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River Rats See Playoff Hopes Fade With Two Home Losses

March 16, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany played three games against East Division opponents last week and started strong with a 5-3 come-from-behind win against Norfolk. The Admirals led 2-0 after the first two periods, but the River Rats rallied for a season-high five-goal third period to take the two points. However, Albany dropped both of their weekend games, losing 4-1 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday and 5-4 to Philadelphia on Saturday. The Phantoms scored all five of their goals in the opening period against the River Rats, chasing goaltender Daniel Manzato from the home goal. Justin Peters, in relief work, did not allow a goal over the final 40:32 of the game, but Albany's comeback fell short by one goal.

An injury during Wednesday's game against Norfolk kept right wing Ryan Weston out of the lineup for the River Rats two weekend games, but Albany did see the return from injury of center Bobby Hughes. Hughes, who missed eight games due to an injury suffered in the bus accident, was back on the score sheet Saturday night as he scored his third goal of the season in the second period against Philadelphia.

Week 24 Preview:

With 15 games remaining Albany finds themselves 16 points behind the Binghamton Senators for the final playoff spot in the East Division. Although the River Rats have three games in hand on Binghamton, and two games left against the Senators, it will take a sizzling finish for Albany to play beyond April 11th, the final day of the regular season. This week the River Rats host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Monday; a make-up game from the postponed February 22nd game. Then Albany makes their only trip to Providence this season Friday night to face the Bruins at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. Saturday the Rats complete their eight-game season series with the Syracuse Crunch with a 7:30 pm face off at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Sunday Albany closes out their busy week with a 5:00 pm puck drop with the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Times Union Center.

One boost for the River Rats lineup will be the return of center Brandon Sutter, who was returned on loan to Albany by the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday afternoon. Sutter, who recently spent two weeks with the Rats on a conditioning loan, went back to Carolina on March 9th, but did not see any action for the Hurricanes in their four games last week. With Sutter coming in the River Rats released left wing Patrick Bordeleau from his PTO, returning him to the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

Week 24 Schedule:

(All games are broadcast LIVE on 104.5 FM "The Team" ESPN Radio, are streamed free over the Internet at www.albanyriverrats.com and can be watched via internet pay-per-view video on www.ahllive.com)

Monday, March 16 - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (41-22-2-2, 86 pts)

Third Place, East Division

The Penguins have two games in hand on Bridgeport and sit just four points behind the Sound Tigers for the second spot in the East. Last week Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rattled off three straight wins against division opponents Norfolk, Philadelphia and Albany, but the Hershey Bears put an end to the streak on Saturday, handing the baby Penguins a 3-2 road loss. Monday's game will be the seventh meeting this season between the Penguins and Albany; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton leads the season series 4-2. The final game of the series will be played at Wachovia Arena on April 10th.

Leading Scorer: Janne Pesonen (LW) - 66 points (24 goals, 42 assists) in 57 GP.

Leading Goaltender: John Curry (G) - 2.47 GAA, .914 save pct., 26-13-0-3 in 40 GP.

Who's Hot: Janne Pesonen (LW) - 8 points (2 goals, 6 assists) in his last three games played. Mark Letestu (C) - 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in his last seven games played. Chris Minard (LW) - 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in his last four games played.

Friday, March 20 - 7:05 pm - Dunkin' Donuts Center - Providence, RI

vs. Providence Bruins (38-24-2-4, 82 pts)

First Place, Atlantic Division

The Bruins are atop the Atlantic Division, just two points ahead of Hartford, but a very comfortable ten ahead of third place Manchester. Providence has been streaky of late, having suffered a five-game losing skid to begin the month before rattling off four straight wins last week; three of those wins were by just one goal. This is the second and final match up of the season between the River Rats and the P-Bruins; the first game came on November 8th in Albany and ended in a Bruins 4-3 overtime win on Providence forward Vladimir Sobotka's game-winner.

Leading Scorer: Martin St. Pierre (C) - 58 points (14 goals, 44 assists) in 50 GP.

Leading Goaltender: Tuukka Rask (G) - 2.55 GAA, .914 save pct., 29-19-2-3 in 50 GP.

Who's Hot: Martin St. Pierre (C) - 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) in his last four games played. Mikko Lehtonen (RW) - 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in his last three games played. Jeff Penner (D) - 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in his last three games played.

Saturday, March 21 - 7:00 pm - Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter - Syracuse, NY

vs. Syracuse Crunch (33-28-4-2, 72 pts)

Fifth Place, North Division

Syracuse is currently just five points outside of the playoff picture with 13 games still to play in the season. One of their remaining games is against fourth place Toronto. Last week the Crunch rode goaltender Kevin Lalande's hot hand, winning three straight against Toronto, Lake Erie and Rochester in which Lalande allowed just one goal in each contest. With his stellar performances Lalande was named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week. Syracuse and Albany have faced off seven times this season and the Crunch lead the season series 4-3. The River Rats have not won in Syracuse since March 2, 2007; they are 0-5-1-1 in the Crunch's building since that win two seasons ago.

Leading Scorer: Mike York (LW) - 48 points (10 goals, 38 assists) in 63 GP.

Leading Goaltender: Dan LaCosta - 2.80 GAA, .912 save pct., 18-17-2-2 in 41 GP.

Who's Hot: Alexandre Picard (LW) - 11 points (7 goals, 4 assists) in his last nine games played. Craig MacDonald (C) - 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in his last two games played. Maksim Mayorov (RW) - 2 goals in his last 3 games played.

Sunday, March 22 - 5:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Philadelphia Phantoms (34-27-2-2, 72 pts)

Fifth Place, East Division

Philadelphia joins the River Rats in their chase of the Binghamton Senators for the final playoff spot in the East. However, the Phantoms have a big leg up on Albany, needing only to make up eight points in the standings to the River Rats' 16. Philadelphia is 2-2-0-1 in their last five games, but have won their last two including a 5-4 victory in Albany on Saturday, March 14th. The Phantoms scored all five of their goals in the opening period of that game, and held-off the River Rats' late surge to make a 4-1 dent in the season series. The teams will next square off on April 1st in Philadelphia and then complete the series on April 8th in Albany.

Leading Scorer: Jared Ross (C) - 54 points (24 goals, 30 assists) in 50 GP.

Leading Goaltender: Dan LaCosta - 2.80 GAA, .912 save pct., 18-17-2-2 in 41 GP.

Who's Hot: David Laliberte (RW) - 4 goals in his last three games played. Jonathan Matsumoto (C) - 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) in his last 10 games played. Jared Ross (C) - 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in his last three games played.

Week 23 Game Results:

March 11, 2009 Norfolk 3 @ Albany 5

March 13, 2009 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4 @ Albany 1

March 14, 2009 Philadelphia 5 @ Albany 4

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 23)

Jerome Samson - RW - #17 3 GP, 4 Points (3 Goals, 1 Assist), Even, 0 PIMs

Right wing Jerome Samson was a model of consistency during Week 23 as he score a goal in each of his three games to create a three-game goal scoring streak. Wednesday night the Greenfield Park, Quebec native's goal sparked a five-goal third period as the River Rats came from behind to beat Norfolk 5-3. Friday against the Penguins Samson scored Albany's only goal, keeping goaltender Adam Berkhoel from recording a shutout. Saturday he was on target again, this time with his 19th goal of the year, to tie the game a 2-2 in the first period , but Albany would fall to Philadelphia 5-4. Samson also added one assist on Wednesday for a four-point week and he is currently third on the team in goals and points (40).

Rat Bites:

- SECOND TWENTY CLUB - Captain Pat Dwyer scored his seventh goal in his last five games on Saturday against the Phantoms, becoming the second River Rats forward to reach the 20-goal milestone this season. The Great Falls, Montana native ranks second on the club in goals, behind All-Star Michael Ryan (25) and he is tied with rookie Nick Dodge for fourth on the team in points (36).

- NEW GUY's MILESTONE - Recently acquired left wing Tomas Pospisil made his Albany debut on Friday vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. But his second game on Saturday against Philadelphia was his 100th career Pro game. The Sumperk, Czech Republic native has two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in 33 games in the AHL this season, mostly with the Chicago Wolves.

- KIND OF A SHUTOUT - Goaltender Justin Peters blanked the Phantoms on Saturday night, but did not record a shutout since he came on in relief of starter Daniel Manzato with 1:58 remaining in the first period. Peters made 17 saves in 40:32 of action as the Rats lost 5-4.

- AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR - With C Bobby Hughes returning to action on Friday vs. the Penguins, it marked the third player injured in the bus crash to rejoin the lineup. Seven players were held out of Albany's first two games following the bus crash with injuries from the accident. D Brett Carson and LW Yannick Tifu also missed games and four players remain sidelined due to injuries from the crash: Casey Borer, Nicholas Blanchard, Jonathan Paiement and Joe Jensen.

- ALMOST A FRANCHISE RECORD - Albany's five-goal third period against Norfolk last Wednesday a 2008-09 team season-high for goals in one period, but it came up one goal short of the River Rats franchise record. During the team's inaugural season, the Rats scored six goals in the first period of an 8-5 win in Springfield on April 2, 1994.

River Rats Recent Transactions

March 16 - ADD Brandon Sutter (C) - Returned on loan from Carolina (NHL).

March 16 - DELETE Patrick Bordeleau (LW) - Released from PTO.

March 12 - DELETE Mathieu Roy (LW) - Released from PTO.

March 11 - ADD - Tomas Pospisil (LW) - Reassigned by Atlanta (NHL) from Chicago (AHL).

March 11 - ADD Patrick Bordeleau (LW) - Signed to PTO, recalled from Florida (ECHL).

March 11 - ADD Mathieu Roy (LW) - Signed PTO, called up from Florida (ECHL).

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: Mike Angelidis & Nick Dodge (65)

Goals: Michael Ryan (25)

Assists: Jakub Petruzalek (31)

Points: Jakub Petruzalek (48)

Plus/Minus: Josef Melichar (+7)

Penalty Minutes: Mike Angelidis (140)

Power Play Goals: Michael Ryan (8)

Short Handed Goals: Pat Dwyer (3)

Game-Winning Goals: Michael Ryan (4)

Shots: Jerome Samson (185)

Shooting Percentage: Bobby Hughes (21.4%)

Saves: Justin Peters (1,175)

Wins: Justin Peters (15)

GAA: Justin Peters (2.74)

Save Percentage: Justin Peters (0.911)

####

Albany will complete their four-game home stand at the Times Union Center on Monday, March 16th as they host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for a 7:00 pm face off.

River Rats flex ticket packages and individual game tickets are on sale now at the River Rats office and the Times Union Center Box Office. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.

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