ALBANY --- Mathieu Perreault scored the tying goal with 1:13 remaining in regulation and followed with the game winner 2:23 into overtime as the Hershey Bears rallied past the Albany River Rats, 5-4 on Thursday to sweep the East Division final series in four games.
The game was final contest for the River Rats franchise, which will be relocated to North Carolina to become the Charlotte Checkers for next season.
The reigning Calder Cup champion Bears now move on to the Eastern Conference final against either Worcester or Manchester.
Jerome Samson picked off an errant Hershey pass, sped in and lifted the puck past outstretched goalie Michal Neuvirth with 9:41 in regulation to stake Albany to a crucial two-goal lead at 4-2.
But the Bears rallied to force overtime as while on the power play, Alexandre Giroux roofed a shot past goalie Justin Peters at 16:37 and Perreault's blast from the left point trickled past Peters at 18:47.
The Bears had drawn even at 2-2 only 59 seconds into the second period on Chris Bourque's laser shot, which beat goalie Peters high stick side with only one second remaining on a Hershey power play.
The Rats then took advantage of a Hershey miscue to take a 3-2 lead as after defenseman Zach Miskovic bumped into Neuvirth to the left of the goal, Zach Boychuk scored into the wide-open net at 10:31 of the second period.
Hershey struck first on Chris Bourque's power-play goal 8:23 into the game.
But the Rats responded with two goals --- both set up by Drayson Bowman --- consecutive shots to take the advantage.
Samson scored on a Bowman rebound at 11:58 as the two forwards broke in alone and Bowman's initial shot was denied by Neuvirth.
Chris Terry then converted on Albany's first power play, taking Bowman's cross-ice pass and beating Neuvirth from the right faceoff circle at 14:58.

ALBANY --- The Albany River Rats and Hershey Bears are tied 4-4 through regulation in Game 4 of the East Division final series.
Jerome Samson picked off an errant Hershey pass, sped in and lifted the puck past outstretched goalie Michal Neuvirth with 9:41 in regulation to stake Albany to a crucial two-goal lead at 4-2.
But the Bears rallied to force overtime as while on the power play, Alexandre Giroux roofed a shot past goalie Justin Peters at 16:37 and Mathieu Perreault blast from the left point trickled past Peters at 18:47.
Peters has stopped 33 of 37 shots faced and goalie Michal Neuvirth has 17 saves for Hershey.
The Bears had drawn even at 2-2 only 59 seconds into the second period on Chris Bourque's laser shot, which beat goalie Peters high stick side with only one second remaining on a Hershey power play.
The Rats then took advantage of a Hershey miscue to take a 3-2 lead as after defenseman Zach Miskovic bumped into Neuvirth to the left of the goal, Zach Boychuk scored into the wide-open net at 10:31 of the second period.
Hershey struck first on Chris Bourque's power-play goal 8:23 into the game.
But the Rats responded with two goals --- both set up by Drayson Bowman --- consecutive shots to take the advantage.
Samson scored on a Bowman rebound at 11:58 as the two forwards broke in alone and Bowman's initial shot was denied by Neuvirth.
Chris Terry then converted on Albany's first power play, taking Bowman's cross-ice pass and beating Neuvirth from the right faceoff circle at 14:58.

ALBANY --- The Albany River Rats lead the Hershey Bears, 3-2 through the second period in Game 4 of the East Division final series.
The Bears drew even at 2-2 only 59 seconds into the second period on Chris Bourque's laser shot, which beat goalie Justin Peters high stick side with only one second remaining on a Hershey power play.
The Rats then took advantage of a Hershey miscue to take a 3-2 lead as after defenseman Zach Miskovic bumped into goalie Michal Neuvirth to the left of the goal, Zach Boychuk scored into the wide-open net at 10:31.
Peters has stopped 22 of 24 shots faced while Neuvirth has nine saves.
Hershey struck first on Chris Bourque's power-play goal 8:23 into the game.
But the Rats responded with two goals --- both set up by Drayson Bowman --- consecutive shots to take the advantage.
Jerome Samson scored on a Bowman rebound at 11:58 as the two forwards broke in alone and Bowman's initial shot was denied by Neuvirth.
Chris Terry then converted on Albany's first power play, taking Bowman's cross-ice pass and beating Neuvirth from the right faceoff circle at 14:58.

ALBANY --- The Albany River Rats led the Hershey Bears, 2-1 after the first period in Game 4 of the East Division final series.
Hershey struck first on Chris Bourque's power-play goal 8:23 into the game.
But the Rats responded with two goals --- both set up by Drayson Bowman --- consecutive shots to take the advantage.
Jerome Samson scored on a Bowman rebound at 11:58 as the two forwards broke in alone and Bowman's initial shot was denied by goalie Michal Neuvirth.
Chris Terry then converted on Albany's first power play, taking Bowman's cross-ice pass and beating Neuvirth from the right faceoff circle at 14:28.

ALBANY --- Facing elimination from the Calder Cup playoffs tonight, this could also be the final game in the history of the Albany River Rats franchise.
Down 3-0 to Hershey in the East Division final, the River Rats made several lineup changes heading into tonight's Game 4.
Left wing Jacob Micflikier returns after he was scratched for Game 3 and center Stefan Chaput is scratched for tonight's game.
With left wing Jiri Tlusty still sidelined because of injury, left wing Brad Herauf returns to the lineup for the second straight game.
On the blue line, Casey Borer has again been scratched and defenseman Zack FitzGerald will make his second appearance of the postseason.
After their loss to Montreal in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal on Wednesday, the Washington Capitals reassigned D Karl Alzner and D John Carlson to Hershey.
Also for Hershey, goalie Michal Neuvirth returns after sitting out Game 3 with a lower-body injury. Neuvirth won the first two games of the series before goalie Braden Holtby won Game 3 in Hershey's 6-5 overtime victory.
Albany scratches for Game 4: Defensemen Casey Borer, Jonathan Paiement, Kyle Lawson and Michal Jordan again sitting out, with Chaput.
Hershey scratches: Forwards Simon Ferguson, Michael Dubuc and Cody Eakin; and defensemen Patrick McNeill, Grant Lewis and Grant McNeill and Carlson. Defender Karl Alzner was called up by the Washington Capitals.
Albany goalie Justin Peters (4-3, 3.23, .900) faces Neuvirth (5-0, 2.13, .904).
ALBANY
Forwards
Drayson Bowman/Jacob Micflikier/Jerome Samson
Chris Terry/Nick Dodge/Steven Goertzen
Oskar Osala/Zac Dalpe/Zach Boychuk
Nicolas Blanchard/Mike Angelidis/Brad Herauf
Defensemen
Bryan Rodney/Jamie McBain
Jay Harrison/Brett Bellemore
Zack FitzGerald/Tim Conboy
HERSHEY
Forwards
Alexandre Giroux/Keith Aucoin/Andrew Gordon
Chris Bourque/Jay Beagle/Mathieu Perreault
Boyd Kane/Andrew Jourdrey/Steve Pinizzotto
Ashton Rome/Kyle Wilson/Francois Bouchard
Defensemen
Bryan Helmer/Patrick Wellar
Zach Miskovic/Sean Collins
Karl Alzner/John Carlson

ALBANY --- Center Jay Beagle knocked in a loose puck 16:14 into overtime to lift the Hershey Bears past the Albany River Rats, 6-5 in Game 3 of the East Division final.
The Bears take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series and can secure a berth in the Eastern Conference final with a victory in Game 4 on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Albany.
This is the second overtime game of the series as Hershey won Game 1, 4-3 in extra time.
With Albany on a five-minute power play after Hershey defenseman Bryan Helmer speared left wing Brad Herauf after time in the second period had expired, center Zac Dalpe scored 2:22 into the power play for a 4-3 Rats lead.
After left wing Chris Bourque scored a shorthanded goal at 3:56, center Mike Angeldis moved in on the left side and beat goalie Braden Holtby stick side to provide Albany with a 5-4 advantage.
The Bears drew even at 5-5 on left wing Alexandre Giroux's power-play goal at 16:14.
Hershey has now won eight consecutive games against Albany stretching back to the regular season.
The Rats scored two goals within the first five minutes of the game, including converting on their first power play of the game as Dalpe moved in on the right side and beat goalie Braden Holtby glove side at 1:55.
Dalpe then set up the second goal as he won the faceoff in the Hershey zone and sent the puck to Oskar Osala, who scored from in close for a 2-0 advantage at 4:13.
After the Bears pulled within 2-1 as right wing Ashton Rome sent a backhander past Justin Peters at 5:31, the Rats responded as right wing Drayson Bowman finished off an odd-man rush by snapping a shot over Holtby's right shoulder at 11:22 for a 3-1 lead.
But Hershey struck on their power play as Andrew Gordon finished off a feed from left wing Bourque at 13:58. The Bears scored on its next shot on Bourque's goal at 15:41 to pull even at 3-3.

ALBANY --- The Albany River Rats and Hershey Bears are tied 5-5 through regulation in Game 3 of the East Division final series.
With Albany on a five-minute power play after Hershey defenseman Bryan Helmer speared left wing Brad Herauf after time in the second period had expired, center Zac Dalpe scored 2:29 into the power play for a 4-3 Rats lead.
After left wing Chris Bourque scored a shorthanded goal at 3:56, center Mike Angeldis moved in on the left side and beat goalie Braden Holtby stick side to provide Albany with a 5-4 advantage.
The Bears drew even at 5-5 on left wing Alexandre Giroux's power-play goal at 16:14.
This is the second overtime game of the series as Hershey won Game 1, 4-3 in extra time.
The Rats scored two goals within the first five minutes of the game, including converting on their first power play of the game as Dalpe moved in on the right side and beat goalie Braden Holtby glove side at 1:55.
Dalpe then set up the second goal as he won the faceoff in the Hershey zone and sent the puck to Oskar Osala, who scored from in close for a 2-0 advantage at 4:13.
After the Bears pulled within 2-1 as right wing Ashton Rome sent a backhander past Justin Peters at 5:31, the Rats responded as right wing Drayson Bowman finished off an odd-man rush by snapping a shot over Holtby's right shoulder at 11:22 for a 3-1 lead.
But Hershey struck on their power play as Andrew Gordon finished off a feed from left wing Bourque at 13:58. The Bears scored on its next shot on Bourque's goal at 15:41 to pull even at 3-3.

ALBANY --- The Albany River Rats and Hershey Bears are tied at 2-2 after two periods in Game 3 of the East Division final series.
The Rats scored two goals within the first five minutes of the game, including converting on their first power play of the game as Zac Dalpe moved in on the right side and beat goalie Braden Holtby glove side at 1:55.
Dalpe then set up the second goal as he won the faceoff in the Hershey zone and sent the puck to Oskar Osala, who scored from in close for a 2-0 advantage at 4:13.
Albany goalie Justin Peters made seven saves, while Holtby, getting the start with Michal Neuvirth sidelined (lower-body injury), stopped 11 of 13 shots faced.
After the Bears pulled within 2-1 as right wing Ashton Rome sent a backhander past Peters at 5:31, the Rats responded as right wing Drayson Bowman finished off an odd-man rush by snapping a shot over Holtby's right shoulder at 11:22 for a 3-1 lead.
But Hershey struck on their power play as Andrew Gordon finished off a feed from left wing Chris Bourque at 13:58.
The Bears scored on its next shot on Bourque's goal at 15:41 to pull even at 3-3.

ALBANY --- Zac Dalpe and Oskar Osala each scored to stake the Albany River Rats to a 2-0 lead over the Hershey Bears in Game 3 of the East Division final series.
The Rats scored two goals within the first five minutes, including converting on their first power play of the game as Zac Dalpe moved in on the right side and beat goalie Braden Holtby glove side at 1:55.
Dalpe then set up the second goal as he won the faceoff in the Hershey zone and sent the puck to Osala, who scored from in close for a 2-0 advantage at 4:13.
Albany goalie Justin Peters made seven saves, while Holtby, getting the start with Michal Neuvirth sidelined (lower-body injury), stopped 11 of 13 shots faced.

ALBANY --- After dropping the first two games of their East Division final series with the Hershey Bears, the Albany River Rats made several notable lineup changes for Game 3 tonight.
With left wing Jiri Tlusty still sidelined because of injury, left wing Brad Herauf will play for the first time in the playoffs and left wing Jacob Micflikier has been scratched.
On the blue line, Casey Borer has been scratched and defenseman Zack FitzGerald will make his first appearance of the postseason.
The most notable change for Hershey is goalie Braden Holtby will start in place of Michal Neuvirth, who won the first two games of this season.
Albany scratches for Game 3: Defensemen Casey Borer, Jonathan Paiement, Kyle Lawson and Michal Jordan again sitting out, along with left wing Jacob Micflikier.
Hershey scratches: Forwards Simon Ferguson, Michael Dubuc and Cody Eakin; and defensemen Patrick McNeill, Grant Lewis and Grant McNeill. Defender Karl Alzner was called up by the Washington Capitals.
Albany goalie Justin Peters (4-2, 2.92, .909) faces Braden Holtby (0-0, 0.00, .000) again.
ALBANY
Forwards
Jerome Samson/Stefan Chaput/Drayson Bowman
Chris Terry/Nick Dodge/Steven Goertzen
Oskar Osala/Zac Dalpe/Zach Boychuk
Nicolas Blanchard/Mike Angelidis/Brad Herauf
Defensemen
Bryan Rodney/Jamie McBain
Jay Harrison/Brett Bellemore
Zack FitzGerald/Tim Conboy
HERSHEY
Forwards
Alexandre Giroux/Keith Aucoin/Andrew Gordon
Chris Bourque/Jay Beagle/Mathieu Perreault
Boyd Kane/Andrew Jourdrey/Steve Pinizzotto
Ashton Rome/Kyle Wilson/Francois Bouchard
Defensemen
Bryan Helmer/Patrick Wellar
Zach Miskovic/Sean Collins
Dylan Yeo/Johann Kroll

HERSHEY, Pa. --- This time the Albany River Rats couldn't weather the storm against the Hershey Bears.
Hershey scored three unanswered power-play goals in the third period, including two within a span of 46 seconds, to rally past Albany, 6-3 in Game 2 of the East Division final series on Sunday at the Giant Center.
The Bears will now carry a 2-0 lead into Albany for Game 3 on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The night before, Albany squandered a 3-2 advantage in the third period and lost, 4-3 in overtime to Hershey.
The River Rats seized a 3-2 lead in Game 2 only 16 seconds into the third period on Nick Dodge's shorthanded goal as he broke in and beat goalie Michal Neuvirth from the top of the crease.
But the Bears responded on the man advantage as right wing Andrew Gordon slipped a backhander past Albany goalie Justin Peters at 3:34. Then only six seconds into another power play with defenseman Jamie McBain off for roughing, left wing Alexandre Giroux fired in a Keith Aucoin rebound into the wide open right side of the Rats net at 4:10 for a 4-3 Hershey advantage.
Then with Peters off for interference, Gordon cranked in Giroux's feed from behind the net at 9:56.
Neuvirth made 18 saves to remain unbeaten in the playoffs (5-0). Peters stopped 22 of 27 shots faced.
Hershey struck first in the game as right wing Ashton Rome one-timed a feed from behind the net from center Kyle Wilson 10:48 into the first period.
Rookie winger Drayson Bowman drew Albany even by sending a backhander past goalie Michal Neuvirth at 15:37 for his second goal of the playoffs.
Rookie center Zac Dalpe scored just six seconds into an Albany power play by redirecting a drive from the left point by defenseman Bryan Rodney with left wing Oskar Osala in front on a screen at 3:35.
The Bears got even at 2-2 as Alexandre Giroux knocked in a rebound at 5:15.

HERSHEY, Pa. --- The Albany River Rats are tied with the Hershey Bears, 2-2 through two periods of Game 2 of the East Division final in the American Hockey League.
Rookie center Zac Dalpe scored just six seconds into an Albany power play by redirecting a drive from the left point by defenseman Bryan Rodney with left wing Oskar Osala in front on a screen at 3:35.
The Bears got even at 2-2 as Alexandre Giroux knocked in a rebound at 5:15.
Hershey struck first in the game as right wing Ashton Rome one-timed a feed from behind the net from center Kyle Wilson 10:48 into the first period.
Rookie winger Drayson Bowman drew Albany even by sending a backhander past goalie Michal Neuvirth at 15:37 for his second goal of the playoffs.

HERSHEY, Pa. --- The Albany River Rats are tied with the Hershey Bears, 1-1 after the first period of Game 2 of the East Division final in the American Hockey League.
Hershey struck first as right wing Ashton Rome one-timed a feed from behind the net from center Kyle Wilson 10:48 into the game.
Rookie winger Drayson Bowman drew Albany even by sending a backhander past goalie Michal Neuvirth at 15:37 for his second goal of the playoffs.
Rats goalie Justin Peters stopped nine of 10 shots faced and Neuvirth made seven stops in the period.

HERSHEY, Pa. --- River Rats center Stefan Chaput returned to action just in time for Game 2 of the East Division final series against the Hershey Bears.
Chaput is back in the lineup after left wing Jiri Tlusty left with an injury in the first period of Game.
After missing the final five games of the regular season, Chaput sat out the first five Calder Cup playoff games as well.
As they enter Game 2, the River Rats have truly been living on the edge of late, but its nothing new for the club.
Dating back to the regular season, nine consecutive games have been decided by one goal or by one goal plus an empty-net tally.
Albany is 6-3 over this stretch, including 4-1 in the playoffs, but looks to get even today against the Hershey Bears in Game 2 of the East Division final at 5 p.m.
With the Bears' 4-3 comeback victory in overtime on Saturday the Rats lost for the first time in the postseason this year.
Just like in Game 1, Albany will look to defy history as it has won only one of six playoffs series in which it lost the opening game.
Yet the Rats can take solace in the fact that in their only other previous playoff series against Hershey, the Bears won first game, with the Rats prevailing in Game 2 in Pennsylvania.
After tonight, the series shifts back to Albany for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Thursday, both at 7 p.m.
Albany scratches for Game 1: Defensemen Zack Fitzgerald, Jonathan Paiement, Kyle Lawson and Michal Jordan again sitting out, along with left wing Brad Herauf.
Hershey scratches: Forwards Simon Ferguson, Michael Dubuc, Anton Gustafsson and Cody Eakin; and defensemen Patrick McNeill, Grant Lewis and Grant McNeill.
Albany goalie Justin Peters (4-1, 2.51, .924) faces Michal Neuvirth (4-0, 1.92, .915) again.
ALBANY
Forwards
Jerome Samson/Stefan Chaput/Zach Boychuk
Chris Terry/Nick Dodge/Steven Goertzen
Oskar Osala/Mike Angelidis/Drayson Bowman
Nicolas Blanchard/Zac Dalpe/Jacob Micflikier
Defensemen
Bryan Rodney/Jamie McBain
Jay Harrison/Brett Bellemore
Casey Borer/Tim Conboy
HERSHEY
Forwards
Alexandre Giroux/Keith Aucoin/Andrew Gordon
Chris Bourque/Jay Beagle/Mathieu Perreault
Boyd Kane/Andrew Jourdrey/Steve Pinizzotto
Ashton Rome/Kyle Wilson/Francois Bouchard
Defensemen
Bryan Helmer/Dylan Yeo
Zach Miskovic/Karl Alzner
Patrick Wellar/Johann Kroll

HERSHEY, Pa. --- The Albany River Rats continue to live dangerously and it caught up to them in the opening game of the East Division semifinal series.
Center Kyle Wilson scored on a rebound midway through overtime as Hershey rallied past Albany, 4-3 on Saturday night before a spirited crowd of 7,651 at the Giant Center.
Right wing Jerome Samson provided the Rats with a 3-2 advantage with a goal at 7:13 of the third period, but the Bears drew even as former Albany captain Keith Aucoin finished off a pass from behind the net from Andrew Gordon at 13:16 to beat goalie Justin Peters.
Wilson followed with the game winner by converting on a rebound at 10:41 of overtime.
Gordon each finished with two goals and an assist for reigning Calder Cup champion Hershey and Samson scored twice for Albany.
Goalie Michal Neuvirth made 25 saves to remain unbeaten in the playoffs.
Peters stopped 44 of 48 shots faced to suffer his first loss in five starts in the postseason.
Hershey hosts Game 2 today at 5 and then the series shifts to Albany for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Thursday, both at 7 p.m.

HERSHEY, Pa. --- The Albany River Rats and Hershey Bears are tied 3-3 and headed to overtime in Game 1 of their East Division final series.
Jerome Samson scored the go-ahead goal on a long-range drive from just inside the left faceoff circle to beat goalie Michal Neuvirth 7:13 into the third period.
It was the second goal of the night for Samson and former Rat Keith Aucoin followed with the tying goal by firing in a rebound at 13:16.
Albany was out shot 37-25 in regulation, including 16-4 in the third stanza.

HERSHEY, Pa. --- The Albany River Rats and Hershey Bears each exchanged a power-play goal in the second period for a 2-2 tie as Game 1 of the East Division final series heads into the third period.
The Rats ended their drought on the power play as Jerome Samson scored on a blast from the right faceoff circle at 6:40 of the second period.
Albany had gone 0-for-20 on the power play in their East Division semifinal series against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and went scoreless on its first two man advantages against Hershey before breaking through with Samson's goal.
The Bears pulled even at 2-2 on Andrew Gordon's power-play goal at 15:47 as he converted on an Alexandre Giroux rebound.
In the first period, Hershey struck first as former River Rat Keith Aucoin sent a pass from behind the net in front to Andrew Gordon, who one-timed a drive past goalie Justin Peters four minutes into the game.
Rookie winger Drayson Bowman drew Albany even as his shot from outside the right faceoff circle and along the boards eluded goalie Michal Neuvirth at 8:20.

HERSHEY, Pa. --- The Albany River Rats and Hershey Bears are tied 1-1 after the first period in Game 1 of their East Division playoff series in the American Hockey League.
Hershey struck first as former River Rat Keith Aucoin sent a pass from behind the net in front to Andrew Gordon, who one-timed a drive past goalie Justin Peters four minutes into the game.
Rookie winger Drayson Bowman drew Albany even as his shot from outside the right faceoff circle and along the boards eluded goalie Michal Neuvirth at 8:20.

HERSHEY, Pa. --- The River Rats head into the second round of the playoffs against the Hershey Bears looking to defy recent history.
Not only did Albany lose six of eight regular-season meetings against Hershey, it lost all four games in Chocolate Town.
The Rats swept Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in four games to earn a berth against the Bears in the East Division final, which opens tonight at 7, with Game 2 on Sunday at 5 p.m.
Three years ago, Albany faced Hershey in an East Division final and after the Rats gained a split in the first two games in Pennsylvania, the Bears won the next three games at the Glens Falls Civic Center to win the series.
Last year, Hershey faced a stiff challenge in the division final round as they lost the first two games to Wilkes-Barre, but won the next three to take command of the series and went on to win the Calder Cup title.
Albany scratches for Game 1: Defensemen Zack Fitzgerald, Jonathan Paiement, Kyle Lawson and Michal Jordan again sitting out, along with left wing Brad Herauf.
Albany goalie Justin Peters (4-0, 2.25, .927) faces Michal Neuvirth (3-0, 1.67, .924) again.
ALBANY
Forwards
Jerome Samson/Mike Angelidis/Zach Boychuk
Chris Terry/Nick Dodge/Steven Goertzen
Oskar Osala/Jiri Tlusty/Jacob Micflikier
Nicolas Blanchard/Zac Dalpe/Drayson Bowman
Defensemen
Bryan Rodney/Jamie McBain
Jay Harrison/Brett Bellemore
Casey Borer/Tim Conboy

The Albany River Rats now know their opponent in the East Division final — the defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears.
The Bears defeated the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 4-1 on Wednesday to win their semifinal series in five games.
Hershey, the top-seed out of the East and the league-leader in the regular season, will open the division final series by hosting second-seeded Albany in Game 1 on Saturday at 7 p.m. and in Game 2 on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Giant Center.
Games 3 and 4 will be played at Albany, on Tuesday and Thursday, both at 7 p.m.
The Bears have won six of eight meetings with the Rats during the regular season, including all four games in Pennsylvania.
Yet Albany swept Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in four games in the divisional semifinal round, clinching the series with a 5-3 triumph on Monday — after losing six of eight regular season encounters with the Penguins.

EAST DIVISION FINAL
(Best-of-7)

ALBANY VS. HERSHEY
Saturday
Game 1
Albany at Hershey, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Game 2
Albany at Hershey, 5 p.m.
Tuesday
Game 3
Hershey at Albany, 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 29
Game 4
Hershey at Albany, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 1
Game 5
x-Albany at Hershey, 7 p.m.
Monday, May 3
Game 6
x-Hershey at Albany, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 5
Game 7
x-Albany at Hershey, 7 p.m.

x-if necessary

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. --- The Albany River Rats playoff series drought is history.
Rookie Zach Boychuk scored the game-winning goal in the third period to lift Albany past Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 5-3 to complete a four-game sweep of an East Division semifinal series on Monday at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Goalie Justin Peters made 26 saves and defenseman Jamie McBain scored twice for the Rats, who won their first playoff series in 12 years.
Even at 2-2 entering the final period, the Rats erupted for three goals --- with Boychuk tallying the deciding goal on an unassisted effort. After sending a shot towards goalie John Curry, the puck caromed back to Boychuk and he scored on a backhander with 6:48 remaining in regulation.
"(Drayson) Bowman and (Jacob) Micflikier in front, all alone and just waiting for me to pass it to them," Boychuk said with a grin. "But I wanted that game-winning goal. I couldn't believe it, all of a sudden it was right on my stick and I was like 'I'm going to put this one in,' and luckily I was able to do so."
Albany won its first playoff series since 1998 --- which was also a sweep (4-0 against the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Empire Division final to reach the Western Conference final).
The Rats will now face the winner of the Hershey-Bridgeport series in the East Division final. The Bears will carry a 3-1 series lead into Game 5 on Wednesday.
Albany rebounded from three one-goal deficits against Wilkes-Barre to draw even and finally broke through in the final period.
"The guys deserve a lot of credit for just battling back," Albany coach Jeff Daniels said. "Every time we got down by a goal, we battled back and never got frustrated."
Right wing Nick Johnson scored on a one-timer from the high slot just 28 seconds into the third period for a 4-3 Wilkes-Barre advantage.
Just 1:21 later, Mike Angeldis skated around the net in a wraparound attempt and Samson swept in the rebound to draw Albany even at 3-3 at 1:49.
"Just like all series, we just kept fighting back," Angelidis said.
Boychuk then followed with the deciding goal and the game nearly finished as the fourth one-goal outcome of the series, but McBain followed with an empty-net goal at 19:55.
"It certainly summed up the series," Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coach Todd Reirden said. "We started to make a little bit of a push and get some momentum and score some goals, but if not a shift or a couple shifts after, we had some missed coverages and some breakdowns and they were able to convert on them."
Curry stopped 34 of 38 shots faced for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which not lost a first-round playoff series for the first time in franchise history, it was also swept for the first time in the playoffs.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. --- The Albany River Rats are tied at 2-2 after the second period in Game 4 of their East Division semifinal series with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
After center Wyatt Smith broke the ice for the Penguins with a goal at 15:33 of the first period,
Albany's Oskar Osala converted on a pass from Jiri Tlusty at 12:32 of the middle period to draw even at one.
Following Chris Conner's power-play goal at 18:50 for a 2-1 Wilkes-Barre advantage, defenseman Jamie McBain scored on a drive from the blue line with 23.4 seconds left.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. --- The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins lead the River Rats, 1-0 after the first period of their East Division semifinal series.
Center Wyatt Smith scored 15:33 into the first period for the Penguins, who trail 3-0 in the best-of-seven series.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. --- History sure appears to be on the side of the Albany River Rats entering tonight's Game 4 of their East Division semifinal series against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
On the strength of their 2-1 victory on Sunday, the River Rats carry a commanding 3-0 into tonight at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
In the franchise's 17 years in Albany, the River Rats have never lost a series after winning the first three games --- going 5-0 in the process. They're also 4-1 all-time in games in which they can complete a series sweep.
The Rats will be gunning for their first playoff series triumph since 1998 --- which was also the last time Albany swept a series (4-0 against the Hamilton Bulldogs in the Empire Division final to reach the Western Conference final).
Conversely, the Penguins are not only in danger of losing a first-round playoffs for the first time --- Wilkes-Barre has never been swept in a playoff series, either.
Albany scratches from Game 4 are: Defensemen Zack Fitzgerald, Jonathan Paiement, Kyle Lawson and Michal Jordan again sitting out, along with left wing Brad Herauf. Center Stefan Chaput skated this morning, but had shed his yellow (non-contact) jersey and is closer to returning to the lineup.
Goalie Justin Peters (3-0, 2.00 GAA) squares off against John Curry (0-2, 2.57) again.
ALBANY
Forwards
Jerome Samson/Mike Angelidis/Zach Boychuk
Chris Terry/Nick Dodge/Steven Goertzen
Oskar Osala/Jiri Tlusty/Jacob Micflikier
Nicolas Blanchard/Zac Dalpe/Drayson Bowman
Defensemen
Bryan Rodney/Jamie McBain
Jay Harrison/Brett Bellemore
Casey Borer/Tim Conboy
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON
Forwards
Dustin Jeffrey/Mark Letestu/Nick Johnson
Tim Wallace/Wyatt Smith/Chris Conner
Joe Vitale/Eric Tangradi/Konstantin Pushkarev
Wade Brookbank/Mark Sill/Jesse Boulerice
Defensemen
Alex Grant/Brian Strait
Robert Bortuzzo/Chris Lee
Deryk Engelland/Steve Wagner

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. --- Justin Peters has been waiting for this opportunity for quite some time --- four seasons to be exact.
Now in his fourth campaign in the pro ranks --- the Albany River Rats goalie is continues to flourish in his first playoff series.
Peters has guided the River Rats to three one-goal wins and a 3-0 first-round series lead over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Albany can close out the East Division semifinal series with a victory in Game 4 tonight at Wilkes-Barre at 7.
"It's something that I've definitely worked towards, and I'm just taking it in stride. " said Peters, who has allowed only six goals this series. Obviously I haven't competed at this level before, so I'm just looking forward to (tonight)."
Peters appeared in 34 games with Albany in his rookie season of 2006-07, but finished the season with the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. The next year, he backed up Michael Leighton in the playoffs.
In Peters' first full season with Albany in 2008-09, the River Rats didn't qualify for the playoffs.
This season, he registered career-season bests in games won (26), goals against average (2.54) and save percentage to lead Albany to a second-place finish in the East Division and a playoff berth.
"Well, it is the playoffs," said Peters, who went 6-3-0 in nine appearances with the Carolina Hurricanes this season. "It's a fun time of year and you're playing for in order to keep playing hockey do you don't have to go home. We're a desperate hockey team in here, too. It's an exciting time of year."
Peters made 31 saves to lead the Rats to a 2-1 victory in Game 3 to take a commanding lead in the best-of-seven series.
"I thought (Sunday) was our best game defensively of the series," Peters said. "It seems like every game we've gotten a little better and hopefully we can keep doing that."
In what has become more of a low-scoring series, Peters has stood out and led the way.
Peters made 30 saves in a 4-3 victory in Game 1 in his playoff debut and stopped 27 shots in a 3-2 decision in Game 2 before the series shifted to Wilkes-Barre.
"Whether it's a playoff game or a regular season game, he's just so focused," Albany coach Jeff Daniels said. "Tonight in Game 3, he just tried to control what he could control and that's what he's done really well for us --- not just in the playoffs, but all year as well."
His three wins in the series lead all goalies in the playoffs, he stands second in saves (88), he's tied for fifth in goals against average (2.00) and is fifth in save percentage (.936).
While Albany is looking to win its first playoff series since 1998, the Penguins are in danger of not only losing in the first-round for the first time --- Wilkes-Barre has never been swept in a playoff series either.
"We knew they would be desperate," Peters said. "I thought every period they started real well, they came out pressuring us and we were able to weather the storm and stick with our plan. That's what we need to do is stick to our game plan and keep at it."
Game 5, if necessary, will be played at Albany on Wednesday night at 7.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. ---The Albany River Rats have taken commanding lead in their first-round playoffs against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Center Mike Angeldis and right wing Jerome Samson each scored within the first six minutes of the third period and goalie Justin Peters made 31 saves as Albany held off Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 2-1 on Sunday in Game 3 of an East Division semifinal series at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
The River Rats now lead the series, 3-0 and can clinch a berth in the East Division final with a victory in Game 4 at Wilkes-Barre on Monday night at 7.
Following a rush up the ice, Boychuk fired a shot on goal from the left side and Angelidis, camped in front, swept the rebound past goalie John Curry 2:16 into the third period.
Albany was opportunistic again on its second goal as Samson sent a centering pass from the left circle which deflected off a Wilkes-Barre defenseman and past Curry at 5:45.
The Penguins drew within 2-1 as Chris Conner fired a one-timer past Peters at 14:27.
Curry finished with 26 saves for Wilkes-Barre, which is on the brink of being eliminated from the first-round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

The River Rats enter Game 3 of their East Division semifinal series hoping to end Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's hex at home.
Not only has Albany lost all four regular-season games at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in 2009-10, the Penguins have won six of their past seven Calder Cup playoff games on home ice.
Wilkes-Barre also finished the regular season with points in 13 of their past 14 home games.
Goalie Justin Peters again gets the start for Albany, which won the first two games of the series, 4-3 and 3-2, at home and is in quest of winning its first playoff series since 1998. John Curry, who took the loss in Game 2, gets the start in goal for WBS.
The Rats scratches remained the same from Game 2, with defensemen Zack Fitzgerald, Jonathan Paiement and Kyle Lawson again sitting out, along with left wing Brad Herauf.
Defenseman Ben Lovejoy was called up by the Pittsburgh Penguins, and defender Alex Grant will take his place in the lineup.
ALBANY
Forwards
Jerome Samson/Mike Angelidis/Zach Boychuk
Chris Terry/Nick Dodge/Steven Goertzen
Oskar Osala/Jiri Tlusty/Jacob Micflikier
Nicolas Blanchard/Zac Dalpe/Drayson Bowman
Defensemen
Bryan Rodney/Jamie McBain
Jay Harrison/Brett Bellemore
Casey Borer/Tim Conboy
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON
Forwards
Dustin Jeffrey/Mark Letestu/Nick Johnson
Tim Wallace/Wyatt Smith/Chris Conner
Joe Vitale/Eric Tangradi/Konstantin Pushkarev
Wade Brookbank/Mark Sill/Jesse Boulerice
Defensemen
Alex Grant/Brian Strait
Robert Bortuzzo/Chris Lee
Deryk Engelland/Steve Wagner

While most of their lines were reshuffled and restructured for the playoffs, one unit has remained intact and continues to lead the way for the Albany River Rats.
Predominately a defensive line throughout the season, center Nick Dodge (3 goals-1 assist), and wingers Chris Terry (1-2) and Steven Goertzen (0-1) have led the way offensively through the first two games against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the first-round of the Calder Cup playoffs, combining for eight (4-4) points.
“It’s been good the first two games,” Goertzen said. “Dodgey and Terry are playing great hockey right now and chipping in offensively like they can. We just focus on our defense and hopefully that leads to offense.”
Terry scored his first professional playoff goal in the first period of Game 2 and Dodge contributed a goal and an assist, including a key tally in the third period, as Albany edged Wilkes-Barre, 3-2 to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
“They’ve played well, their responsibility is not just to be a defensive line,” Albany coach Jeff Daniels said. “We expect them to contribute and they have for the past two games. ... Their line has been good for us all year.”
Yet perhaps even just as valuable, this unit has held the Penguins’ high-powered line of Dustin Jeffrey, Mark Letestu and Nick Johnson to only three goals in three games, all from Johnson.
“We’ve had some experience in the regular season playing against other big lines,” Goertzen said. “The thing is they have a lot of offensive talent on that line, so we have to be ready every shift.”
Daniels said he’ll likely stay with a pair of line changes made during Game 2 — as center Mike Angelidis was reunited with wingers Nicolas Blanchard and Drayson Bowman on the checking line. Bowman later set up defenseman Jamie McBain’s game-winning goal with 4:02 remaining.
In turn, rookie center Zac Dalpe was moved up to skate with wingers Jerome Samson and Zach Boychuk.
“Obviously they’re some matchups you look for,” Daniels said. “But at the same time, with the way we structure our lines, we’ve got four lines that can play. So even when we go on the road, if you don’t get the matchups you want, I’m still very confident about our lines.”
Angelidis added: “Everyone is playing hard and we’re trying to get better. We haven’t played our best hockey yet and that’s a good thing.”

ALBANY --- The Albany River Rats continue to display a flair for the dramatic in the playoffs.
Defenseman Jamie McBain scored the game winner in the third period and Justin Peters made 27 saves, including stopping a penalty shot, as Albany edged Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 3-2 on Friday in Game 2 of their East Division semifinal series.
Albany takes a 2-0 lead in the series, which shifts to Wilkes-Barre for Game 3 on Sunday and Game 4 on Monday.
McBain finished off a wild third period, taking a pass from left wing Drayson Bowman and lifting a shot past goalie John Curry with 4:02 remaining in regulation.
Earlier in the second period, left wing Chris Terry drew the Rats even with a goal at 7:17.
Just 1:28 later, the Penguins were awarded a penalty shot as McBain prevented center Dustin Jeffrey from breaking in alone.
Peters denied Jeffrey on the ensuing penalty shot as the forward moved down the middle and shot into the goalie's leg pads.
Rats center Nick Dodge provided Albany with a 2-1 advantage by taking a pass from defenseman Jay Harrison and snapped a shot past Curry at 10:00 of the third period. Dodge has now scored three goals in two playoff games to lead the club.
Right wing Konstantin Pushkarev pulled the Penguins even at 14:50. McBain followed with his second goal of the playoffs.
Curry stopped 29 of 32 shots faced for Wilkes-Barre, which has never lost a first-round playoff series.

ALBANY --- The River Rats face a different goalie in net tonight in Game 2 of their East Division semifinal series with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Goalie John Curry gets the nod to start tonight for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as rookie goalie Brad Thiessen was recalled by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
Curry went 23-19-2 with a 2.87 goals against average in 46 appearances for Wilkes-Barre this season. The third-year pro is 2-1-1 with a 2.88 in four decisions versus Albany this campaign.
Thiessen, who made 34 saves in WBS's 4-3 loss to Albany in Game 1 on Wednesday, will back up Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 2 of Pittsburgh's quarterfinal playoff series against Ottawa tonight.
Justin Peters, who made 30 saves in Game 1 for Albany, will face Curry.
Also for the Rats, defenseman Brett Bellemore is in the lineup after he was a healthy scratch in Game 1.
Defenseman Zack FitzGerald and left wing Brad Herauf are again scratches for Albany.
Here are each team's lines:
ALBANY
Forwards
Jerome Samson/Mike Angelidis/Zach Boychuk
Chris Terry/Nick Dodge/Steven Goertzen
Oskar Osala/Jiri Tlusty/Jacob Micflikier
Nicolas Blanchard/Drayson Bowman/Zac Dalpe
Defensemen
Bryan Rodney/Jamie McBain
Jay Harrison/Brett Bellemore
Casey Borer/Tim Conboy
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON
Forwards
Dustin Jeffrey/Mark Letestu/Nick Johnson
Tim Wallace/Wyatt Smith/Chris Conner
Joe Vitale/Eric Tangradi/Konstantin Pushkarev
Wade Brookbank/Mark Sill/Jesse Boulerice
Defensemen
Steve Wagner/Ben Lovejoy
Robert Bortuzzo/Brian Strait
Deryk Engelland/Chris Lee

The Carolina Hurricanes announced they have agreed to terms with defenseman Michal Jordan on a three-year, entry-level contract.
The deal will pay Jordan an average of $550,000 per season at the NHL level, $60,000 per season at the minor-league level, and includes a signing bonus of $170,000. Jordan will report to the Albany River Rats and join the team for its Calder Cup Playoffs run.
Jordan, 19, completed his third season of North American major-junior hockey in 2009-10, scoring 13 goals and earning 19 assists (32 points) in 41 regular-season games with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.
The Hurricanes drafted Jordan in the fourth round (105th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
The Zlin, Czech Republic, native scored 11 power-play goals this season to rank second among all OHL defensemen in that category. Listed at 6-foot-1, 184 pounds, Jordan completes his junior career having scored 31 goals and earned 71 assists (102 points) in 160 regular-season games with Windsor and Plymouth.
He represented the Czech Republic three times at the International Ice Hockey Federation Under-20 World Championship, most recently as team captain in the 2010 tournament.

The Albany River Rats hope their team balance carries them far this postseason.
So far, its paid dividends with their 4-3 victory over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday night in the opening game of their East Division semifinal series.
With a wave of reinforcements arriving from the Carolina Hurricanes earlier in the week, Albany coach Jeff Daniels had plenty of options to mull over and drew up an intriguing lineup, with plenty of talent sprinkled through on each line.
“That’s been kind of our goal all year to have four lines that can play and kind of wear teams down and that’s really no different from the Wilkes-Barre’s set up, they have four lines that can play,” Daniels said after Thursday’s practice. “We try to balance it where we have some scoring and some guys who can do the dirty and gritty work. Now it’s just a matter of finding some chemistry.”
One of the most notable changes was moving center Mike Angelidis the checking line to the top scoring line with Jerome Samson and Zach Boychuk.
“Ang is a guy who can do the dirty work,” Daniels said. “He’s been a guy who has been invaluable for us in that role, but he’s also scored some big goals for us.”
Forward Oskar Osala anchored a line with Jiri Tlusty and Jacob Micflikier, who responded with a goal and an assist against the Penguins.
Rookie Drayson Bowman returned from Carolina and skated with Nicolas Blanchard and rookie Zac Dalpe.
“If they’re doing a good job on Sammy, it doesn’t mean we’re not going to score goals,” Daniels said. “We have other guys, like we saw (Wednesday) night, Dodge scored two goals and Flicks really contributed for us.
“That’s the mindset of being well-balanced, in case they shut down one line, hopefully the other lines can pick it up.”
The only line which remained intact from the regular season — Dodge, Chris Terry and Steven Goertzen — stood out in Game 1, combining for five points, including two goals.
“They’ve been a great line for us all year,” Daniels said. “We put a lot of responsibility on those three guys both defensively and offensively and last night it showed.”
Albany will likely stay with these line combinations for tonight in Game 2.
“That’s the plan right now,” Daniels said.
The series then shifts to Wilkes-Barre for Game 3 on Sunday and Game 4 on Monday.

With overtime looming in their playoff opener, the Albany River Rats answered the call in the final minute of regulation.
Center Nick Dodge scored two goals, including the game winner with 50.4 seconds remaining, to lift Albany past Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 4-3 on on Wednesday in Game 1 of an East Division semifinal series.
The Penguins had drawn even as Mark Letestu scored 2:52 into the third period and with rookie goalie Brad Thiessen pulled for an extra attacker, Nick Johnson evened at 18:38.
The Rats struck back as left wing Chris Terry sent a pass to Bryan Rodney, which deflected off the Albany defenseman's skate to Dodge, who tallied the deciding goal.
Goalie Justin Peters made 30 saves for Albany, which will host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Game 2 on Friday night at 7.
Albany's line of Dodge, Terry and Steven Goertzen combined for five points, with Terry contributing two assists.
Left wing Jacob Micflikier scored the game's first goal and assisted on McBain's tally for the second-seeded River Rats.
With the game deadlocked at one, the Rats cashed in on a rebound goal, as Dodge knocked in Terry's rebound at the top of the crease at 9:55.
Dodge and defenseman Jamie McBain each scored within a span of 36 seconds in the second period as Albany took a 3-1 advantage into the final frame.
McBain, reassigned to Albany from Carolina on Sunday, scored on a blast well outside the right faceoff circle which eluded rookie goalie Brad Thiessen for a 3-1 advantage at 10:31.
Micflikier scored 10:01 into the game for the Rats and Johnson countered withan unassisted goal at 12:26.
Thiessen stopped 34 of 38 shots in his first pro playoff start.

ALBANY --- Albany defenseman Zack FitzGerald, who missed the final two games of the regular season, was a scratch on Wednesday.
Defensemen Kyle Lawson and Jonathan Paiement and right wing Brad Herauf were each healthy scratches for Albany.
Center Stefan Chaput and goalie Mike Murphy remain sidelined with injuries.
In all, six River Rats --- forwards Jerome Samson, Zach Boychuk, Drayson Bowman and defenseman Bryan Rodney, Jay Harrison and Jamie McBain were in the lineup after being reassigned by Carolina earlier in the week.
Penguins' rookie goalie Brad Thiessen gets the start against Justin Peters.
Here are each team's lines:
ALBANY
Jerome Samson/Mike Angelidis/Zach Boychuk
Chris Terry/Nick Dodge/Steven Goertzen
Oskar Osala/Jiri Tlusty/Jacob Micflikier
Nicolas Blanchard/Drayson Bowman/Zac Dalpe
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON
Tim Wallace/Wyatt Smith/Chris Conner
Dustin Jeffrey/Mark Letestu/Nick Johnson
Joe Vitale/Eric Tangradi/Konstantin Pushkarev
Wade Brookbank/Mark Sill/Jesse Boulerice

Veteran defenseman Jay Harrison is the latest player to be reassigned by Carolina to the River Rats for their playoff push.
Albany opens its postseason by hosting the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 7 on Wednesday night in Game 1 of an East Division semifinal.
The 27-year-old Harrison was recalled by Carolina on March 3 and played in Carolina’s final 20 regular season games.
He posted six (1-5) points in 38 NHL games this season. Harrison has registered 14 points, including 12 assists, and a plus-8 rating in 32 games this season with Albany.
The Hurricanes reassigned six players to Albany on Sunday — forwards Drayson Bowman, Zach Boychuk and Jerome Samson, as well as defensemen Casey Borer, Jamie McBain and Bryan Rodney.
Rookie center Stefan Chaput and rookie goalie Mike Murphy were at Tuesday’s practice, but both won’t be available for Game 1 and likely will be out for much, if not all of the series against Wilkes-Barre.
Justin Pogge is now healthy and will back up starting goalie Justin Peters in the playoffs.

The Carolina Hurricanes reassigned six players to the Albany River Rats.
Forwards Drayson Bowman, Zach Boychuk and Jerome Samson, as well as defensemen Casey Borer, Jamie McBain and Bryan Rodney, will rejoin the River Rats to compete in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Albany enters the postseason as the second seed in the East Division and will open its division semifinal series by hosting the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
The Hurricanes, who didn’t qualify for the NHL playoffs, concluded their season on Saturday in a 4-2 loss to Boston.

ALBANY — The Albany River Rats now know their opponent for the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs and it’s a familiar one.
On the strength of a second-place finish in the East Division, the River Rats will face divisional rival Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in a best-of-seven East Division semifinal series, which opens on Wednesday in Albany.
The third-place Penguins, who secured the third seed in the East Division playoffs with a 3-0 victory over Binghamton on Sunday, have won six of the eight regular-season meetings (6-1-0-1), including five of the past six, against the second-seeded River Rats.
The first two games will be played at Albany with Game 1 scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. and Game 2 slated for Friday at 7 p.m.
The series then shifts to Wilkes-Barre for games on Sunday and Monday, at 3:05 p.m. and 7:05 p.m., respectively. Game 5, if necessary is at Albany on Wednesday, April 21, and Games 6 and 7 at Wilkes-Barre on Saturday April, 24 and Sunday, April 25, respectively.
This will be the first playoff meeting between the River Rats and Penguins and Albany will compete in the postseason for the third time in four seasons.
This is also the first time the Albany has earned home-ice advantage for a playoff series since 1999.
In the other East Division semifinal series, top-seeded Hershey will meet fifth-place Bridgeport of Atlantic Division, which will crossover to compete in the East.
In the 2006-07 playoffs, the Rats were beaten 4-1 by the Hershey Bears; and were edged by the Philadelphia Phantoms in seven games in 2007-08 — both in East Division semifinal series.
The River Rats franchise, now in its final season in Albany, won the Calder Cup in the 1994-95 campaign.
The Penguins have reached the Calder Cup final twice — in 2000-01 and in 2007-08.

EAST DIVISION SEMIFINALS
(Best-of-7)
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON vs. ALBANY
Wednesday
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Albany, 7 p.m.
Friday
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Albany, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Albany at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 3:05 p.m.
Monday, April 19
Albany at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 21
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Albany, 7 p.m.
x-Saturday, April 24
Albany at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 p.m.
x-Sunday, April 25
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Albany, 5 p.m.
x-if necessary

BRIDGEPORT vs. HERSHEY
Wednesday
Bridgeport at Hershey, 7 p.m.
Friday
Bridgeport at Hershey, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Hershey at Bridgeport, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Hershey at Bridgeport, 3 p.m.
x-Wednesday, April 21
Bridgeport at Hershey, 7 p.m.
x-Friday, April 23
Hershey at Bridgeport, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 24
Bridgeport at Hershey, 7 p.m.
x-if necessary

GLENS FALLS -- The Albany River Rats made the franchise's final regular-season game a memorable one.
Center Mike Angelidis scored twice and left wing Oskar Osala followed with the deciding goal at 14:31 of the third period as Albany edged the Adirondack Phantoms, 3-2 on Saturday before a standing-room only crowd of 4,968 at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Goalie Justin Peters made 27 saves for the River Rats (43-29-3-5), who had already clinched second place in the East Division and will open the Calder Cup playoffs at home on Wednesday against an opponent to be determined.
Albany could face either third-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, or either Bridgeport or Lowell, which could crossover from the Atlantic Division to compete in the East Division playoffs.
The Rats franchise, in its 17th and final year in Albany, will be relocated to Charlotte, N.C. after this season.
Jeremy Duschene stopped 26 of 29 shots for Adirondack (32-41-3-4), which finishes last in the East Division.
Jonathon Kalinski and Danny Syvret each scored for the Phantoms, who complete their first season in Glens Falls as the top affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Calder Cup playoff picture continues to crystallize.
One week after Albany qualified for the postseason, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins clinched a berth at the expense of the River Rats.
Eric Tangradi scored twice and Wyatt Smith tallied an unassisted goal in the third period for the game winner as the Penguins edged the Rats, 4-3 on Friday at Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Oskar Osala scored three goals for Albany (42-29-3-5), which had already secured second place in the East Division.
Along with the victory, the Penguins (40-33-2-3) also clinched third place in the East Division as Norfolk lost 6-1 at Hershey.
After Osala provided the Rats with a 3-2 lead with a power-play goal at 13:13 of the second period, Tangradi drew the Penguins even with a power-play tally at 15:18. Smith followed with the deciding goal at 8:45 of the third.
Both teams scored a pair of power-play goals, with Albany converting on both its chances.
Goalie Brad Thiessen made 20 saves to earn the victory for Wilkes-Barre.
Justin Peters stopped 34 of 38 shots for the Rats, who play at Adirondack tonight at 7 in the Albany franchise’s final regular season game.
Rookie defenseman Jason Lepine, who signed a professional tryout with Albany on Friday, registered a pair of assists.

Center Keith Aucoin of the Hershey Bears has been named as winner of the Les Cunningham Award as the American Hockey League’s most valuable player.
A former Albany River Rats captain, Aucoin has established career highs with 35 goals and 102 points in 70 games played so far this season, and is in position to capture his first scoring title after four previous top-10 finishes.
Aucoin also leads the league with 67 assists and 10 game-winning goals, and his plus-29 rating is tied for seventh among AHL forwards.
Selected to the AHL All-Star team for the fourth time, the 31-year-old Aucoin registered 30 multiple-point games this year, and with his 625th career point on Mar. 27, he became the highest-scoring American-born player in AHL history.
A native of Waltham, Mass., Aucoin has recorded 194 goals and 437 assists (18th all-time) for 631 points (31st all-time) in 575 career AHL games. He also has one goal and four assists in nine NHL games with Washington this season, giving him 26 points (8-18) in 74 career NHL contests.
Aucoin becomes the sixth Hershey player ever to win the Les Cunningham Award, joining George Sullivan (1954), Mike Nykoluk (1967), Tim Tookey (1987), Jean-Francois Labbe (1997) and Alexandre Giroux (2009).
In two seasons with the River Rats, Aucoin totaled 144 points (35-109) in 103 games over two seasons — including setting all-time season records in points (99) and assists (72) in the 2006-07 campaign.
The MVP award is voted on by coaches, players and members of the media in each of the league’s 29 cities.

Defenseman Tim Conboy has been reassigned to the Albany River Rats.
Conboy was recalled by Carolina for Thursday’s game against Montreal and logged 6:08 of ice time in the Hurricanes’ 5-2 victory.
The 28-year-old Conboy has played in 12 games this season for Carolina, which is eliminated from the NHL playoff race.
The seventh-year-pro, who has totaled three assists and 62 penalty minutes in 35 games with the Rats this season, is on Albany’s playoff roster.

Defenseman Casey Borer has been recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 24-year-old Borer has totaled nine (1-8) points in 30 games for the River Rats this season and will be available for Thursday night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Minneapolis native was named the winner of this season’s American Hockey League’s Fred T. Hunt Award, as the player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.
Borer returned to the Albany lineup on Jan. 23 after missing the remainder of last season when he suffered a broken neck in the team’s bus crash on Feb. 19, 2009 and underwent surgery in September.
A third-year pro, Borer made his NHL debut for the Hurricanes during the 2007-08 season, and has totaled three points (1-2) in 14 career games with Carolina.

The Carolina Hurricanes recalled defenseman Tim Conboy from the Albany River Rats.
Conboy will be available for Thursday night’s game against the Montreal Canadiens in Charlotte, N.C.
The sixth-year pro had to clear re-entry waivers before he could be called up by Carolina, which concludes its season at Boston on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Conboy will likely be reassigned to Albany on Sunday and is on the River Rats playoff roster.
The 28-year-old Conboy played in 11 games this season with Carolina before he was assigned to Albany on Nov. 18.
In 35 games with the River Rats this season, Conboy has registered three assists and totaled 62 penalty minutes. He also missed 24 games because of a concussion.

GLENS FALLS — Adirondack head coach Greg Gilbert has joined the 300 club.
Gilbert became the 15th coach in American Hockey League history to record 300 career victories with the Phantoms 3-2 overtime victory over the Binghamton Senators on Wednesday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
Andreas Nodl scored three minutes into overtime for the deciding goal for Adirondack and rookie goalie Brian Stewart made 31 saves to record his first pro victory.
Gilbert, formerly a head coach of the Calgary Flames, has forged a 300-249-42-47 record in seven seasons in the AHL — four with the Worcester IceCats, two with the Toronto Marlies and this season with Adirondack.
The Phantoms host Binghamton on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and host the rival Albany River Rats on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Adirondack’s season finale.

The Albany River Rats will open the Calder Cup playoffs at home a week from Wednesday.
While they’ve already wrapped up second place in the East Division and a second-seed in the divisional playoffs, but it’s still up in the air whom they’ll face in the first round.
Albany (42-28-3-5) may face either third-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (39-32-2-3), fourth-place Norfolk (37-34-3-3) — or Lowell (37-30-4-6) or Bridgeport (36-31-4-6) of the Atlantic Division.
Lowell and Bridgeport, which stand in fourth and fifth place in the Atlantic Division, respectively, are also in the picture since if the fifth-place team in the Atlantic finishes with more points than the fourth-place team in the East, that Atlantic Division team would qualify for the postseason.
Here are how the races for the final playoff spots — for third place in the East Division and for fourth and fifth place in the Atlantic — are shaping up.

East Division
3. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 39-32-2-3, 83 points, 4 games left
4. Norfolk 37-34-3-3, 80 points, 3 games left

Atlantic Division
4. Lowell 37-30-4-6, 84 points, 3 games left
5. Bridgeport 36-31-4-6, 82 points, 3 games left

The Tampa Lightning have recalled defenseman Matt Lashoff from the Norfolk Admirals.
The East Greenbush native had been called up earlier last week and played in two games, in a 2-0 Pittsburgh last Wednesday in which he totaled 15 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct only 2:22 into the contest for boarding; and skated in a 5-0 home loss to the New York Rangers on Thursday.
Lashoff, a fourth-year pro was then reassigned to Norfolk on Friday.
The 23-year-old Lashoff has appeared in 60 career NHL games between the Lightning and Boston Bruins, scoring one goal and 15 points.
A 2005 first-round draft choice (22nd overall) of the Bruins, the Lightning acquired Lashoff from Boston on March 4, 2009 with Martins Karsums in exchange for Mark Recchi and second-round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Lashoff has skated in 68 games with the Admirals this season, recording eight goals and 24 points. He is second on the team among defensemen in goals, assists and points. Lashoff has skated in 234 career AHL games between Norfolk and the Providence Bruins, tallying 119 points, including 34 goals.

In the final regular-season home game for the Albany River Rats franchise, the club made it a memorable night.
Left wing Jacob Micflikier converted on a penalty shot five minutes into the game, left wing Brad Herauf scored on a breakaway and goalie Justin Peters made 27 saves as the River Rats turned back rival Adirondack, 4-2 on Saturday night before a crowd of 6,743.
A night after qualifying for the American Hockey League playoffs, Albany (42-28-3-5) clinched second place in the East Division and home ice for at least the first round of the postseason.
Rookie center Zac Dalpe scored on a rebound with 5.8 seconds remaining in the second period to tally his sixth goal in six games with the Rats.
Defensemen Danny Syvret and Erik Gustafsson each scored in the final period for the Phantoms, but right wing Steven Goertzen added an empty-net goal with 14 seconds remaining.
Rookie forward Mike McKenzie, who assisted on Herauf’s goal, made his pro debut for the Rats after wrapping up his senior season at St. Lawrence University.
The Rats will open their first-round Calder Cup playoff series in Albany on Wednesday, April 14 against an opponent to be determined.
Rookie goalie Brian Stewart stopped 22 of 25 shots faced in his pro debut for last-place Adirondack (31-39-3-4).
Right wing Mario Valery-Trabucco, who completed his senior season at Union College two weekends ago, made his pro debut for the Phantoms, registering a shot on goal, including taking a penalty on his first shift.
The undrafted Trabucco, who led the Dutchmen in goals (23) and points (45) in leading Union to its first ECAC title game, signed an amateur tryout agreement with Adirondack on March 23.

ALBANY — There was a silver lining for the Albany River Rats on Friday night in their quest to reach the playoffs.
Despite a 2-1 loss to Norfolk on Friday, Albany qualified for the American Hockey League postseason.
The River Rats came into the night needing only one point to secure a berth. But by virtue of Lowell’s 5-2 loss in Hartford, Albany (41-28-3-5) clinched its third postseason appearance in four years.
Justin Keller scored two goals, including the game winner with 6:31 remaining in the third period, to propel Norfolk (36-33-3-3), which remained alive in the playoff chase.
Nicolas Blanchard scored the lone goal for the River Rats.
Goalie Dustin Tokarski made 31 saves for Norfolk and Justin Peters stopped 22 of 24 shots for Albany.
The River Rats host the Adirondack Phantoms at 7 tonight — in the franchise’s final regular-season home game.
With a victory, Albany can clinch second place in the East Division and home-ice advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs.

Defenseman Thomas Dignard has been signed by the Albany River Rats to an amateur tryout contract.
Dignard, 22, recently completed his senior season at Yale University, and led all Bulldogs defensemen in scoring with 27 (6-21) points in 29 games. The Reading, Mass., native totaled 19 goals and 57 assists for 76 points in 115 career games with Yale.

The American Hockey League announced that Albany River Rats defenseman Casey Borer has been named the 2009-10 winner of the Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award as the AHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.
The award is voted on by coaches, players and members of the media in each of the league’s 29 cities.
A third-round draft pick by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2004, Borer was among those most seriously injured in the River Rats’ Feb. 19, 2009 bus crash on the Massachusetts Turnpike. He suffered a fractured neck vertebra which ended his 2008-09 season, and following a setback over the summer, Borer underwent surgery on his neck in September and was placed in a neck brace for six weeks.
After spending nearly a full year recovering from the injury, Borer returned to Albany’s lineup on Jan. 23, and he is now back in an everyday role with the River Rats.
A native of Minneapolis, Minn., the 24-year-old Borer has recorded a goal and eight assists in 28 games for the River Rats this season.

The Times Union Center will pay tribute to Walter Robb prior to the opening faceoff of the Albany River Rats’ regular-season home finale versus the Adirondack Phantoms on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Robb, a Niskayuna businessman, will be honored for his 12 years of ownership of the Albany River Rats and commemorated for his ownership of arena football’s Albany Conquest and Firebirds.
This will be the River Rats last regular-season home game as Robb sold the franchise, which will move to Charlotte, N.C. at the conclusion of this season.

East Greenbush native and defenseman Brian Lashoff was reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins by the Detroit Red Wings from the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.
The 19-year-old Lashoff, the younger brother of Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Matt Lashoff, made his pro debut with the Griffins last season and registered five (1-4) points both in six regular season games and in eight American Hockey League playoff games.
Standing at Listed at 6-foot-3, 204 pounds, the younger Lashoff won a goal medal with Team USA in the World Junior Championships in January in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, capped by a 6-5 overtime triumph in the title game. He recorded two assists and a plus-one rating in seven games to help lead the United States to its second junior championship.
Brian Lashoff served as Kingston’s captain, guiding the club to the OHL playoffs after posting 27 (6-21) points in 58 regular season games.

Jerome Samson’s hard work and determination continues to pay off.
The third-year right wing has been selected as an American Hockey League all-star as a first teamer, which was announced on Thursday.
Samson has recorded career highs in goals (37), assists (39) and points (76) in 72 games this season and also ranks second in the league in goals and fourth in points.
Samson was also selected as AHL Player of the Month, as he totaled 24 points, including 10 goals, in 12 games in March.
His month included three four-point games, a pair of three-point efforts and his first career hat trick in a 6-2 victory at Adirondack on March 24.
Joining Samson on the first team is Hershey center Keith Aucoin, a previous All-Star with Albany; Hershey left wing Alexandre Giroux, Hamilton rookie defenseman P.K. Subban, defenseman Danny Groulx of Worcester and Manchester goalie Jonathan Bernier.
The second team includes: Springfield left wing Charles Linglet, Hartford center Corey Locke, Hershey right wing Andrew Gordon, Rochester defenseman Clay Wilson, Houston defenseman Maxim Noreau and Hamilton goalie Cedrick Desjardins.