River Rats Weekly

April 7, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


2007-08 Record: 42-28-3-4, 91 points, (23-12-1-2 Home, 19-16-2-2 Road), Third Place, East Division

Week 27 Recap:

The River Rats completed their three-week stretch of seven consecutive road games this week, by winning two of three games and finishing the stretch with a 4-2-1-0 record (9 points). Albany started the week by winning their third game at Wachovia Arena this year, beating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4-3 in a shootout. Friday in Norfolk five different River Rats scored as they blasted the Admirals 5-2 at the Norfolk Scope. Saturday night it was roll reversal as Norfolk rallied for their home finale, in front of their largest crowd of the season, beating Albany 5-2. With two wins on the week and Bridgeport's regulation loss on Saturday Albany clinched a spot in the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs, for their second-straight season of post-season action.

Week 28 Preview:

The River Rats will close out the 2007-08 regular season, their 15th year of operations, with two home games and one road contest. Albany will host Norfolk on Wednesday, April 9th at 7:00 pm. and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, April 11th, before heading to Philadelphia for their regular season finale on Sunday, April 13th at the Wachovia Spectrum. The River Rats need one point from their remaining three games or one loss by the Hershey Bears to wrap up the third place position in the East Division. Albany cannot finish higher than third, because even if they ended up in a tie with Philadelphia or Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for points, the Phantoms have the tiebreaker with a better head-to-head record and the Penguins would own the tiebreaker with more regular season wins.

Week 28 Schedule:

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

Wednesday, April 9 - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center

vs. Norfolk Admirals (27-43-2-5, 61 pts)

Seventh Place, East Division

- The Admirals are 3-7-0-0 in their last ten games, but did manage to beat Albany for the second time this season on Saturday, after losing their previous five meetings. The River Rats are 5-1-0-1 (11 points) against Norfolk in seven games this year.

- Leading Scorer: Kyle Wanvig (RW) - 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) in 59 games played.

- Leading Goaltender: Marc Denis (G) - 2.98 GAA, 0.909 save pct., 10-15-1-2 record in 30 GP.

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

Friday, April 11 - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center

vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (46-26-1-4, 97 pts)

First Place, East Division

The River Rats shootout win last Wednesday at Wachovia Arena gave them a 3-1-0-0 record at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, but they are 1-2-0-0 in Albany, giving them a slight edge (4-3-0-0) in the season series. The Penguins will host Bridgeport on Wednesday, before traveling to Albany on Friday.

Leading Scorer: Tim Brent (C) - 61 points (18 goals, 43 assists) in 74 games played.

Leading Goaltender: John Curry (G) - 2.11 GAA, 0.909 save pct., 23-9-1-3 record in 37 GP.

Who's Hot: Alex Goligoski (D) - 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) and a +3 rating in last five games played. Tim Brent (C) - 6 points (3 goals, 3 assists) and +1 rating in last five games played. Chris Minard (C) - 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) and +2 rating in last five games played.

Sunday, April 13 - 5:05 pm - Wachovia Spectrum

@ Philadelphia Phantoms (45-25-4-3, 97 pts)

Second 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. The Phantoms will play a home-and-home series with Hershey on Friday and Saturday before hosting the River Rats on Sunday for the regular season finale.

Leading Scorer: Jared Ross (RW) - 62 points (23 goals, 39 assists) in 66 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Scott Munroe (G) - 2.30 GAA, 0.918 save pct., 17-8-0-2 record in 35 GP.

Who's Hot: Stefan Ruzicka (RW) - 8 points (2 goals, 6 assists) in last five games played. Jared Ross (C) - 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) in last five games played. Denis Gauthier (D) - 5 assists and +3 rating in last five games played.

Week 27 Game Results:

4/2/08 Albany 4 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3 - Shootout (2-1)

4/4/08 Albany 5 @ Norfolk 2

4/5/08 Albany 2 @ Norfolk 5

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 27)

Nicholas Blanchard - C - #26 - 3 GP, 4 points (3 goal, 1 assist), +3, 4 PIMs Rookie forward Nicholas Blanchard has established himself as a tireless fore-checker, an excellent penalty killer and a hard-hitting physical presence in the River Rats lineup. This week the Granby, Quebec native added goal-scorer to his list of superlatives, by scoring in each of Albany's three games. He also registered a +1 rating in each game and added an assist for his best offensive week of the year. In his first full professional season, Blanchard has 21 points (9 goals, 12 assists), 64 penalty minutes and a +3 rating.

Rat Bites:

- PLAYOFF HOCKEY GUARANTEED - Albany's two wins this week, coupled with Bridgeport's loss Saturday night in Hershey, clinched a berth into the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs. After missing the post season for the last six straight years with the New Jersey Devils, the River Rats will be enjoying playoff hockey for the second consecutive season as the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.

- PROSPECT CASHES IN - 2007 first round draft pick Brandon Sutter scored his first career professional point with an assist on Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre. Sutter then scored his first ever pro goal in his next game, Friday night at Norfolk, snapping a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net for a power play goal in Albany's 5-2 win over the Admirals.

- MORE ACCOLADES FOR LEIGHTON - G Michael Leighton became the first Albany goaltender to be named to the AHL's First All-Star Team on Thursday and the sixth player in franchise history to do so. He is the first River Rats player to receive this honor since defenseman Ray Giroux was a First Team All-Star in the 2002-03 season.

- BACK FROM THE BIG CLUB - Forward Joe Jensen returned from his second call up of the season with the Carolina Hurricanes. Jensen had played five games in his latest recall and immediately made his impact felt with Albany, scoring goals in each of his first two games back with the River Rats, including a decisive goal against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, his former team.

- MORE PLAYERS? - The River Rats added three more players to the roster this week on Amateur Tryout Agreements, bringing in Hurricanes' draft picks Chris Terry and Brett Bellemore from the Plymouth Whalers (OHL) and Josh Engel from the University of Wisconsin (NCAA). Albany leads the AHL with 60 different players on their roster this season and has set a new franchise record for the most players on the roster in one year.

- MORE FROM THE MVP CANDIDATE - By stopping four-of-five shootout attempts to earn a 4-3 shootout win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday, goaltender Michael Leighton moved up into a five-way tie for the AHL lead in shootout victories (5). Leighton is 5-4 in nine shootouts this season and has stopped 11-of-14 attempts, for a 75.0% shootout save percentage.

River Rats Recent Transactions

April 3 - ADD Josh Engel (D) - Signed ATO, from the University of Wisconsin (WCHA).

April 1 - ADD Joe Jensen (LW) - Returned on loan from Carolina (NHL). DELETE Brock Wilson (D) - Released from PTO, returned to Flint (IHL).

March 31 - ADD Chris Terry (LW) and Brett Bellemore (D) - Signed ATOs, from the Plymouth Whalers (OHL).

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: Jamie Johnson (77)

Goals: Brandon Nolan (22)

Assists: Keith Aucoin, Jamie Johnson (37)

Points: Jamie Johnson (58)

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 (190)

Shooting Percentage: Ben Cottreau (23.1%)

Saves: Michael Leighton (1606)

Wins: Michael Leighton (28)

GAA: Michael Leighton (2.07)

Save Percentage: Michael Leighton (0.932)

With their stretch of seven-straight road games completed, the River Rats will return home for a Wednesday, April 9th home game against the Norfolk Admirals; a 7:00 pm face off at the Times Union Center. Friday, April 11th they

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.



American Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2008


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