TROY — The River Rats come off the American Hockey League's All-Star break with high hopes for a playoff push.
The team’s spirits were buoyed even more as it was announced defenseman Casey Borer had received medical clearance to return to action.
Borer, who suffered a broken neck in the team bus crash last February, hoped to return to open this season, but instead underwent neck surgery in September.
The 24-year-old Borer returned to Rats team practice in December wearing a yellow (non-contact) jersey, but has gradually stepped up his tempo in practice.
Borer can return, but it’s likely the Albany coaching staff won’t rush him back into the lineup.
The defenseman helped lead the River Rats to the playoffs in the 2007-08 season.
Albany, which sits in second place in the East Division, hosts Bridgeport on Friday night at 7 and plays at Adirondack on Saturday night at 7.
The River Rats lead both Adirondack, which has won its past three games, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton by eight points (50-42) and Binghamton and Syracuse by 12 points (50-38).
After Friday, Albany’s next four games — and five of its next six games — are on the road.