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Sound Tigers Chew Up River Rats 5-3

March 31, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY- Sean Bentivoglio recorded his first career hat trick as he led the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to a 5-3 win over the Albany River Rats Tuesday night at the Times Union Center.

Fans were barely settled in their seats when Bridgeport grabbed the lead. Joe Callahan dumped the puck down the right wall in the Albany zone, but instead of rolling to Justin Peters waiting behind the goal, the puck took a bizarre ricochet off the corner boards and kicked out to the top of the crease where Sean Bentivoglio was unmarked and had an easy tap-in goal, just 25 seconds into the game. The goal was a big blow to Albany, who was winless in its last three games, but it was soon 2-0 Bridgeport when Michael Haley turned in a rebound at 7:48 off a Mark Wotton slap shot from the blue line. The River Rats got on the board two minutes later with a Bobby Hughes power play goal at 9:42, his fourth of the season, assisted by Jerome Samson and Mark Flood. Bentivoglio had the last word of the first period as he scored his second goal of the night at 14:15. Linemate Jon Sim skated down the right wing and sent a waist high pass towards the net and Bentivoglio skillfully tipped the puck out of mid-air and passed goaltender Justin Peters.

Bentivoglio completed his hat trick at 4:46 of the second period, his twelfth goal of the year and the first hat trick of his professional career, as he snuck behind the River Rats defense and slid a backhand shot through the pads of Peters for a 4-1 lead. Newcomer Cory Quirk kept the River Rats fighting as he scored at 7:40, assisted by Benn Olson and Jerome Samson, sweeping a rebound passed goaltender Nathan Lawson for his first career professional goal. But Sim again retaliated for Bridgeport, scoring a power play goal at 16:47, which gave the Sound Tigers a 5-2 lead and knocked Peters out of the game; backup goaltender Daniel Manzato came on in relief for the final 3:13 of the period.

Another bright spot in the game for Albany came in the third period as rookie defenseman Jamie McBain cashed in with his first career pro goal at 6:43, blasting a slap shot from the point over the glove-side shoulder of Lawson to make it 5-3. But Albany would get no closer as their losing streak reached three straight games.

Goaltender Nathan Lawson recorded 34 saves on 37 shots for the win as Bridgeport improved to 45-23-3-5 and clinched a spot in the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs. River Rats starter Justin Peters was tagged with the loss as he stopped 19-of-24 in 36:47 of action. Backup Daniel Manzato denied all eight shots he faced in 21:20 of relief as Albany dropped to 31-35-3-4 on the season. The River Rats out-shot the Sound Tigers 37-32 in the game and went 1-for-10 on the power play; Bridgeport was 1-for-3 with the man-advantage.

Albany now hits the road for a Wednesday night showdown against the Philadelphia Phantoms at 7:05 pm, the River Rats final game ever at Wachovia Spectrum. The Rats next home game is set for Friday, April 3rd at the Glens Falls Civic Center as they host the Worcester Sharks for a 7:30 pm face off.

River Rats flex ticket packages and individual game tickets for the remainder of the 2008-09 season 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 March 31, 2009


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