuse Crunch beat the Albany River Rats 2-1 Friday night at the Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter.

After a scoreless first period where the River Rats out-shot Syracuse 10-7, Albany's goal-scoring leader would again find the net. All-Star Michael Ryan finished off a clever back-door pass from rookie Nick Dodge for a tap-in power play goal at 3:09 of the second period. The goal was Ryan's 19th of the season, his sixth goal in his last three games, and was also assisted by Jakub Petruzalek. Ryan almost doubled the River Rats lead later in the period on another power play, but his one-timer rang off the inside of the left post and somehow stayed out of the net. Left wing Joe Jensen returned to the lineup after missing 14 games due to an upper body injury and he nearly scored with five minutes left in the frame as his slap shot hit Syracuse goaltender Sebastian Dahm, trickled behind and caught the outside of the post as it rolled harmlessly wide. At the other end of the ice Albany starter Justin Peters had to be very sharp as he turned aside 17 shots in the second period, including stoning former River Rat Steve Kelly on a partial breakaway.

In the third period the Crunch would tie the game with a five-on-three power play goal from Derek MacKenzie at 5:19, as he slammed a one-timer inside the right post. Syracuse then took the lead when Maksim Mayorov got a fortuitous bounce when his shot from the left wing boards hit a leg in front and wound up in the net for the go-ahead goal at 15:27. Albany pulled Peters for the extra attacker and Ryan almost tied it, ringing a one-timer squarely off the right post, but the Crunch held on for a 2-1 win.

Sebastian Dahm stopped 28-of-29 shots in goal for the Crunch and was named the game's first star as he helped Syracuse improve to 19-17-2-2 on the season. Justin Peters was excellent in goal for the River Rats, making 30 saves on 32 shots as Albany fell to 16-19-3-2. The Crunch finished the game 1-for-5 on the power play and out-shot the River Rats 32-29; Albany was 1-for-4 with the man advantage. The River Rats are now 0-5-1-1 in their last seven games in Syracuse.

After completing a four-game road trip the River Rats return home on Saturday, January 17th to battle the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:00 pm at the Times Union Center.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 16, 2009


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