River Rats Weekly

March 24, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


2007-08 Record: 40-26-2-4, 86 points, (23-12-1-2 Home, 17-14-1-2 Road), Third Place, East Division

Week 25 Recap:

The River Rats were struggling to find offense as they headed into an important stretch of games in Week 25. Wednesday night they broke a goalless slump that had lasted over seven consecutive periods before erupting for five goals in the third period to beat Hershey 6-2. Albany's biggest performance of the week came on Friday as they kicked off a stretch of seven straight road games with a dominating 3-0 shutout performance at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to pull within on point of the Penguins for second place in the East Division. The Rats then finished off their week with a 3-2 win at Worcester to claim a 3-1 record in their four-game season series with the Sharks.

Week 26 Preview:

Having played more games than any team in the American Hockey League, Albany will only play two games in Week 26. Friday, March 28th the River Rats will travel to Syracuse for their eighth and final regular season game against the Crunch. Albany lost their last meeting with Syracuse, a dismal 3-1 loss at the Glens Falls Civic Center on February 9th. The Rats will then travel to Maine for a Sunday afternoon clash with the Atlantic Division's Portland Pirates.

Week 26 Schedule:

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

Friday, March 28 - 7:30 pm - War Memorial at Oncenter

@ Syracuse Crunch (36-26-2-6, 80 pts)

Third Place, North Division

* The Crunch have won five-straight games and are 10-0-0-3 in their last 13 games take firm control of the third place position in the North Division. Albany has struggled at the War Memorial this season, losing all three prior meetings in Syracuse by two goals or less. The Crunch have been difficult to beat at home this year, posting a 20-9-1-3 record and will host Toronto on Wednesday night before entertaining Albany on Friday. * Leading Scorer: Joakim Lindstrom (LW) - 54 points (23 goals, 31 assists) in 45 games played. * Leading Goaltender: Karl Goehring (G) - 2.30 GAA, 0.924 save pct., 11-8-0-2 record in 22 GP. * Who's Hot: Clay Wilson (D) - 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) and a +6 rating in last five games played. Zenon Konopka (C) - 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) and +3 rating in last five games played. Duvie Wescott (D) - 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) and +1 rating in last five games played.

Sunday, March 30th - 4:05 pm - Cumberland County Civic Center

@ Portland Pirates (42-23-2-4, 90 pts)

Third Place, Atlantic Division

* The first three games of the Pirates and River Rats trilling season series have left little to be desired. Albany shutout Portland 2-0 on December 7th, but the Pirates have won the last two games, 6-5 on January 11th and then a 3-2 overtime win on March 12th. Portland has won seven of their last ten games, but have a grueling schedule of four games this week. The Pirates will play at Manchester on Wednesday, host Lowell on Friday and then travel to Providence on Saturday, all leading up to their Sunday matinee with Albany. * Leading Scorer: Andrew Ebbett (C) - 66 points (17 goals, 49 assists) in 65 games played. * Leading Goaltender: Mike McKenna (G) - 2.66 GAA, 0.909 save pct., 23-9-0-1 record in 36 GP. * Who's Hot: Andrew Ebbett (C) - 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) and +2 rating in last five games played. Jason King (C) - 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) and a +1 rating in last five games played. Tyler Bouck (C) - 7 points (4 goals, 3 assist) in last five games played.

Week 25 Game Results:

3/19/08 Hershey 2 @ Albany 6

3/21/08 Albany 3 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0

3/22/08 Albany 3 @ Worcester 2

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 25)

Marc Cavosie - C - #9 3 GP, 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists), +4, 0 PIMs

Center Marc Cavosie was right in the middle of the spark that brought Albany's offense out of a recent scoring slump. Cavosie scored points in all three games in the week, starting with a two point game (1 goal, 1 assist) in the River Rats 6-2 romp over Hershey on Wednesday. Friday Cavosie had the primary assist on the game-winning goal in a 3-0 shutout at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Albany, New York native completed his week with another two-point game (1 goal, 1 assist) to help the Rats sweep their three-game week with a 3-2 win in Worcester. Cavosie has ten points (4 goals, 6 assists) in his first 13 games played since joining Albany on February 26th.

Rat Bites:

RIVER RATS NOTABLES: WEEK 25

- DREAM DEBUT - LW Ben Cottreau scored two goals in his pro debut on Friday at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Mercyhurst College senior co-captain signed an AHL contract with the Rats on Thursday, and then tallied two goals in the span of 2:05 of the second period against the Penguins.

- POSITIVE DEFENSE - Defenseman Joey Mormina tied an AHL single game season-high by recording a +5 rating on Wednesday against Hershey. He was on the ice for five of Albany's six goals in the game, becoming the second player in the AHL this year to accomplish that feat.

- THE SHUTOUTS CONTINUE - G Michael Leighton registered his AHL-leading seventh shutout of the season with a 35 save effort on Friday in Wilkes-Barre, PA. It was the 29th shutout of his AHL career, putting Leighton into sole possession of sixth place on the AHL's all-time list.

- OFFENSE BACK WITH A VENGENCE - Albany ended a goal drought of 171:03 on Wednesday when Jamie Johnson scored at 11:15 of the second period, cutting into a 2-0 Hershey lead. The River Rats then blew the doors off the Bears' defense with a season-high five goals in the third period for a 6-2 win.

- MAKING WAVES - The River Rats three game sweep of their week 25 action has given them 86 points with eight games remaining, which is five points higher then their 2006-07 total of 81. Saturday's victory at Worcester was Albany's 40th of the season, marking the first time since the 1998-99 season (46 wins) that a River Rats squad has won 40 or more games in a season.

- THE GRIND LIGHTENS SLIGHTLY - Albany has played 72 games already this season, more than any other team in the AHL. But their Week 26 schedule eases off their frenetic pace as they play just two games, Friday in Syracuse and Sunday in Portland. The River Rats are in the middle of a stretch of seven straight games away from the Times Union Center.

River Rats Recent Transactions March 20 - ADD Ben Cottreau (F) - Signed standard AHL player's contract, free agent from Mercyhurst College. DELETE Mark Pavli (F) - Released from ATO. March 19 - ADD Mark Pavli (F) - Signed ATO.

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: Jamie Johnson (72)

Goals: Brandon Nolan (22)

Assists: Keith Aucoin (37)

Points: Jamie Johnson (53)

Plus/Minus: Casey Borer (+19)

Penalty Minutes: Tim Conboy (189)

Power Play Goals: Jerome Samson (12)

Short Handed Goals: Pat Dwyer (3)

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

Shots: Jerome Samson (176)

Shooting Percentage: Ben Cottreau (33.3%)

Saves: Michael Leighton (1462)

Wins: Michael Leighton (26)

GAA: Michael Leighton (2.00)

Save Percentage: Michael Leighton (0.934)

East Division Standings:

EAST GP RECORD PTS

Philadelphia 71 (41-24-3-3) 88

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 70 (42-25-0-3) 87

Albany 72 (40-26-2-4) 86

Hershey 70 (36-28-1-5) 78

Binghamton 71 (32-27-8-4) 76

Bridgeport 68 (35-30-1-2) 73

Norfolk 71 (25-39-2-5) 57

The River Rats continue their stretch of road games next Friday, March 28th as they roll west on I-90 to face their intrastate rival Syracuse Crunch at 7:30 pm at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Albany's next home game is on Wednesday, April 9th against the Norfolk Admirals; a 7:00 pm face off at the Times Union Center.

River Rats playoff ticket packages for the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs are on sale now, with special pricing available for children and seniors. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.

www.albanyriverrats.com - AHL Affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes - www.albanyriverrats.com



American Hockey League Stories from March 24, 2008


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