Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Drops Rats 4-1

March 13, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


ALBANY, NY - Left wing Janne Pesonen had a three-point night to lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a 4-1 win over the Albany River Rats Friday night at the Times Union Center.

The Penguins controlled the action in the opening twenty minutes, out-shooting Albany 15-2. River Rats goaltender Justin Peters kept his team even through 18:44, but Wilkes-Barre/Scranton broke through on their final shot of the frame. Rookie center Dustin Jeffrey emerged with the puck from behind the end-line and wrapped a backhander to the far side of the goal; Peters made an impressive pad save on the initial attempt, but Jeffrey quickly poked in his own rebound for his 9th of the year.

The Penguins registered a slightly smaller shot-differential in the second period, but enjoyed a greater success rate, adding two goals in the opening eight minutes. First Wilkes-Barre/Scranton doubled their lead at 5:23 on a close-range three-on-two rush that saw left wing Janne Pesonen hit trailer Jean-Michel Daoust for a quick blocker-side strike. Less than one minute later the River Rats took a penalty that proved to be costly, as Jeffrey notched his second goal of the game with a low rebound put-back on the power play that made it 3-0. Before the end of the period Albany's Jerome Samson cut into the three point deficit and seemed to get the River Rats going. The winger drove to the net on his backhand from a sharp angle, transferred it to his fore-hand and chipped it through Penguins goalie Adam Berkhoel for his 18th of the year at 14:29; Yannick Tifu and Nick Dodge assisted on the play, extending Tifu's point streak to five games.

Fresh off of a season-high five-goal third period on Wednesday night against Norfolk, the River Rats threatened again in the closing frame and out-shot Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 9-7, but Albany could not find the net. Pesonen sealed the 4-1 Penguins win with less than four minutes to play on yet another rebound tally, marking his third point of the night.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender Adam Berkhoel stopped 20-of-21 shots and earned the win as the Penguins improved to 41-21-2-2 on the season. River Rats goalie Justin Peters allowed four goals on 40 shots and took the loss as Albany fell to 29-29-3-3 on the year. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton out-shot the River Rats 40-21 in the game and went 1-for-5 on the power play; Albany was 0-for-2 on the man-advantage.

Notes: Left wing Tomas Pospisil made his River Rats debut wearing #9 during the game. Center Bobby Hughes returned to the lineup for the first time since suffering an injury in the team's February 19th bus crash, which forced Hughes to miss Albany's previous eight games. The Penguins' victory was the first win by the road team the six games between the River Rats and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Albany will host the Philadelphia Phantoms on Saturday, March 14th for a special 5:00 pm face off 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.



American Hockey League Stories from March 13, 2009


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