River Rats' trip looking for winning conclusion

January 31, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The Albany River Rats play game three of their current four-game road trip in a 7:35pm face-off against the Rochester Americans at Blue Cross Arena on Friday night. The Americans (31-9-3-4, 1st North) have won four straight games after a 3-2 road victory in Hamilton on Saturday and will host the Bulldogs on Wednesday night. C Chris Taylor leads the top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres with 29 assists and 41 points in 47 games during the 2004-05 season. G Ryan Miller will play for the PlanetUSA AHL All-Stars at the upcoming 2005 Dodge AHL All-Star Classic based on his league-leading 25 wins, six shutouts and 2.11 goals against average. Albany holds a 34-34-9-6 record in the all-time regular season series against Rochester, including a 15-22-3-1 road mark. The River Rats are 0-3 against the Amerks this season, having been outscored 9-2 in the process. C Pascal Rheaume leads Albany with two goals, while C Chris Taylor tops Rochester with four (2-2) points in the three games. The New York State rivals square off another two times on March 18th in Rochester and on April 2nd at Pepsi Arena.

Albany closes out the road trip with the first of two visits to the DCU Center for a 7:05pm face-off against the Worcester IceCats on Saturday. The IceCats (26-15-3-2, 3rd Atlantic), who dropped a 4-0 decision to the Portland Pirates at home on Sunday night, host the Springfield Falcons on Wednesday and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday. C Blake Evans has eight (2-6) points in the last 10 games to take over the team scoring lead with 30 (12-18) points during the 2004-05 campaign. C Brendan Brooks ranks second on the top affiliate of the St. Louis Blues with 11 goals, including two shorthanded tallies and has recorded 18 (10-8) points of his 22 points on home ice. Albany holds a 15-15-5-2 record in the all-time regular season series against Worcester, including a 5-9-3-1 mark on the road. The River Rats defeated the IceCats 4-3 in overtime at Pepsi Arena last Wednesday, with the teams meeting again on March 11th in Albany and finally on April 3rd back in Worcester.

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

Tuesday, February 1st - Practice at Bethlehem Area YMCA, 10:00am

Wednesday, February 2nd - Practice at Bethlehem Area YMCA, 10:00am

Thursday, February 3rd - Practice at Bethlehem Area YMCA, 10:00am; Travel to Rochester

Friday, February 4th - Game Day Skate at Blue Cross Arena, 11:15am; RIVER RATS @ Rochester Americans, 7:35pm

Saturday, February 5th - Game Day Skate TBD; RIVER RATS @ Worcester IceCats, 7:05pm

Sunday, February 6th - OFF DAY

Monday, February 7th - Practice at Bethlehem Area YMCA, 10:00am

Rat Bites: * LW Rob Skrlac became the seventh player in team history to skate in 300 games on Wednesday night against the Worcester IceCats at Pepsi Arena. The 28-year-old is the franchise leader with 1,143 penalty minutes and made his NHL debut in eight games with the New Jersey Devils last season.

* C Zach Parise was selected as a starter for the PlanetUSA AHL All-Star Team at the Dodge 2005 AHL All-Star Classic on February 14th at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. He scored two goals on Wednesday night and leads all AHL rookies with 21 assists, while ranking fourth among newcomers with 31 points overall.

* The River Rats have killed off 18 consecutive power plays against over the last five games dating back to January 22nd.

* G Ari Ahonen recorded his first shutout of the season in Friday's 4-0 victory at Binghamton. The Finnish goaltender also picked up his first AHL point with an assist on Aleksander Suglobov's first period power play goal.

Over the Air:

Fri., February 4th @ Rochester Americans, 7:35pm (7:20pm Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

Sat., February, 5th @ Worcester IceCats, 7:05pm (6:50pm Capitaland Motors GMC Pre-Game Show, AM 1160 WABY)

** Hear all the action LIVE at www.albanyriverrats.com**

Community Outreach Appearances:

Tues., February 1st @ 4:30pm - LW Brett Clouthier will assist a Special Olympics New York Volleyball Clinic at the Capital District Psychiatric Center, which is located at 75 New Scotland Avenue in Albany.

Tues., February 1st @ 5:00pm - G Ari Ahonen and RW Aleksander Suglobov will attend a Troy Albany Squirt Youth hockey practice at Frear Park Arena. Frear Park is located on Frear Park Road in Troy.

Tues., February 1st @ 9:15pm - D Teemu Kesa and RW Aaron Voros will attend a Schenectady Bantam A Youth Hockey Practice to assist youngsters with their hockey skills. The practice will be at the Schenectady Ice Rink located off Rt. 50 in Glenville.

Wed., February 2nd @ 9:00am - "Rowdy" The Rat will attend Sacred Heart Elementary School to read to youngsters as a part of their annual Celebrity Day. The Sacred Heart Elementary School is located at 310 Spring Avenue in Troy.

Wed., February 2nd @ 3:30pm - G Scott Clemmensen and LW Dean McAmmond will visit the Ronald McDonald Room at the Albany Medical Center to spend time with youngsters. Albany Medical Center is located at 47 New Scotland Avenue in Albany.

Sat., February 5th @ 12:00pm - "Rowdy" The Rat will attend Maple Ski Ridge as a part of the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women Campaign". Rowdy will sign autographs, and to help promote the River Rats' Go Red for Women Night on February 11th. The Maple Ski Ridge is located on RR3 in Schenectady.

Sat., February 5th @ 2:00pm - "Rowdy" The Rat will attend T.O.A.S.T. Elementary for a segment of the "Reading with Rowdy" program. T.O.A.S.T. Elementary is located in Lincoln Park off of Delaware Avenue in Albany.

Sun., February 6th @ 12:00pm - "Rowdy" The Rat will pay a visit to TGI Friday's to show support for Friday's Tsunami Relief Fundraiser. TGI Friday's is located at 1 Southside Drive in Clifton Park.

River Rats Rewind: Week 16 - January 25, 2005 (2-0-1-0, 5pts)

January 26th - WOR 3 @ ALB 4 F/OT - River Rats C Zach Parise scored two goals, including the game-winning goal 1:11 into overtime. LW Dean McAmmond recorded a goal for the fourth consecutive game and C Pascal Rheaume chipped in a season-high three assists. LW Ahren Nittel added a goal and an assist, while G Ari Ahonen stopped 37 of 40 shots for the victory.

January 29th - ALB 4 @ BNG 0 - G Ari Ahonen stopped all 34 shots on goal and added an assist as the River Rats turned in their first shutout of the season. D Teemu Kesa scored the game-winner 2:57 into the game, while LW Tuomas Pihlman scored his first goal since October 23rd during the second period. RW Aleksander Suglobov and D Ray Schultz scored the other Albany goals.

January 30th - ALB 1 @ HER 2 F/OT- C Adrian Foster opened the scoring 5:49 into the second period and G Scott Clemmensen stopped 30 of 32 shots but the River Rats remained winless against Hershey this season. LW Ilkka Pikkarainen notched an assist for the second straight game, while LW Tuomas Pihlman recorded a point for the second straight night.

Upcoming Promotions:

Wed., February 9th vs. Springfield Falcons @ 7:00pm - $10 Wednesday!

All Seats are Just $10!

Fri., February 11th vs. Portland Pirates @ 7:00pm - AHA Go Red For Women Night! American Heart Association ‘Go Red For Women Night'

Fans Wearing Red to the Game Get $4 off an Adult Ticket or $3 off a Children's Ticket!

Sat., February 12th vs. Binghamton Senators @ 4:00pm - Meet Dora The Explorer!

Meet Nickelodeon's Dora The Explorer at the game!

Register for your chance to win a trip for four to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida!

Win your Valentine a beautiful diamond from Hannoush Jewelers!

Come See the Zamboni's Perform Live at the Game!

Stay for the Post-Game Autograph Session w/the Players!



American Hockey League Stories from January 31, 2005


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