River Rats Play Two On Halloween Weekend

Published on October 26, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany went 1-2-0-0 last week, but remain in a two-way tie with Hershey for first place in the East Division. The River Rats opened their three-in-three weekend on Friday night with a 2-1 home loss to Rochester. Albany rallied from a 2-0 deficit late in the third period and thought they'd tied the game with two seconds remaining, but a quick whistle denied the home team's late comeback bid. The following night the River Rats hosted Game Two of the Time Warner Cable Cup series and came away with their second win of the 12-game season-rivalry, as Zach Boychuk broke a third period tie with six minutes remaining in the game and Albany held-on for the 3-2 victory. The River Rats traveled to Bridgeport on Sunday where they suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Sound Tigers. Bridgeport's special teams accounted for three straight goals in the second and third periods and goaltender Nathan Lawson took care of the rest with 36 saves in the contest.

Week 5 Preview:

The River Rats have four days to rest before playing two games this weekend. Albany hosts the Atlantic Division's Springfield Falcons on Friday, October 30th at 7:00 p.m. and then travel to Hershey for a 7:00 p.m. Halloween match-up with the division-rival Bears.

The Falcons earn points in three straight contests last week, despite winning just one of them. Springfield hosted Lowell on Friday night and took a 3-3 tie into a shootout, but the Devils prevailed in the seventh round. The falcons suffered a 1-0 overtime loss to the Sharks the following night in Worcester, but finished their 3-in-3 weekend with a 4-2 victory in Lowell. Friday night will be the first of a four-game season-series between the River Rats and Springfield, with the next match-up coming in Springfield on Sunday, November 15th at 3:00 p.m.

Hershey is without 2008-09 AHL All Star forwards Keith Aucoin and Alexandre Giroux, who are both currently skating with the Washington Capitals, but the Bears still managed to maintain their first place standing in the East Division with a one victory in three games last week. Hershey's week started on Friday with a 6-4 road loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Bears then looked to rebound against Binghamton on Saturday, but the Senators powered past the home team with three unanswered goals in the second and third periods for a 5-2 final. Hershey finished Week 4 with a 3-2 home win over the Portland Pirates. Albany hosts game two of their eight-game season-series with the Bears on Friday, December 4th at 7:00 p.m.

Week 5 Schedule:

(All games are broadcast LIVE on WROW 590 AM "Newstalk 590," are streamed free over the Internet at www.wrow.com and can be watched via internet pay-per-view video on www.ahllive.com)

Practice Schedule :

Tuesday, October 27th - 10:00 a.m. at the Times Union Center

Wednesday, October 28th - 10:00 a.m. at the Times Union Center

Thursday, October 29th - 10:00 a.m. at the Times Union Center

Friday, October 30th - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Springfield Falcons (4-4-1-1, 10 pts)

Fourth Place, Atlantic Division

- Leading Scorer: Chris Minard (LW) - 12 points (7 goals, 5 assists) in 10 GP. Charles Linglet (LW) - 12 points (3 goals, 9 assists) in 10 GP.

- Leading Goaltender: Devan Dubnyk (G) - 3.08 GAA, .919 save pct., 3-4-1 in 8 GP.

- Who's Hot: Chris Minard (LW) - 5 points (4 goals, 1 assist) and a plus-3 rating in his last 3 GP. Charles Linglet (LW) - 2 assists and a plus-2 rating in his last 1 GP.

Saturday, October 31st - 7:00 pm - Giant Center - Hershey, PA

at Hershey Bears (5-4-0-0, 10 pts)

Tied-First Place, East Division

- Leading Scorer: Andrew Gordon (RW) - 11 points (6 goals, 5 assists) in 9 GP.

- Leading Goaltender: Braden Holtby (G) - 1.01 GAA, .967 save pct., 2-1-0 in 3 GP.

- Who's Hot: Oskar Osala (LW) - 3 points (1 goals, 2 assists) in his last 3 GP. Andrew Joudrey (C) - 2 assists and a +2 rating in his last 2 GP. Mathieu Perreault (C) - 3 assists in his last 4 GP.

River Rats Week 4 Game Results:

October 23, 2009 Rochester 2 @ Albany 1

October 24, 2009 Adirondack 1 @ Albany 2

October 25, 2009 Albany 1 @ Bridgeport 4

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 4)

Zach Boychuk - LW - #11

Day Opponent G A Pts. Notable

Fri. vs. Rochester 1 0 1 Scored Albany's lone goal in a 2-1 loss

Sat. vs. Adirondack 1 0 1 Scored the game winner in the third of a 3-2 win

Sun at. Bridgeport 0 0 0

Totals 2 0 2 One GWG, two-game goal-scoring streak

Zach Boychuk scored in two-straight games this weekend to earn Albany's nomination for AHL player of the week. The first-year professional netted the River Rats lone tally on Friday night against Rochester with a short-side stuff-in to make it a one-goal game in the third period. The following night, Boychuk showed off the hands that made him Carolina's first round selection in 2008 with a beautiful third period game winner against Adirondack; in one fluid motion the winger faked a backhand pass across the net mouth and snapped a forehand shot underneath the crossbar for his third of the year. Boychuk brought more of his third period finesse to Bridgeport on Sunday, but a shot off the iron ended his scoring streak.

Rat Bites:

- MEMORABLE DEBUT FOR MICFLIKIER - Jacob Micflikier scored a goal in his River Rats debut on Saturday night against Adirondack. The third-year forward was called-up from Florida (ECHL) on Saturday morning and arrived at the Times Union Center less than an hour before the opening faceoff, but that didn't stop the 5'8" winger from flying all over the ice and scoring a first period tally. Micflikier posted 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 10 games with the Everblades this season.

- RATS TAKE EARLY LEAD IN TWCC SERIES - Albany has pulled-out back-to-back one-goal games against the Adirondack Phantoms for an early lead in the 2009-10 Time Warner Cable Cup series. One week ago Albany needed overtime to earn a 2-1 decision in Glens Falls, but on Saturday the River Rats settled it in regulation with a third-period tie-breaker for a 3-2 home win. In addition to the Time Warner Cable Cup trophy, the winning team receives the ability to select a local charity to receive $5,000 from Time Warner Cable.

- BOYCHUK NETS A PAIR - Zach Boychuk scored two goals this weekend to pull into a tie for second place in the league's rookie scoring race with eight points (3 goals, 5 assists). Boychuk showed that he could score both gritty and pretty goals this weekend, as Friday night's marker was a short-side stuff-in during a goal -mouth flurry and Saturday's was a highlight-reel move with a top-shelf finish.

River Rats Recent Transactions

October 24 DELETE - Brandon Sutter (C) - Recalled from Loan by Carolina (NHL)

ADD - Jacob Micflikier (LW) - Recalled from Loan from Florida (ECHL)

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: 12 Players Tied (9)

Goals: Jerome Samson, Pat Dwyer (4)

Assists: Jerome Samson (8)

Points: Jerome Samson (12)

Plus/Minus: Brett Bellemore (+4)

Penalty Minutes: Zach FitzGerald (39)

Power Play Goals: Drayson Bowman, Zach Boychuk (2)

Short Handed Goals: Pat Dwyer (1)

Game-Winning Goals: Pat Dwyer (43)

Shots: Pat Dwyer (23)

Shooting Percentage: Jacob Micflikier (0.333%)

Saves: Justin Peters (168)

Wins: Justin Peters (4)

GAA: Justin Peters (2.33)

Save Percentage: Justin Peters (0.923)

####

Albany returns to action on Friday, October 30th when the host the Springfield Falcons in a 7:00 p.m. faceoff at the Times Union Center. River Rats 2009-10 season and flex ticket packages are now on sale at the River Rats executive offices at the Times Union Center, by calling (518) 487-2244 or by logging onto www.albanyriverrats.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 26, 2009


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