A pair of rookies stepped up for Albany against Adirondack as the River Rats earned a split in the New Year's week home-and-home series.
Rookie goalie Mike Murphy made 34 saves to record his first career shutout as a pro and rookie center Zach Boychuk scored the lone and game winning-goal in the first period as the River Rats edged the Phantoms, 1-0 on Thursday afternoon in a New Year's Eve matinee before a turnout of 4,340 at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Murphy stopped 22 shots over the final two periods to preserve the victory for Albany (19-14-1-2) and his second win in as many career starts at Adirondack (15-15-2-0).
Boychuk tallied the deciding goal while on the power play, finishing off a pass from defenseman Jamie McBain at 16:02 of the first period to spark the Rats, who ended a three-game skid.
Former NHL goalie John Grahame stopped 23 of 24 shots faced for the Phantoms, who had beaten Albany, 4-2 on Wednesday.
The Rats have won five of the six meetings at the midway juncture of the season series. Albany, which plays at Syracuse on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., hosts Adirondack on Wednesday at 7 p.m.