Unlucky Bounces Haunt River Rats

February 19, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - Joe DiPenta scored the short-handed game-winner on a shot from his own blue line with 1:21 remaining to lift the Portland Pirates to a 3-2 victory over the Albany River Rats Friday night at the Times Union Center.

The River Rats squandered a 2-1 third period lead, but held the upper hand late in the 2-2 contest when Mike Weber was called for boarding. The Portland penalty-kill cleared its zone early in the ensuing power play and Albany goaltender Justin Peters rushed out of his crease to disrupt an unfolding Pirates breakaway. Peters successfully cleared his zone, but the puck found DiPenta at his own blue line for a long-range shot into the vacated net.

Portland needed another fluky goal to tie the game early in the third period, as River Rats penalty-killer Stefan Chaput inadvertently sent the puck in with his skate. Brad Larsen was credited with the unassisted power play tally at 2:17 of the third period.

Linemates Mike Angelidis and Nicolas Blanchard combined for the game's first goal at 7:43 of the opening frame in typical checking-line fashion. Angelidis sent a sharp angle wrist shot on Portland goaltender Jhonas Enroth and Blanchard crashed the net to poke home the rebound. The Pirates evened the score at 8:10 of the second period, when defenseman Mike Weber sent a long shot into traffic that redirected off of an Albany player and past under Peters. Albany reclaimed its narrow lead just 1:31 later on a coast-to-coast play from Jerome Samson. Albany's leading scorer curled with the puck in his own zone, flew down the left wing boards and drove to the net to beat Enroth on the short side at 9:41.

Enroth stopped 28-of-30 shots faced in the game to earn the win, as Portland improved to 31-16-5-2 this season. Peters turned aside 25-of-28 in the losing effort, as Albany fell to 29-22-3-3 this year. The River Rats out-shot the Pirates 30-28 in the contest and went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Portland was 1-for-5 on the man-advantage.

The River Rats host Game Nine of the Time Warner Cable Cup Series against the Adirondack Phantoms on Saturday night at 5:00 p.m. River Rats 2009-10 pro-rated season and flexible ticket packages are now on sale at the River Rats executive offices at the Times Union Center, by calling (518) 487-2244 or by logging onto www.albanyriverrats.com.



American Hockey League Stories from February 19, 2010


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