River Rats Weekly

Published on March 31, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


2007-08 Record: 40-27-3-4, 87 points, (23-12-1-2 Home, 17-15-2-2 Road), Third Place, East Division

Week 26 Recap:

The River Rats were up against two tough opponents in the middle of their stretch of seven-straight road games. Albany finished off their eight-game season series with archrival Syracuse with a 3-2 overtime loss Friday night at the War Memorial at Oncenter. Jamie Johnson had a two-point game, scoring the game-tying goal in the third period to force overtime and earn a point for the River Rats. But the Crunch took the win when Zenon Konopka tipped in a shot from the blue line for a four-on-three power play goal. Sunday in Maine the River Rats ran into trouble against the Portland Pirates power play unit. The Pirates scored on both second period power chances in the second period and goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin did the rest, shutting out Albany 2-0.

Week 27 Preview:

For the third consecutive week the River Rats will play all of their games away from the Times Union Center. Albany wraps up their seven-game road trip with three East Division games this week, starting with a Wednesday night game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Wachovia Arena. Then the Rats will head to Virginia for a two-game weekend series with the Norfolk Admirals; Friday, April 4th and Saturday, April 5th at the Scope, with both games beginning at 7:15 pm.

Week 27 Schedule:

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

Wednesday, April 2 - 7:05 pm - Wachovia Arena

@ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (44-26-0-3, 91 pts)

First Place, East Division

Albany shutout the Penguins for the third time this season, 3-0 on Friday, March 21st at Wachovia Arena; it was the second shutout for Michael Leighton in Wilkes-Barre this year. The River Rats trail the Penguins by four points for first place in the East Division and have split their first six games, with each team winning two of three on the road this year.

Leading Scorer: Tim Brent (C) - 56 points (15 goals, 41 assists) in 70 games played.

Leading Goaltender: John Curry (G) - 2.16 GAA, 0.916 save pct., 22-9-0-2 record in 34 GP.

Who's Hot: Connor James (LW) - 5 points (1 goal, 4 assists) and a +3 rating in last four games played. Nathan Smith (C) - 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist) in last five games played. Tim Brent (C) - 4 assists in last five games played.

Friday, April 4 - 7:15 pm - Norfolk Scope

@ Norfolk Admirals (26-41-2-5, 59 pts)

Seventh Place, East Division

After losing to Norfolk in a shootout 2-1 in their Home Opener on October 13th, the River Rats have beaten the Admirals in their last four meetings. In Albany's first trip to Norfolk in late January, just prior to the All-Star Break, the Rats won both games, the first in a shootout on January 25th and then in overtime on January 26th.

Leading Scorer: Kyle Wanvig (RW) - 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) in 58 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Marc Denis (G) - 3.09 GAA, 0.905 save pct., 9-14-1-2 record in 28 GP.

Who's Hot: Bracken Kearns (C) - 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in last five games played. Brandon Segal (RW) - 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) and +1 rating in last five games played. Radek Smolenak (LW) - 4 goals in last five games played.

Saturday, April 5 - 7:15 pm - Norfolk Scope

@ Norfolk Admirals (26-41-2-5, 59 pts)

Seventh Place, East Division

The Admirals just completed an eight-game home stand, posting a 3-5-0-0 record over that span. They will hit the road Wednesday night, playing at Philadelphia before returning home to host Albany for two games over the weekend.

Leading Scorer: Kyle Wanvig (RW) - 51 points (20 goals, 31 assists) in 58 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Marc Denis (G) - 3.09 GAA, 0.905 save pct., 9-14-1-2 record in 28 GP.

Who's Hot: Bracken Kearns (C) - 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in last five games played. Brandon Segal (RW) - 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) and +1 rating in last five games played. Radek Smolenak (LW) - 4 goals in last five games played.

Week 26 Game Results:

3/28/08 Albany 2 @ Syracuse 3 - OT

3/30/08 Albany 0 @ Portland 2

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 26)

Jamie Johnson - C - #21 2 GP, 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist), +1, 0 PIMs

Center Jamie Johnson led the team with two points in two games this week. Friday night he factored in both goals, including the game-tying goal in the third period to force overtime in a 3-2 OT loss at Syracuse. Johnson has played in all 74 games for the River Rats and leads the team with 55 points (20 goals, 35 assists).

Rat Bites:

RIVER RATS NOTABLES: WEEK 26

- MORE DEBUTS - Three players made their AHL debuts with the River Rats this week, including two playing their first games in pro hockey. Boston University forward Ryan Weston made his pro and AHL debut Friday in Syracuse, Flint defenseman Brock Wilson made his AHL debut on Friday and Carolina Hurricanes 2007 first round draft pick Brandon Sutter made his pro and AHL debut on Sunday in Portland.

- THE INJURY BUG - Rookie RW Jerome Samson returned to the ice Friday in Syracuse after missing the previous nine games and four weeks due to an injury suffered on March 2nd vs. Philadelphia. The Rats are still without injured defensemen Noah Babin, Mark Flood and Casey Borer and forwards Brandon Nolan and Bobby Hughes.

- CLOSE TO A MILESTONE - C Jamie Johnson has already set AHL single season career highs for goals (20), assists (35), points (55) and games played (74). He now needs just one point to record his 300th career Pro point. In 365 career Pro games, Johnson has 299 points (85 goals, 214 assists), including 112 points (35 goals, 77 assists) in 184 career AHL games.

- CLIMBING THE RATS LADDER - G Michael Leighton played in his 54th game of the season on Sunday in Portland, tying him with Tyler Weiman (2006-07) for the fourth most single season games played by an Albany goaltender. Peter Sidorkiewicz (62 games in 1996-97) holds the River Rats record, while Frank Doyle is second (58 games in 2005-06) and Jean-Francois Damphousse sits in third (55 games in 2000-01).

- MAGIC NUMBER DOWN TO FOUR - With two weeks and six games remaining on the River Rats regular season schedule, Albany's magic number to clinch a playoff berth is down the four. They need any combination of wins and/or Hershey, Bridgeport and Binghamton losses to add up to four games to clinch an East Division spot in the post season.

River Rats Recent Transactions

March 27 - ADD Ryan Weston (F) - Signed ATO. ADD Brock Wilson (D) - Signed PTO, called up from Flint Generals (IHL). DELETE - Chris Blight (RW) - Released from PTO, returned to Reading Royals (ECHL).

March 26 - ADD Brandon Sutter (RW) - Assigned by Carolina (NHL).

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: Jamie Johnson (74)

Goals: Brandon Nolan (22)

Assists: Keith Aucoin (37)

Points: Jamie Johnson (55)

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 (181)

Shooting Percentage: Ben Cottreau (25.0%)

Saves: Michael Leighton (1516)

Wins: Michael Leighton (26)

GAA: Michael Leighton (2.02)

Save Percentage: Michael Leighton (0.933)

East Division Standings:

EAST GP RECORD PTS

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 73 (44-26-0-3) 91

Philadelphia 73 (42-25-3-3) 90

Albany 74 (40-27-3-4) 87

Hershey 74 (38-30-1-5) 82

Binghamton 74 (33-28-8-5) 79

Bridgeport 72 (37-31-1-3) 78

Norfolk 74 (26-41-2-5) 59

The River Rats continue their stretch of seven straight road games on Wednesday, April 2nd against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Wachovia Arena. 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.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2008


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