River Rats Weekly

Published on November 26, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


The River Rats continued their success against their former affiliate, starting off Week 8 with a 3-0 shutout of the Lowell Devils at Tsongas Arena. G Kevin Nastiuk looked sharp in the first period, but suffered an injury late in the period and did not return to begin the second period. G Michael Leighton came in and upheld the River Rats' AHL-leading 5th shutout of the season. LW Ryan Bayda, reassigned by Carolina on Friday morning, arrived in Lowell in time for the game and factored in all three River Rats goals; Bayda scored twice and added one assist for his first three-point performance of the season. Saturday Albany faced the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the first time this season, scoring three goals in the first six minutes of the game, including two goals in a span of 39 seconds, to roll over the Sound Tigers 5-2. Sunday the two teams reconvened in Connecticut and after a much closer contest, Bridgeport edge out a 4-3 shootout win. LW Mike Angelidis, RW Jerome Samson and LW Derek Damon all scored on Sunday for the River Rats.

Week 9 Preview:

Week 9 proves to be the most grueling game schedule of the young season for the 2007-08 River Rats, as they will play their first stretch of four games in five days this week. For the third consecutive week Albany has three games in three nights, but this time they add a mid-week game in front of their weekend slate, a Wednesday, November 28th home game against the Norfolk Admirals. Friday, the River Rats and the Admirals will battle again at the Times Union Center; both games are set for 7:00 pm starts. Albany will hit the road for two games this weekend, making their first regular season trip to Syracuse for a 7:30 pm face off on Saturday, December 1st and finishing the week with a Sunday, December 2nd game in Rhode Island against the Atlantic Division's first place Providence Bruins at 4:05 pm.

Week 9 Schedule: (Home Games in Bold)

(All games are broadcasted LIVE on ESPN Radio 104.5 FM The Team & on the Internet at www.albanyriverrats.com)

Wednesday, November 28 - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center

vs. Norfolk Admirals (8-10-0-2, 18 pts)

Tied-Fifth Place, East Division

- In their first meeting of the season, on October 13th in Albany, Admirals G Ryan Munce out-dueled G Michael Leighton to give Norfolk a 2-1 shootout win. Last season The River Rats went 3-1-0-0 against Norfolk at the Times Union Center. The Admirals offense is led by RW Kyle Wanvig, whose 26 points (11 goals, 15 assists) ranks him 2nd in the AHL in scoring. Norfolk has leaned on the strong play of G Jonathan Boutin (2.52, 0.925) to lead them to a current four-game winning streak.

Friday, November 38 - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center

vs. Norfolk Admirals (8-10-0-2, 18 pts)

Tied-Fifth Place, East Division

This will be the third meeting between the River Rats and the Admirals, all of them being in Albany. The Rats will make their first trip to Virginia in late January, but after Friday's game the Admirals will not return to the Times Union Center until Wednesday April 9th, Albany's second-to last regular season home game. Norfolk has out-scored their opponents 19-8 in their last four games, including a 7-3 demolition of the East Division's first place Philadelphia Phantoms last Wednesday. Saturday, December 1 - 7:30 pm - War Memorial at Oncenter

@ Syracuse Crunch (7-12-1-2, 15 pts)

Fifth Place, North Division

The River Rats have played Syracuse more times than any other AHL opponent in their 15-year history. Albany took care of business on October 24th in their first meeting with the Crunch this year, scoring three quick goals in the first period and holding on to a 3-2 victory in spite of Syracuse C Derek MacKenzie's short-handed penalty shot goal later in the period. Saturday will be the first of four games for Albany this year at the War Memorial, where Syracuse has a record of 4-5-0-0 thus far and where the River Rats are 17-19-7-5 All Time against the Crunch. Sunday, December 2 - 4:05 pm - Dunkin' Donuts Center

@ Providence Bruins (14-3-1-0, 29 pts)

First Place, Atlantic Division

The Baby Bruins have been red hot to start the 2007-08 season. Due to renovations at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, Providence played their first ten games on the road, yet it did not phase the Bruins as they won their first five games and posted an 8-1-1-0 record before playing their Home Opener on November 14th. Providence leads the Atlantic Division with a 14-3-1-0 record (29 points) and they have out-scored their opponents 64-47 this year. The River Rats hold the franchise edge in the All-Time series, going 28-20-6-6 (68 points) in 60 games against Providence. Week 8 Game Results:

11/23/07 Albany 3 @ Lowell 0

Lowell, MA - Ryan Bayda scored two goals and added an assist as the Albany River Rats shutout the Lowell Devils 3-0 Friday night at Tsongas Arena, snapping a 3-game road-losing streak.

Defenseman J.D. Forrest making his AHL debut for Albany, after missing the entire 2006-07 season due to a knee injury, almost scored his first AHL goal within minutes of the opening face off. Forrest eluded several defenders in the high slot but was robbed by Lowell starter Jordan Parise's diving save. The Devils held off an early Albany power play, but for the eighth-straight game the River Rats would score first. Albany grabbed the lead at 13:59 of the first period when Ryan Bayda skated down the left wing, evaded two defensemen and then slid a clever pass back into the slot for defenseman Mark Flood. Flood ripped his shot off the inside of the left corner post and into the roof of the net for his second goal of the season, assisted by Bayda and Casey Borer.

Michael Leighton replaced Albany starter Kevin Nastiuk for the beginning of the second period; Nastiuk had appeared shaken up but stayed in the game after a pile-up in the crease within the last first minutes of the first period. Leighton did not face as many shots as Nastiuk did in the first period, but he was forced into several strong saves to keep the River Rats in the lead. At the other end Jordan Parise thwarted more than a few River Rats chances to build on their 1-0 lead.

Ryan Bayda was in Raleigh early this morning, but after being reassigned by the Hurricanes, he flew to Boston and met the team bus in Lowell a few hours prior to tonight's game. Bayda did not show any signs of travel fatigue as he knocked in a rebound from Jakub Petruzalek and Brett Carson at 3:45 of the third period, putting Albany ahead 2-0. Lowell could not even catch their breath when Bayda lit the lamp again less than two minutes later. Bayda blasted a slap shot through Parise at 5:40, his second goal of the game and fourth of the season, assisted by Petruzalek. That goal sealed the shutout for the River Rats, who out-shot Lowell 12-4 in the third period en route to a 3-0 win.

Kevin Nastiuk only played the first twenty minutes of the game, but stopped all 16 shots he faced to improve to 4-0-0 on the season before leaving with an injury. Michael Leighton preserved the shutout by turning aside all 14 shots he saw over the final two periods. Jordan Parise took the loss in goal for the Devils; making 26 saves on 29 shots. Albany improves to 9-8-0-1 on the season, but were 0-for-9 on the power play; Lowell falls to 6-10-1-0 and finished 0-for-6 with the man-advantage.

11/24/07 Bridgeport 2 @ Albany 5

Albany, NY - Jerome Samson scored two goals, including the game-winner, to lead the Albany River Rats to a 5-2 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Saturday night at the Times Union Center.

Albany entered the game with the lowest goals-against average in the American Hockey League, but it was the River Rats offense that exploded in the first period. Jerome Samson got things started when he broke free of the defense thanks to a long pass from J.D. Forrest. Samson corralled the puck and rifled a shot into the top corner at 2:37 for his seventh goal of the season, assisted by Forrest and Mark Flood. Brandon Nolan doubled Albany's lead at 5:01, when he collected a Jamie Johnson rebound and beat Bridgeport goalie Mike Morrison; Johnson and Jakub Petruzalek assisting on the goal. Not to be out-done Samson scored his eighth goal of the year at 5:40, his second goal of the night, assisted by Keith Aucoin. The goal marked the first multi-goal performance of Samson's pro career and the assist for Aucoin was his 400th career AHL point.

After Albany's third goal Bridgeport used their timeout in efforts to change the momentum and it seemed to work, as Darryl Bootland put the Sound Tigers on the board at 11:18, cutting the River Rats lead to 3-1. Albany answered with an unassisted goal from Jamie Johnson with 16 second remaining in the first period as the former Bridgeport forward scored his fourth goal of the season to put the River Rats ahead 4-1 after twenty minutes.

The highlight of the second period came when Keith Aucoin was released on a breakaway as he emerged from the penalty box, only to be hauled down from behind by Bootland at 4:05. Referee Chris Cozzan awarded Aucoin a penalty shot and the Albany captain took full advantage as he buried his shot past Morrison for his second goal of the season to put the River Rats ahead 5-1. The goal was Albany's first successful penalty shot at the Times Union Center since Scott Cameron scored against Manchester on December 6th, 2002.

Bridgeport's Gregg Johnson scored at 16:28 of the third period, pulling the Sound Tigers back within three goals, but they would come no closer as the River Rats sealed a 5-2 victory.

Michael Leighton made 27 saves on 29 shots for his sixth win of the season, helping the River Rats improve to 10-8-0-1 on the season. Mike Morrison took the loss in goal for Bridgeport, stopping 21-of-26 shots, while the Sound Tigers dropped to 6-10-1-0. Albany finished 1-for-6 on the power play; Bridgeport was 0-for-5 on the man-advantage.

11/25/07 Albany 3 @ Bridgeport 4 - (Shootout 2-1)

Bridgeport, CT - Rookie left wing Derek Damon scored his first career AHL goal, but the Albany River Rats came up just short in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Sunday afternoon at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

For just the fourth time in their first 20 games this season the River Rats did not score the first goal as Bridgeport's Jeremy Colliton scored an unassisted, short-handed, goal at 2:29 to put the Sound Tigers ahead 1-0. Albany answered when Mike Angelidis scored his fourth goal of the year at 4:03, assisted by Casey Borer and Nicolas Blanchard. The River Rats took the lead 2-1 on left wing Derek Damon's first career AHL point with a power play goal at 10:31. Damon redirected Ryan Bayda's shot from the blue line past goalie Joey MacDonald for his first AHL goal and first with Albany; Bayda and Keith Aucoin registered assists on Damon's goal. Bridgeport defenseman Andrew MacDonald responded for the Sound Tigers, tying the game 2-2 at 13:23, scoring his second goal of the season.

The River Rats took a 3-2 lead midway through the second period when Jerome Samson scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season at 10:02, from Aucoin and Damon. The goal was Albany's second power play goal of the game and Samson's sixth goal on the power play this season.

But Bridgeport again tied the game, this time with a power play goal from Tim Jackman at 2:02 of the third period, assisted by Ben Walter and Sean Bentivoglio. The rest of the period would be dominated by the goaltenders as both Michael Leighton and Joey MacDonald made game-saving stops in their respective nets.

After a scoreless overtime session the two teams geared up for a shootout. Frans Nielsen scored for Bridgeport in the second round, but it was nullified by Jakub Petruzalek's shootout goal for Albany in the third round; the River Rats first shootout goal of the year. Albany was trying to win their first shootout in 2007-08, but they were denied the two-points when Jeremy Colliton scored in the fifth round to earn the victory for Bridgeport.

Joey MacDonald recorded his 4th win of the season in goal for the Sound Tigers, making 26 saves on 29 shots in regulation and overtime and then stopping 4-of-5 in the shootout. Michael Leighton took the shootout loss for Albany with a strong 33-save performance in 65 minutes of action, along with denying 3-of-5 shootout attempts. Albany was 2-for-6 on the power play, while Bridgeport was 1-for-5.

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 8)

Keith Aucoin - C- #11 2 GP, 1 Goal, 4 Assists, 5 Points, 1 Penalty Shot Goal

Captain Keith Aucoin was his usual dynamic self on the ice for the River Rats in Week 8. After being held off the score sheet in his return to Lowell, Aucoin had a memorable night at home Saturday as he recorded his 400th career AHL point with the primary assist on Jerome Samson's first period power play goal. The Waltham, Massachusetts native then scored on a penalty shot in the second period, the first successful River Rats penalty shot at home in five years. Aucoin completed the week with two assists in Bridgeport on Sunday for his fifth multi-point game of the season.

Rat Bites:

- PENALTY SHOT SUCCESS - C Keith Aucoin scored on a penalty shot in the second period of Saturday's game against Bridgeport. It was the first successful River Rats penalty shot scored at the Times Union Center since December 6, 2002 when Scott Cameron scored on then Manchester Monarchs goalie Christobal Huet at the end of the second period.

- PASSING AN AHL MILESTONE - C Keith Aucoin recorded his 400th career AHL assist on Saturday versus Bridgeport with an assist on Jerome Samson's power play goal at 5:40 of the first period. Aucoin currently has 403 points (128 goals, 275 assists) in 409 career AHL games, ranking him 5th amongst active players.

- IN THE TOP 100 - LW Trevor Gillies has been climbing up the AHL's All-Time Penalty Minutes chart. Gillies is currently 95th All-Time with 1,099 PIMs in 262 career AHL games. The Cambridge, Ontario native is currently twelfth amongst active players, trailing San Antonio's Bryan Helmer by just four minutes.

- MORE MILESTONES - C Jamie Johnson recorded his 50th career AHL assist on Brandon Nolan's goal at 5:01 of the first period Saturday against Bridgeport. Johnson has tallied 69 points (19 goals, 50 assists) in 130 career AHL games played.

- RED LIGHT DISTRICT - Rookie RW Jerome Samson scored three goals during Week 8 and leads all AHL rookies with nine goals this season. Samson also recorded his first multi-goal game as a pro with two first period goals against Bridgeport on Saturday.

- OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT - Rookie LW Derek Damon scored his first two AHL points, including his first AHL goal on Sunday in Bridgeport. Damon redirected a Ryan Bayda shot at 10:31 of the first period for a power play goal. He later assisted on Jerome Samson's power play goal in the second period. Damon now has two points in three games for Albany this season.

River Rats Recent Transactions

November 25 - The Albany River Rats (AHL) recalled Kirk MacDonald from loan with the Florida Everblades (ECHL). November 24 - The Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) reassigned Daniel Manzato (G) to the Albany River Rats (AHL) from the Las Vegas Wranglers (ECHL). November 23 - The Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) returned Ryan Bayda (LW) on loan to the Albany River Rats (AHL). The River Rats (AHL) loaned Kirk MacDonald (RW) to the Florida Everblades (ECHL).

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Goals: Jerome Samson (9)

Assists: Keith Aucoin (13)

Points: Keith Aucoin, Jerome Samson (15)

Plus/Minus: Nicolas Blanchard, Brett Carson, Jakub Petruzalek (+6)

Penalty Minutes: Tim Conboy (63)

Power Play Goals: Jerome Samson (6)

Short Handed Goals: Pat Dwyer (1)

Game-Winning Goals: Dave Gove, Brandon Nolan, Jerome Samson (2)

Shots: Jerome Samson (58)

Shooting Percentage: Brandon Nolan (18.2%)

Saves: Michael Leighton (482)

Wins: Michael Leighton (6)

GAA: Kevin Nastiuk (1.20)

Save Percentage: Kevin Nastiuk (0.959)

East Division Standings:

EAST GP RECORD PTS

Philadelphia 20 (15-4-1-0) 31

Albany 20 (10-8-0-2) 22

Hershey 18 (10-8-0-0) 20

Binghamton 19 (9-8-2-0) 20

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 19 (9-10-0-0) 18

Norfolk 20 (8-10-0-2) 18

Bridgeport 18 (7-10-1-0) 15

The River Rats return to action on Wednesday, November 28th as they challenge the Norfolk Admirals for the first of two straight games at the Times Union Center. Albany will also host Norfolk on Friday, November 30th.

Partial season tickets packages and flex tickets for the 2007-08 River Rats season are on sale now. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2007


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