River Rats Stare Down Daunting Week Ahead

March 25, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany continues busy schedule with four-games-in-five nights

What's Ahead:

The Albany River Rats return home from their five-game road trip to skate against the St. John's Maple Leafs for the third time in the last eight days on Wednesday night. The final of four meetings between the clubs this season will occur at Pepsi Arena in a 7:00PM face-off. The Leafs (29-26-16-2, 4TH Canadian) are winless in nine (0-5-4) straight contests following a 2-1 loss on the road to the Hamilton Bulldogs last night. D Nathan Dempsey leads all AHL rearguards with 44 assists and is the circuit's fourth-leading blueline scorer with 55 points. Up front, the one-two punch of Donald MacLean (28-48-76/T-2ND) and Bob Wren (21-45-66/11TH) not only lead the Baby Leafs offense but rank among the league's top point-getters. Former River Rat RW Bobby Houses' 33 goals lead the top affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The River Rats and Maple Leafs skated in back-to-back ties in Newfoundland last week giving St. John's a 1-0-2 advantage in the 2001-02 season series, while outscoring Albany 10-8.

Albany will head out on the road to match-up against the Philadelphia Phantoms on Friday night at 7:05PM. The Phantoms (29-25-14-5, 3RD South) have lost three consecutive games after being shutout 4-0 by the Norfolk Admirals at home last night. Philadelphia will host Bridgeport on Wednesday night at the Spectrum where the club shows a 16-12-8 mark. D John Slaney is tied for tops among league defensemen with 57 (19-38) points, which also knots him with RW Mark Greig's 57 (21-36) points for the team lead. Former River Rat G Corey Hirsch joined the team on Thursday following the trade of G Maxime Ouellet and is winless in two starts for the top minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. The River Rats defeated the Phantoms 4-2 at Pepsi Arena back on January 11TH in the only other meeting between the two teams this season.

The River Rats close out the weekend with a home-and-home set against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers beginning with Saturday's 7:00PM match-up at Pepsi Arena. The teams will finish their season series on Sunday afternoon at the Arena at Harbor Yard in a 5:05PM contest. The Sound Tigers (39-23-7-3, 2ND East) have won three consecutive games following their 1-0 shutout victory over the River Rats yesterday. RW Trent Hunter scored his team-high 26TH goal in the third period to provide difference and LW Dave Roche, who returned to the club last week, is tied for the league lead with 14 power play tallies. G Rick DiPietro stands second in the league with 3,106 minutes played and leads the circuit with 26 wins during the 2001-02 season. The Sound Tigers visit Philly on Wednesday and host Portland on Friday night prior to the two games with Albany. Bridgeport leads the 2001-02 season series 5-0-1 over Albany, outscoring the River Rats 13-4 in the process.

River Rats this week: * Practice times are subject to change, please call the River Rats office to confirm dates and times.

Tuesday – Practice at B.I.G. Arena, 11:00AM

Wednesday – Game Day Skate at Pepsi Arena, 10:00AM; St. John's Maple Leafs at River Rats, 7:00PM

Thursday – Practice at B.I.G. Arena, 11:00AM; Travel to Philadelphia

Friday – Game Day Skate at First Union Spectrum, 11:15AM; River Rats at Philadelphia Phantoms, 7:05PM

Saturday – Game Day Skate at Pepsi Arena 10:15AM; Bridgeport Sound Tigers at River Rats, 7:00PM

Sunday – River Rats at Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 5:05PM

Monday – Off Day

Rat Bites:

* Albany River Rats G Jean-Francois Damphousse moved past current Toronto Maple Leafs G Corey Schwab for third place on the club's all-time save list on Friday night. Damphousse has made 2,707 saves in 98 appearances over three seasons and Schwab, who was co-MVP of the River Rats' 1995 Calder Cup Championship, made 2,694 saves in 101 games played with the top minor league affiliate of the New Jersey Devils.

* LW Christian Berglund, who ranks 9TH among all AHL rookies with 41 (17-41) points in 52 games during the 2001-02 season, leads the team with seven power play goals.

Over the Air:

Wednesday, March 27TH vs. St. John's Maple Leafs, 7:00PM (6:45PM Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game, Sportstalk 980 AM)

Friday, March 29TH at Philadelphia Phantoms, 7:05PM (6:50PM Capitaland Motor GMC Pre-Game, Sportstalk 980 AM)

Saturday, March 30TH vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 7:00PM (6:45PM Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game, WTRY 98.3 FM)

Sunday, March 31ST at Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 5:05PM (4:50PM Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game, Sportstalk 980 AM)

Upcoming Promotions:

· Wed., March 27TH – vs. St. John's: $6.00 Wednesday: The best deal in the Capital District returns as the River Rats take on the top minor league affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs and ALL seats in the building can be had for just $6.00.

· Sat., March 30TH – vs. Bridgeport: Salute to Baseball: Join the fun with the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs' mascot Homer and other baseball-related activities as the River Rats honor the annual rite of spring – Baseball. There will be discounted tickets along with special prizes for all local little league organizations and inquire with our staff about GREAT group rates!

· Wed., April 3RD vs. Hamilton: $6.00 Wednesday: The best deal in the Capital District returns as the River Rats take on the Hamilton Bulldogs where ALL seats in the building can be had for just $6.00.

· Sun., April 7TH – vs. Syracuse: Fan Appreciation Night Pre-Game Block Party: The club's annual season-ending block party gets underway at 3:00PM on South Pearl Street in front of Pepsi Arena. The pre-game activities will include: FREE pony rides and face painting, a Classic Car Expo courtesy of Hemmings Motor News, an Albany Attack shootout, the Mad Science activity booth, Mr. Bouncety Bounce, The River 99.5 Money Machine, live music from the Devilish Minds and the team's annual Merchandise tent sale. There will be tons or prizes like a trip to New York City and activities for all as the River Rats close out their season with a 5:00-PM face-off against their intra state rival, the Syracuse Crunch.



American Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2002


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