River Rats Weekly

March 10, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


2007-08 Record: 37-25-1-3, 78 points, (22-11-0-2 Home, 15-14-1-1 Road), Second Place, East Division

Week 23 Recap:

The River Rats extended their season-high winning streak to eight games last Wednesday as they beat the Binghamton Senators on the road 4-1. It is the longest Albany winning run since the 1997-98 team that won ten straight. But the River Rats would not reach nine in a row as they were halted by the Worcester Sharks 5-3 Friday night at the DCU Center, thus ending their nine-game unbeaten stretch. However, Albany got right back into the winning stride as they closed out their regular season schedule at the Glens Falls Civic Center with a 2-1 overtime triumph over the Senators on Saturday night.

Week 24 Preview:

The River Rats lost their winning streak, but remain the hottest team in the AHL by going 9-1-0-0 in their last ten games. Albany's charge up the standings has put them in strong position for the Calder Cup Playoffs, but they will face some difficult tests this week. The Rats host the Portland Pirates on Wednesday night at the Times Union Center, having split their first two games with the Atlantic Division's second place team. Friday Albany completes their eight-game season series with the Binghamton Senators with road trip to the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. But the big match up of the week will be their Saturday night showdown with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the Times Union Center. Three points separate Albany from the Penguins in the standings and this will be one of four head to head match ups over the final five weeks of the regular season.

Week 24 Schedule: (Home Games in Bold)

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

Wednesday, March 12 - 7:05 pm - Times Union Center

vs. Portland Pirates (39-20-2-4, 84 pts)

Tied-Second Place, Atlantic Division

The Portland Pirates are red hot, carrying a four-game winning streak into Wednesday's game in Albany and they are 7-2-0-1 in their last ten games play. Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin is 3-1-0 in his first four starts since joining the Pirates, including back-to-back shutouts against Hartford and Bridgeport. Portland has split their first two games with the River Rats. Leading Scorer: Andrew Ebbett (C) - 59 points (14 goals, 45 assists) in 59 games played. Leading Goaltender: Mike McKenna (G) - 2.53 GAA, 0.915 save pct., 21-7-0-1 record in 32 GP. Who's Hot: Drew Miller (LW) - 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) and +4 rating in last four games played. Geoff Platt (C) - 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists) in last five games played. Bruno St. Jacques (D) - 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) and +2 rating in last five games played. Friday, March 14 - 7:05 pm - Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

@ Binghamton Senators (28-27-6-4, 66 pts)

Sixth Place, East Division

This game will complete their eight-game season series, with Albany holding a 6-0-0-1 record against Binghamton this year. The B-Sens will head to Bridgeport Wednesday before hosting the River Rats Friday night. They are 1-3-1-0 in their last five games, with their only win a big 4-3 shootout victory over the Providence Bruins. Leading Scorer: Denis Hamel (LW) - 47 points (28 goals, 19 assists) in 52 games played. Leading Goaltender: Jeff Glass (G) - 2.76 GAA, 0.915 save pct., 14-11-4-4 record in 38 GP. Who's Hot: Denis Hamel (LW) - 8 points (4 goals, 4 assists) and +1 rating in last ten games played. Justin Mapletoft (C) - 3 points (2 goals, 1assist) in last five games played. Alexander Nikulin (C) - 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in last five games played. Saturday, March 15th - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center

vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (35-24-0-4, 74 pts)

Third Place, East Division

Albany and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton have not faced each other in the 2008 calendar year, last meeting on December 22nd at the Wachovia Center. This is the first game since Carolina traded Dave Gove (C) to Pittsburgh for Joe Jensen (LW). The Penguins snapped a five-game winless streak on March 2nd and have won four straight games since, all on the road. Leading Scorer: Tim Brent (C) - 47 points (15 goals, 32 assists) in 60 games played. Leading Goaltender: John Curry (G) - 2.15 GAA, 0.916 save pct., 15-8-0-3 record in 27 GP. Who's Hot: Ryan Stone (C) - 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) and +3 rating in last five games played. Tim Brent (C) - 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) and a +5 rating in last five games played. Alex Goligoski (D) - 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) and +2 rating in last three games played. Week 23 Game Results:

3/5/08 Albany 4 @ Binghamton 1

3/7/08 Albany 3 @ Worcester 5

3/8/08 Binghamton 1 @ Albany 2 - Overtime (Glens Falls)

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 23)

Michael Leighton - G - #29 2 GP, 0.96 GAA, 0.963 save pct., 2-0-0-0, 52 saves

Michael Leighton continued his mastery over the Binghamton Senators with two dominant performances against the B-Sens this week. Wednesday night in Binghamton, the Petrolia, Ontario native stopped 28-of-29 shots to improve to 3-0-0-0 at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. After being given the night off on Friday in Worcester, Leighton was back in the net Saturday in Glens Falls. He only faced ten shots through the first two periods, but he clamped down to stop all 14 shots he faced in the third period, denying an intense Binghamton power play in the final minute of regulation and into overtime. The win was Leighton's sixth of the season against Binghamton as he lowered his AHL leading goals-against average (2.07) and save percentage (0.932). Leighton ranks second in the league in saves (1317) and shutouts (5) and third in minutes (2783) and wins (24).

Rat Bites:

- COACHING TO VICTORY - Head Coach Tom Rowe recorded his 150th career AHL win with Albany's 2-1 overtime triumph over Binghamton on Saturday in Glens Falls. Rowe has a career AHL coaching record of 150-125-12-10, a 0.541 winning percentage.

- A GOALTENDERS MILESTONE - Goaltender Michael Leighton played in his 15,000th career AHL minute in the second period of Saturday's 2-1 win over Binghamton in Glens Falls. Leighton has played in 255 career AHL games, totaling 15,038 minutes of on-ice action; he needs one more win for his 125th career AHL win.

- ONE WINNING STREAK STILL ALIVE - The River Rats had their eight-game winning streak (nine-games unbeaten) snapped by Friday's 5-3 loss in Worcester. But with a win Saturday over Binghamton they extended their home-winning streak to seven consecutive games, beginning with an overtime win over Philadelphia on February 16th at the Times Union Center.

- BACK IN THE AHL - Two weeks ago RW Jeff Hamilton returned to the AHL for the first time since the 2005-06 season. Hamilton recorded his first three-point game on Friday in Worcester (1 goal, 2 assists) and in the process scored his 100th career AHL assist. Hamilton has 215 career AHL points (114 goals, 101 assists) in 240 career AHL games.

- 37 WINS AND COUNTING - Albany's win over Binghamton was their 37th win of the season, equaling their 2006-07 total in wins. With 14 regular season games remaining the River Rats need just three points to reach last year's total.

River Rats Recent Transactions

No Recent Transactions

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: Jamie Johnson (66)

Goals: Brandon Nolan (22)

Assists: Keith Aucoin (37)

Points: Jamie Johnson (50)

Plus/Minus: Casey Borer (+16)

Penalty Minutes: Tim Conboy (189)

Power Play Goals: Jerome Samson (12)

Short Handed Goals: Pat Dwyer (2)

Game-Winning Goals: Brandon Nolan, Jerome Samson (5)

Shots: Jerome Samson (176)

Shooting Percentage: Kiel McLeod (25.0%)

Saves: Michael Leighton (1317)

Wins: Michael Leighton (24)

GAA: Michael Leighton (2.07)

Save Percentage: Michael Leighton (0.932)



American Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central