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River Rats Weekly

February 16, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany enjoyed their best run of play this season in Week 19 as they won their first three games of the week, extending their winning streak to a season-high five straight games. The River Rats started the week with a 4-3 shootout win over the Portland Pirates at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY. Albany then traveled to Binghamton and won their third game of the season at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena, scoring on their first three shots of the game on their way to a 4-2 win over the Senators. Back at the Times Union Center on Friday night Albany squandered leads of 2-0 and 3-1, but second year center Bobby Hughes, returning to the lineup after missing 40 games due to injury, broke a 3-3 tie at 17:42 of the third period as the River Rats went on to beat the Springfield Falcons 5-4. Saturday Albany had their five-game winning streak halted by the Lowell Devils 7-4. Dwight Helminen scored 19 seconds into the game, but it would be the only lead the Rats had all night, as the Devils scored three goals in the third period for the three-goal win.

Week 20 Preview:

Albany's lineup depth got stronger as top-scoring defenseman Bryan Rodney return from the Carolina Hurricanes last Saturday night and center Bobby Hughes played his first two games since November 7th. Captain Tim Conboy still has two more games to serve on his four-game AHL suspension, but will be eligible to return on Friday night, February 20th when Albany hosts the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The River Rats start the week with a 5:00 pm President's Day game on Monday against the Manchester Monarchs, the only visit by Manchester to the Times Union Center this season. Wednesday the Rats head to Lowell for their fourth and final meeting of the regular season against the Devils, looking to avenge their 7-4 loss on Saturday. After playing four consecutive games against Atlantic Division teams, Albany will host two important East Division match ups with Bridgeport on Friday and the red-hot Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, winners of eight straight, on Sunday, February 22nd at 5:00 pm. With only eight weeks remaining during the 2008-09 regular season, and 27 games left, the River Rats have entered crunch time as they look to get back into the playoff race.

Week 20 Schedule:

(All games are broadcast LIVE on 104.5 FM "The Team" ESPN Radio, are streamed free over the Internet at www.albanyriverrats.com and can be watched via internet pay-per-view video on www.ahllive.com)

Monday, February 16 - 5:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Manchester Monarchs (24-24-0-5, 53 pts)

Sixth Place, Atlantic Division

The Monarchs have hit a strong patch, winning their last three games and winning six of their last eight games. Goaltender Daniel Taylor, who had a 3-17-1 record in 23 games for the ECHL's Reading Royals this season, has shined since being called up to Manchester. Taylor has won four straight starts and has five wins in six appearances. The Monarchs have out-scored their opponents 14-6 in their last three games and 31-18 over their last eight. In their only other meeting of the season Albany blasted Manchester 7-1 on December 12th at Verizon Wireless Arena.

Leading Scorer: Marty Murray (C) - 35 points (9 goals, 26 assists) in 53 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Daniel Taylor (G) - 2.03 GAA, 0.920 save pct., 5-1-0 record in 6 GP.

Who's Hot: Teddy Purcell (RW) - 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in last seven games played. Marty Murray (C) - 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in last eight games played. Matt Moulson (LW) - 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) in last seven games played.

Wednesday, February 18 - 7:00 pm - Tsongas Arena - Lowell, MA

vs. Lowell Devils (25-21-1-5, 56 pts)

Tied-Fourth Place, Atlantic Division

The Devils have a five-game points streak (3-0-0-2) and have a record of 6-2-0-2 in their last ten games. After ending Albany's five-game winning streak, Lowell went back home and had a miraculous comeback to earn a point in a 7-6 shootout loss to Portland; the Pirates scored an empty net goal with one minute remaining for a 6-4 lead, but the Devils answered with an extra attacker goal at 19:36 and then Annsi Salmela's power play goal tied the game with six seconds left in regulation.

Leading Scorer: Jon DiSalvatore (RW) - 44 points (16 goals, 28 assists) in 51 games played.

Leading Goaltender: Jeff Frazee (G) - 2.59 GAA, 0.923 save pct., 20-9-4 record in 35 GP.

Who's Hot: Matt Halischuk (RW) - 8 points (4 goals, 4 assists) and a +2 rating in last five games played. Rod Pelley (C) - 8 points (2 goals, 6 assists) and a +3 rating in last five games played. Vladimir Zharkov (RW) - 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) and a +3 rating in last five games played.

Friday, February 20 - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (30-17-3-3, 66 pts)

Third Place, East Division

The Sound Tigers are 2-0-0-1 in the last three games, but went 4-4-1-1 over their last ten games played. After a hot start to his Bridgeport career, rookie goalie Nathan Lawson has gone just 1-5-0-1 in his last seven starts. Swiss goaltender Tobias Stephan has won all three starts since being loaned to the Sound Tigers by the Dallas Stars. Bridgeport has a busy week, with five games in six days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday). The Sound Tigers have not won consecutive games since December 21st vs. Lowell and 26th vs. Hartford. Albany is 2-3-0-0 against Bridgeport this year with three games remaining in the season series.

Leading Scorer: Mike Iggulden (RW) - 49 points (20 goals, 29 assists) in 53games played.

Leading Goaltender: Nathan Lawson (G) - 1.88 GAA, 0.936 save pct., 11-7-1 record in 20 GP.

Who's Hot: Ben Walter (C) - 5 assists and a +1 rating in last five games played. Kurtis McLean (C) - 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in last three games played. Trevor Smith (LW) - 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) in last five games played.

Sunday, February 22 - 5:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (35-16-1-2, 73 pts)

Second Place, East Division

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is the hottest team in the AHL right now, winning eight straight games and pulling to within one point of first place Hershey with one game in hand on the Bears. The Penguins are 11-1-0-0 in their last twelve games played and now boast the fourth best record in the AHL. However, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will get a new bench boss this week as Head Coach Dan Bylsma has been promoted to Interim Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, replacing the fired Michel Therrien on Sunday. Second year goaltender John Curry has won his last ten straight starts, while Adam Berkhoel is 1-2-0 in his last three appearances in goal. Albany is 2-2-0-0 against the Penguins this season, with the home team winning every game thus far.

Leading Scorer: Jeff Taffe (C) - 56 points (19 goals, 37 assists) in 49 games played.

Leading Goaltender: John Curry (G) - 2.37 GAA, 0.920 save pct., 21-7-0 record in 29 GP.

Who's Hot: Janne Pesonen (C) - 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists) and a +4 rating in last five games played. Jeff Taffe (C) - 7 points (1 goal, 6 assists) and a +4 rating in last five games played. Mark Letestu (C) - 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) and a +5 rating in last five games played.

Week 19 Game Results:

February 10, 2009 Albany 4 @ Portland 3 (1-0 in SO) at HSBC Arena

February 11, 2009 Albany 4 @ Binghamton 2

February 13, 2009 Springfield 4 @ Albany 5

February 14, 2009 Lowell 7 @ Albany 4

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 19)

Nick Dodge - C - #8 4 GP, 6 Points (4 goals, 2 assists), +2, 4 PIMs, 1 GWG, 1 GWA

Rookie forward Nick Dodge continues to emerge as an offensive weapon for the River Rats this season. The Oakville, Ontario native has been a steady presence in Albany's lineup, playing in all 53 games for the Rats this year, but in Week 19 he posted his largest single-week point total of the campaign, scoring six points (4 goals, 2 assists) in four games played. Dodge began the week with his first career two-goal game at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, helping the Rats to a 4-3 shootout win over the Portland Pirates. He followed with another two-goal effort on Wednesday night, including scoring the game-winning goal, in a 4-2 win at Binghamton. Friday in Albany Dodge made a beautiful cross-ice pass to set up a late goal from Mike Angelidis, which turned out to be the game-winner in a 5-4 victory over Springfield. Saturday he added his 20th assist of the year to extend his current point streak to five straight games; he has eight points (4 goals, 4 assists) since February 7th vs. Portland in Glens Falls. On the season the River Rats young center ranks fourth on the team with 29 points (9 goals, 20 assists) in 53 games played.

Rat Bites:

- FAST STARTS - Michael Ryan set a new River Rats 2008-09 season mark by scoring just 1:24 into the first period of Wednesday's win at Binghamton. It was the fastest goal by Albany to open a game this year, until Saturday night vs. Lowell, when Dwight Helminen shattered that mark by lighting the lamp just 19 seconds after the opening face off. The franchise record was set by Pascal Rheaume on March 7, 1997 when he scored six seconds into the game at the St John's Maple Leafs in Newfoundland.

- QUICK STRIKES - Trailing Lowell 4-2 heading into the third period on Saturday night, the River Rats scored two goals in the span of nine seconds to tie the game. Mike Angelidis scored at 1:29 and Jerome Samson tied the game at 1:38, for the second fastest pair of goals scored by Albany this year. Michael Ryan and Ryan Weston scored eight seconds apart on January 23rd vs. Binghamton, the fastest two goals of the Rats season. The franchise mark is seven seconds, set when Jim Dowd scored twice in that span on February 27, 1994 against Portland.

- HIGH-SCORING WEEK - The River Rats offense erupted for 47 points (17 goals, 30 assists) as they won three of their four games during Week 19. Four players had five or more points in the week: Jakub Petruzalek (1 goal, 6 assists), Nick Dodge (4 goals, 2 assists), Michael Ryan (2 goals, 4 assists) and Pat Dwyer (1 goal, 4 assists).

- POINT-STREAKING - All-Star Michael Ryan had his four-game goal streak (5 goals) snapped on Friday vs. Springfield, but the River Rats leading scorer finished the week with six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in four games and extended his current point streak to an Albany season-high six games; he has ten points (5 goals, 5 assists) on the span since January 23rd vs. Binghamton. Ryan has a team-leading 42 points (25 goals, 17 assists) in 40 games for the Rats this season and currently ranks fourth in the AHL in goals.

- HELPER MACHINE - Right wing Jakub Petruzalek had a team-high seven points (1 goal, 6 assists) this week and joined teammate Michael Ryan in the 40-point club with his 40th and 41st points of the season on Saturday vs. Lowell. Petruzalek leads the River Rats and is tied for 27th in the AHL with 28 assists in 51 games played this year.

- TOP 40 COUNTDOWN - As Michael Ryan and Jakub Petruzalek crossed the 40-point mark on the season during Week 19 the Albany duo moved up into the top 40 in the AHL in points. Ryan (42 points) currently ranks 33rd in the league in points, while Petruzalek (41 points) is tied for 34th.

- TEMPERS FLARE - The River Rats and the Portland Pirates combined for a massive 164 penalty minutes last Tuesday night, which was the second highest PIMs total in the AHL this season; Albany had 18 penalties for 79 minutes and Portland had 17 infractions for 85 minutes. Iowa and San Antonio combined for the highest PIMs total this season (169 minutes) on October 25th and the single team high of year is 122 PIMs piled up by the Syracuse Crunch on January 17th vs. Hamilton. Albany's All-Time penalty minutes single-game records were both set on December 27, 1995 when the River Rats posted 124 PIMs and combined with the Cornwall Aces to accumulate 238 penalty minutes in Albany.

River Rats Recent Transactions

February 14 - ADD Bryan Rodney (D) - Returned on loan from Carolina (NHL).

February 13 - ADD Noah Babin (D) - Reassigned by Carolina (NHL) from Florida (ECHL).

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: Mike Angelidis, Nicolas Blanchard & Nick Dodge (53)

Goals: Michael Ryan (253)

Assists: Jakub Petruzalek (28)

Points: Michael Ryan (42)

Plus/Minus: Josef Melichar (+7)

Penalty Minutes: Mike Angelidis (131)

Power Play Goals: Michael Ryan (8)

Short Handed Goals: Pat Dwyer, Mark Flood & Dwight Helminen (1)

Game-Winning Goals: Michael Ryan (4)

Shots: Jerome Samson (148)

Shooting Percentage: Michael Ryan (20.5%)

Saves: Justin Peters (936)

Wins: Justin Peters (13)

GAA: Justin Peters (2.63)

Save Percentage: Justin Peters (0.915)

####

The River Rats begin another four-game week on Monday, February 16th as they host the Manchester Monarchs for a 5:00 pm President's Day face off at the Times Union Center. Albany also has home games this week on Friday, February 20th vs. Bridgeport (7:00pm) and Sunday, February 22nd vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (5:00 pm).

River Rats flex ticket packages and individual game tickets are on sale now at the River Rats office and the Times Union Center Box Office. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.



American Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2009


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