The Albany River Rats continued their dominance of the Adirondack Phantoms on Saturday.
Jerome Samson scored the game winner with a goal and an assist, setting up rookie center Zach Boychuk's goal, and goalie Justin Peters made 30 saves as Albany out lasted Adirondack, 2-1 in an American Hockey League game.
With the victory, the River Rats have won seven of the nine meetings (7-1-1-0) with the Phantoms in the 12-game season series clinch the Time Warner Cable Cup outright.
Peters stopped all 11 shots he faced in the third period for Albany (30-22-3-3), including nine saves during a pair of Adirondack (26-26-2-2) power plays in the final 10 minutes, to record his 20th win, a career season-high for the fourth-year pro.
Boychuk opened the scoring by finishing off a feed from Samson 10:19 into the first period, with center Stefan Chaput also assisting.
After right wing David Laliberte evened the score at one by stuffing the puck past Peters at 2:39 of the second period, Samson collected the puck in behind the goal and swept a shot past goalie John Grahame at 4:39 for the deciding goal.
Samson has posted 12 (4 goals-8 assists) in nine games against the Phantoms this season, while Chaput has registered 7 (1-6) points and Boychuk six (5-1) against their North Country rival. Samson and Chaput both have two game-winning goals versus Adirondack.
Grahame finished with 22 saves in dropping his third decision in as many decisions against the Rats this season.
The Rats play at Hershey today at 5, while Adirondack travels to Montreal to face the Hamilton Bulldogs at the Bell Centre at 1.
The Northway rivalry resumes on Wednesday, March 24 when Albany travels to face Adirondack at 7 p.m.