Syracuse Squeezes By Albany 5-4

Published on March 21, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


SYRACUSE, NY- Captain Pat Dwyer scored a hat trick, but Syracuse forward Alexandre Picard had four goals as the Crunch edged the Albany River Rats 5-4 Saturday night at the Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter.

The eighth and final meeting between these two in-state rivals had an ominous start for the River Rats as defenseman Dominic D'Amour, called up from the ECHL on Friday, suffered an injury during his first shift of the night. Five minutes later red-hot left wing Alexandre Picard gave Syracuse the lead as he collected his own rebound and scored at 6:01. The goal was Picard's seventh in his last six games and his fifth against the River Rats this season. But perhaps energized by Friday's win in Providence, Albany came storming back and grabbed the lead courtesy of two goals from Pat Dwyer. Dwyer tied the game at 13:51, receiving a clever pass from Brandon Sutter for a wide-open tap-in power play goal. The Rats captain then gave his side their first lead as he crashed the net and backhanded a rebound into the goal at 17:08, assisted by Mark Flood and Jakub Petruzalek, and Albany led 2-1 after twenty minutes.

The River Rats carried their momentum into the second period as Flood blasted a slap shot passed Lalande at 1:59, his fifth goal of the year, giving Albany a 3-1 lead. The hard-hitting action continued throughout the period, but the Crunch answered back and reversed the trend on the power play. Picard scored his second of the night at 8:35, charging the net and again knocking in a rebound. He then tied the game at 10:48, stuffing the puck underneath the pads of Rats goaltender Daniel Manzato to complete the hat trick; his second three-goal performance in as many games.

In the third period it was Dwyer's turn to celebrate a hat trick as he scored his third of the night just 35 seconds into the period to give Albany a 4-3 lead. Four minutes later Nikita Filatov tied the game at 4-4, with a shot from the high slot. The Crunch then went back in front in very controversial fashion. Manzato appeared to have smothered the puck under his pads, but the referee did not blow his whistle, instead allowing Picard to push both goaltender and puck into the game. Albany vehemently argued the play, but the goal was awarded to Picard at 8:58, his fourth of the night, in what would turn out to be the game-winning tally. The Rats regrouped and fired more pucks at Lalande, but could not find the equalizer as they lost 5-4.

Goaltender Kevin Lalande won his fifth straight game by stopping 36-of-40 shots, helping Syracuse improve to 35-28-4-2 on the year. Albany starter Daniel Manzato made 31 saves on 36 shots as the River Rats fell to 30-32-3-3 on the season. The Rats out-shot the Crunch 40-36 and went 1-for-3 on the power play; Syracuse was 1-for-2 with the man-advantage.

Notes: Prior to Saturday's game, the River Rats signed center Cory Quirk to an amateur tryout contract.. Quirk, 22, just completed his senior season at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst of Hockey East, where he finished with 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 39 games played. Over his four-year college career Quirk appeared in 150 NCAA games and recorded 103 points (43 goals, 60 assists), with 76 penalty minutes. The rookie made his professional and AHL debut against Syracuse Saturday night, wearing #25 and centering Albany's fourth line.

Albany now returns home for a 5:00 pm Sunday matinee on March 22nd against the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Times Union Center.

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.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2009


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