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Samson, Nolan Lead River Rats To 3-1 Win Over Phantoms

December 29, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - Jerome Samson and Brandon Nolan each scored power play goals in the third period to lead the Albany River Rats to a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phantoms Saturday night at the Times Union Center.

Although it was their third meeting of the year, the Phantoms invaded Albany for the first time this season. Rookie forward Nicolas Blanchard opened the scoring at 8:07 of the first period, causing a turnover behind the Philadelphia net and then skating out and slipping a backhand shot through the legs of goaltender Brian Boucher. The goal was Blanchard's third of the season and was assisted by Mike Angelidis and Joey Mormina.

The Phantoms leveled the score in a penalty-riddled second period when Jesse Boulerice was in perfect position on the left side of the crease to redirected an Oskars Bartulis shot from the blue line into the Albany net at 8:17 of the second period, assisted by Bartulis and Steve Downie. Both teams had plenty of special teams play as there were twelve different minor penalties called in the middle period.

The River Rats retook the lead on a power play in the third period, when Jerome Samson scored his team-leading eighth power play goal at 14:44, tipping a Mark Flood slap shot past Boucher for a 2-1 Albany lead. The goal was Samson's twelfth goal of the year, assisted by Flood and Dave Gove, pulling Samson ahead of Brandon Nolan for the team-lead in goals. Not to be out-done Nolan, fresh off making his NHL debut with Carolina last week, scored his 12th of the season, re-tying himself with Samson at 15:46 by one timing a rebound past a stranded Boucher for another power play goal and a 3-1 River Rats lead. Philadelphia pulled Boucher for the final two and a half minutes, but Albany closed the door for their first win over the Phantoms this year.

Michael Leighton earned his 12th win of the year by stopping 19-of-20 for his second one-goal effort of the week. The River Rats improved to 19-15-0-2, just three points back of Philadelphia for first place in the East Division. Brian Boucher was tagged with the loss in goal for the Phantoms, making 29 saves on 32 shots as the Phantoms dropped to 22-9-1-0. Albany was 2-for-13 on the power play, while Philadelphia ended the night 0-for-8 with the man advantage.

The River Rats will complete their week with a Sunday trip to Canada to battle the Toronto Marlies at 4:00 pm at the Ricoh Coliseum. Albany will return to the Times Union Center on Friday, January 4th as they host the Syracuse Crunch at 7:00 pm.

Partial season tickets packages and flex tickets for the 2007-08 River Rats season are on sale now. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.



American Hockey League Stories from December 29, 2007


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