River Rats Weekly

Published on October 19, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


Albany took two out-of-three games last week to move into a first place tie in the East Division along side the Hershey Bears. The River Rats started at home on Wednesday night with a 3-1 decision over the Norfolk Admirals. Goaltender Justin Peters made 37 saves and Stefan Chaput notched the game-winner in the second period. The River Rats then traveled to Glens Falls on Saturday for the first Time Warner Cable Cup game of the year and came home with two points as Jerome Samson blasted an overtime winner at 2:21 of the extra session to secure a 2-1 win for Albany. The River Rats closed out the weekend with a 5-3 road loss on Sunday afternoon to the Worcester Sharks. Captain Pat Dwyer scored twice for Albany, but Worcester scored four times before the middle of the match-up to end Albany's winning streak at four games.

Week 4 Preview:

The River Rats have four days to rest before playing three games in three days this weekend. On Friday, October 23rd they'll host the Rochester Americans in a 7:00 p.m. faceoff at the Times Union Center. The Time Warner Cable Cup series heads to Albany for the first time this year when the River Rats host the Phantoms on Saturday, October 24th at 7:00 p.m. Albany then travels to Bridgeport on Sunday, October 25th for a 4:00 p.m. start at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

Rochester heads into Week 4 on a three-game winning streak after opening the season 1-1-1-0. The Americans posted a 4-1 home win over Syracuse on Monday and then took both games of a home-and-home series with Toronto. Friday night will be the second game of the series between Albany and Rochester; the River Rats won the first game 6-1 on October 10th. The clubs meet twice more this season in Rochester on January 29th and March 12th, both at 7:05 p.m.

The Phantoms look for revenge one week after dropping the first game of the Time Warner Cable Cup in overtime. Adirondack won its other two games last week, beginning with a 2-1 home victory over the Hershey Bears on Wednesday. Following their home loss to Albany, the Phantoms headed to Bridgeport and doubled-up the Sound Tigers for a 4-2 decision. The River Rats faceoff with Adirondack 12 times this year; the next TWCC contest will be in Albany on November 7th at 7:00 p.m.

The Sound Tigers got off to an impressive 4-0 start to the season with one-goal victories over Lowell, Worcester, W-B/Scranton and Binghamton. Bridgeport finally found itself on the losing end of a one-goal game on Saturday, as the Norfolk Admirals defeated their hosts 2-1. The Sound Tigers lost their second straight on home ice on Sunday, when the Phantoms left with a 4-2 decision. Sunday will be the first of four meetings between Albany and Bridgeport. They next square-off on January 16th in Albany at 5:00 p.m.

Week 3 Schedule:

(All games are broadcast LIVE on WROW 590 AM "Newstalk 590," are streamed free over the Internet at www.wrow.com and can be watched via internet pay-per-view video on www.ahllive.com)

Friday, October 23rd - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Rochester Americans (4-1-1-0, 9 pts)

Tied-Second Place, North Division

- Leading Scorer: Michal Repik (RW) - 8 points (5 goals, 3 assists) in 5 GP

- Leading Goaltender: Tyler Plante (G) - 3.11 GAA, .910 save pct., 2-2-0-0 in 4 GP.

- Who's Hot: Jason Garrison (D) - 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists) and a +3 rating in his last 2 GP. Michal Repik (RW) - 6 points (4 goals, 2 assists) and a +2 rating in his last 3 GP. David Brine (C) - 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in his last 4 GP.

Saturday, October 24th - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY

vs. Adirondack Phantoms (3-2-1-0, 7 pts)

Third Place, East Division

- Leading Scorer: Krys Kolanos (LW) - 4 points (2 goals, 2 assists) in 4 GP.

- Leading Goaltender: Johan Backlund (G) - 2.97 GAA, .901 save pct., 2-2-0-0 in 4 GP.

- Who's Hot: Krys Kolanos (LW) - 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) and a +3 rating in his last 2 GP. Jason Ward (RW) - 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) and a +2 rating in his last 1 GP. Jared Ross (C) - 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) and a +2 rating in his last 1 GP.

Sunday, October 25th - 4:00 pm - Arena at Harbor Yard - Bridgeport, CT

at Bridgeport Sound Tigers (4-2-0-0, 8 pts)

Tied-Second Place, Atlantic Division

- Leading Scorer: Greg Moore (C) - 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in 6 GP.

- Leading Goaltender: Nathan Lawson (G) - 2.01 GAA, .938 save pct., 1-1-0-0 in 2 GP.

- Who's Hot: Greg Moore (C) - 2 goals in his last 2 GP. Andrew MacDonald (D) - 2 assists in his last 1 GP.

River Rats Week 3 Game Results:

October 14, 2009 Norfolk 1 @ Albany 3

October 17, 2009 Albany 2 @ Adirondack 1

October 18, 2009 Albany 3 @ Worcester 5

River Rats Player of the Week: (Week 3)

Justin Peters - G - #35

Day Opponent SH SVS GA Notable

Wed. vs. Norfolk 38 37 1 Stopped a season high 37shots, first star of the game

Sat. vs. Adirondack 32 31 1 Earned his third straight win, first star of the game

Totals 70 68 2 2 Wins, 1.00 GAA, Selected "First Star" in both games

Justin Peters started two games in goal for Albany last Week and earned "First Star" honors in both, en route to his second and third wins of the season. The 2004 second round pick (38th overall) turned aside a season-high 37-of-38 shots faced Wednesday night in Albany's 3-1 win over Norfolk and then stopped 31-of-32 in Albany's 2-1 overtime win at Adirondack. Peters is 3-1-0-0 this season with a 2.48 GAA and a .921 save percentage.

Rat Bites:

- STREAKING SAMSON - 2008-09 Albany points leader Jerome Samson finds himself in familiar territory this season, as he is once again atop the team leader board. The third-year forward has scored a point in every River Rats game this year for a league-high six-game point streak, which also included a league-high four-game goal streak. The undrafted winger is tied for third place in the AHL scoring race with 10 points (6 goals, 4 assists).

- PERFECT KILLERS - Albany's penalty kill has not allowed a goal in 21 shorthanded situations. The four man unit is in a first place tie with two other teams (HOU, TEX) that have not allowed a power play goal against this year. Part of the impressive success-rate is Albany's stingy 16.33 penalty minutes a game, good for fifth lowest in the league.

- TWCC UNDERWAY - This weekend Albany and Adirondack played the first match-up of their 12-game Time Warner Cable Cup Series. After combining for 156 penalty minutes in two preseason contests, game one of the series featured just 34 penalty minutes, including one fighting major per side. The action on the ice did not disappoint, however, as the teams battled all night in a close contest that saw Adirondack force overtime with 2:25 remaining in the third period. The River Rats took the extra point at 2:21 of the extra session on a Jerome Samson one-time blast. The TWCC Series heads to Albany for Game 2 this Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

River Rats Recent Transactions

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Week 4 Practice Schedule:

Tuesday, October 20 - No Practice

Wednesday, October 21 - 10:00 a.m. at Times Union Center

Thursday, October 22 - 10:00 a.m. at Times Union Center

Albany River Rats Team Leaders:

Games Played: 6 (Several Players Tied)

Goals: Jerome Samson (4)

Assists: Jerome Samson (6)

Points: Jerome Samson (10)

Plus/Minus: Jonathan Paiement (+3)

Penalty Minutes: Nicolas Blanchard (24)

Power Play Goals: Drayson Bowman (2)

Short Handed Goals: Pat Dwyer (1)

Game-Winning Goals: Jerome Samson (2)

Shots: Pat Dwyer (23)

Shooting Percentage: Steven Goertzen (0.250%)

Saves: Justin Peters (117)

Wins: Justin Peters (3)

GAA: Justin Peters (2.48)

Save Percentage: Justin Peters (0.921)

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American Hockey League Stories from October 19, 2009


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