River Rats Holiday Weekly Update

Published on December 22, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The Week Ahead: The Albany River Rats begin a busy stretch against the Syracuse Crunch on Friday night at 7:30pm from the Oncenter at the Onondaga County War Memorial (7:15pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ). The Crunch (15-11-1-1, 4th North) dropped a 4-3 decision to the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday and will visit Rochester on Thursday. C Geoff Platt and D Andy Delmore the top point getters this season, but have both been recalled by the parent Columbus Blue Jackets. The River Rats hold a 35-32-9-8 record in the all-time regular season series against the Crunch, which includes a 14-17-7-4 record on the road. Albany holds a 0-2 record against the Syracuse this season, having been outscored 8-3 in the first two games. The River Rats return to action following the holiday with their first visit to the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena to take on the Binghamton Senators on Monday, December 26th at 7:05pm (6:50pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ). The Senators (9-15-2-2, 6th East) dropped an 8-6 decision to the Norfolk Admirals at home yesterday and visit Lowell on Friday night. LW Denis Hamel is tied for seventh in the AHL with 34 (16-18) points in 25 games for AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators during the 2005-06 season. The River Rats hold an 8-17-3-2 record in the regular season series against Senators, including a 3-8-2-1 road mark. The teams have split the first two games of the season series at Pepsi Arena with the River Rats holding a 7-5 scoring advantage. Albany returns home on December 27th for its first game at Pepsi Arena since December 10th when the Portland Pirates come to town for a 7:00pm contest (6:45pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ). The Pirates (20-7-2-0, T-1st Atlantic) notched a 4-1 win against the River Rats on Sunday and visit Manchester on Friday. C Ryan Getzlaf was named CCM/Vector AHL Player of the week after putting up 10 (3-7) points in three games for the AHL Affiliate of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks last week. The River Rats hold an 18-16-5-3 record in the regular season series against Pirates, including a 10-6-4 record at home. Portland leads the eight game season series 3-1 following a sweep of last weekend's games. The stretch of four games-in-five-nights continues with a visit to the GIANT Center and a match-up with the Hershey Bears on Wednesday, December 28th at 7:00pm (6:45pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ). The Bears (19-5-2-4, 2nd East) were blanked 3-0 by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Sunday and will visit Grand Rapids tonight. RW Eric Fehr is tied for third among AHL rookies with 28 (13-15) points for the AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals. The River Rats hold a 29-27-1-4 record in the regular season series against Bears, including a 13-13-0-4 record on the road. Hershey posted a 6-4 road victory on November 11th in the first of four meetings between the two former division rivals. The 2005 calendar year comes to a close in Manchester when the River Rats skate against the Monarchs in a 7:35pm face-off at Verizon Wireless Arena on New Year's Eve (7:20pm WABY 1160AM & WVKZ 1240AM; B2 Networks @ www.albanyriverrats.com ). The Monarchs (18-6-1-3, T-1st Atlantic) are coming off a 4-1 road loss to Providence last night and, skate in a home-and-home with Portland before a road game at Springfield next week. RW Brad Smyth leads the club with 29 (11-18) points and is tied for tops in the AHL with a plus 16 rating for the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings. The River Rats hold a 2-6-1-3 record in the regular season series against Monarchs, including a 0-4-1-1 road mark. Albany trails the season series 2-0 following a 3-0 loss to Manchester last Friday night.

River Rats Practice Schedule: * The schedule is subject to change, so please verify with the Communications Staff Thurs., December 22, 2005 - 10:00am practice @ Bethlehem YMCA Fri., December 23, 2005 - 10:00am Game Day Skate @ Bethlehem YMCA; RIVER RATS @ Syracuse Crunch, 7:30pm Sat., December 24, 2005 - OFF DAY Sun., December 25, 2005 - OFF DAY Mon., December 26, 2005 - 10:00am Game Day Skate @ Bethlehem YMCA; RIVER RATS @ Binghamton Senators, 7:05pm Tues., December 27, 2005 - 10:00am Game Day Skate @ Pepsi Arena; Portland Pirates @ RIVER RATS, 7:00pm Wed., December 28, 2005 - 11:15 Game Day Skate @ GIANT Center; RIVER RATS @ Hershey Bears, 7:00pm Thurs., December 29, 2005 - 10:00am practice @ Bethlehem YMCA Fri., December 30, 2005 - 10:00am practice @ Pepsi Arena; Travel to Manchester Sat., December 31, 2005 - 11:15am Game Day Skate @ Verizon Wireless Arena; RIVER RATS @ Manchester Monarchs, 7:35pm

Story Ideas Ahren Nittel - The club's leading goal scorer from 2004-05 has been a force when healthy, but has played in only 11 games this season. He looks to be rounding into form at a critical point of the River Rats' season. David Clarkson - He has surprised with his offensive knack and ranks among the league leaders in penalty minutes. It is more rare than ever to see a player handle himself so well in both categories in the new landscape of hockey. Rat Bites: * RW Aleksander Suglobov scored his first NHL goal in Carolina on Saturday night and then picked up an assist with the River Rats the following afternoon in Portland. He leads the team with 20 (11-9-20) points in 26 games this season. * RW David Clarkson ranks fourth on the club with 14 (5-9-14) points and is tied for fifth in the AHL with 118 penalty minutes this season. * D Krisjanis Redlihs picked up assists in two straight games last weekend and is tied for tops on the club with 10 assists during the 2005-06 season. * The 14 goals scored by the River Rats and Portland Pirates on Saturday night marked the highest-scoring game in the AHL this season.

River Rats Rewind: Week 10 - December 13, 2005 (0-3-0-0, 0pts) December 16 - ALB 0 @ MCH 3 - C Petr Vrana had his six-game point scoring streak snapped as the River Rats were blanked for the second time this season. LW Ilkka Pikkarainen and C Nicklas Bergfors each led the way with three shots on goal and G Frank Doyle stopped 31 shots on the night. December 17 - ALB 5 @ POR 9 -LW Ahren Nittel set a career-high with two goals and two assists and the River Rats scored three power play goals. RW David Clarkson added a goal and an assist, while RW Aaron Voros chipped in two assists. LW Jason Ryznar and D Alex Brooks scored the other goals with G Frank Doyle stopping 29 shots. December 18 - ALB 1 @ POR 4 - LW Ilkka Pikkarainen scored a power play goal and RW Aleksander Suglobov added an assist one night after scoring his first NHL goal. D Krisjanis Redlihs picked up an assist for the second straight night and G Frank Doyle stopped 37 shots on goal. Upcoming Promotions: Tuesday, December 27, 2005 @ 7:00pm - Spend the Holidays With Scooby-Doo! Come Meet Everyone's Favorite Cartoon Character! New York Lottery Extreme Frosty Promotion! Win A Mid-Week Ski & Stay Package to Whiteface Mountain & accommodations at the NorthWoods Inn at Lake Placid!

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 December 22, 2005


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