On The Fly

New Jersey assigns 11 to Albany

2010-09-28T14:34:00.000-04:00

The New Jersey Devils assigned 11 players to the Albany Devils, thus reducing the NHL club’s training camp roster to 32.

Sent to Albany are forwards Patrick Davis, Stephen Gionta, David McIntryre, Brad Mills, Tim Sestito, Michael Swift, Alexander Vasyunov, Chad Wiseman and Vladimir Zharkov, along with defensemen Tyler Eckford and Olivier Magnan-Grenier.

The Albany Devils continue their training camp this week. After they open their preseason schedule at the Adirondack Phantoms on Friday at 7:30 p.m., the Devils will face the Phantoms again on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Houston Field House.

Albany Devils to play games in Atlantic City

2010-08-24T18:53:00.000-04:00

The Albany Devils will be hitting the boardwalk this upcoming season.
Boardwalk Hall and the New Jersey Devils today announced that the team’s top development squad, the American Hockey League’s Albany Devils, will play four games at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. this December through February 2011.
Their ECHL team, the Trenton Devils, will also play one game on Atlantic City’s ice. The series is sponsored by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority and Caesars Atlantic City.
The series kicks off Sunday, Dec. 5 with the Albany Devils taking on the Adirondack Phantoms followed by a game Sunday, Dec. 12 pitting the Albany Devils against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
On Sunday, Jan. 23, the ECHL Trenton Devils will take the ice to play the Wheeling Nailers. Friday, Feb. 4 marks the return of the Albany Devils when they face off against the Hershey Bears, and the series concludes on Sunday, Feb. 27 with the Albany Devils vs. the Norfolk Admirals.
Sunday games are scheduled for 4 p.m.; Friday night’s game time is at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the five-game Boardwalk Hall Devils series package are priced at $120 for first two rows on the glass, $95 for the lower bowl and $70 for the upper bowl, and will go on sale this Saturday at noon. Ticket prices and the on-sale date for the individual Boardwalk Hall Devils games will be announced in September. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 800-736-1420 or at www.ticketmaster.com.
Atlantic City will also host the ECAC Hockey championships next March, which moves to New Jersey after moving from Albany.

Adirondack to host Albany Devils in preseason

2010-08-24T18:49:00.002-04:00

The Albany Devils will travel to face the Adirondack Phantoms in a preseason game in Glens Falls on Friday, Oct. 1.
Phantoms preseason tickets go on sale Sept. 10.

Kowalsky named as Albany Devils coach

2010-08-10T21:27:00.000-04:00

The Albany Devils at long last have a coach.
Rick Kowalsky has been named as Albany’s head coach, Albany and Trenton Devils general manager Chris Lamoriello announced on Tuesday,
A pair of former Albany River Rats have new assignments in the New Jersey organization as well as Tommy Albelin will serve as an assistant coach with Albany and Kevin Dean has been named as Trenton’s head coach.
Kowalsky is certainly no stranger to the New Jersey organization as he served as Trenton’s head coach for the past four seasons.
“I was happy at the ECHL level and I hadn’t pursued anything at the AHL level thus far in my career just because I liked the way things were going,” Kowalsky said. “I knew that the Devils really made me feel a part of this organization, especially after the last couple of years. Just knowing (New Jersey President, CEO and General Manager) Lou Lamoriello’s history of promoting from within, I knew this could potentially arise.”
The organizational moves come after New Jersey skipper Jacques Lemaire retired and John McLean was named as head coach.
Kowalsky becomes the seventh head coach in Albany at the AHL level, joining Robbie Ftorek (1993-94 to 1995-96; 2003-04 to 2005-06); the late John Cunniff (1996-97 to 2000-01); Bobby Carpenter (2001-02); Red Gendron (2002-03 to 2003-04); Tom Rowe (2006-07 to 2007-08) and Jeff Daniels (2008-09 to 2009-10).
Kowalsky takes over the coaching reigns just months after the Devils’ AHL franchise moved from Lowell, Mass.
New Jersey’s AHL affiliate moves back to Albany after it was housed for 13 seasons (1993-94 to 2005-06) here.
Last year in Lowell, the Devils reached the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time since 2000.
Without knowing all the facts, I think there are a lot of good young prospects coming out,” Kowalsky said. “With that said, Lowell had a pretty young, exciting team last year. There are probably eight to 10 players in Albany that I had in Trenton for at least a year — some of them for a year and another small group for two years.
“So I have an idea what the landscape might look like in Albany, but there is still a lot I need to be informed on.”
Kowalsky compiled a 138-122-28 record with Trenton and was honored as the ECHL’s top coach with the John Brophy Award in 2009.
“Rick has been with us for four years and he brings great passion, great intensity; that was the type of player he was,” Chris Lamoriello said. “ … So developmentally he’s been through the process. He’s comfortable with us and our objective and, certainly, we are comfortable with him and his objectives.”
Kowalsky’s pro playing career spanned 12 seasons with six different teams in two leagues.
A right wing, Kowalsky played in 183 AHL games with Cornwall, Portland and Norfolk. He totaled 516 games in the ECHL with Hampton roads, Trenton and Roanoke.
He served as a player/assistant coach with Roanoke while generating a career-high 83 (35 goals-48 assists) points in the 2001-02 season.
In his last campaign as a player, he captained the Trenton Totals to the 2005 Kelly Cup championship.
“He’s a coach who challenges himself as well,” Chris Lamoriello said. “He’s not only looking for the players to be better, but for himself to be better.”
Joining Kowalsky behind the bench in Albany is the 46-year-old Albelin, who joined New Jersey’s coaching staff as an assistant in July of 2007 following an 18-year career in the NHL.
A veteran of 952 regular season games with Quebec, New Jersey and Calgary, Albelin skated on the Devils’ Stanley Cup champion teams in 1995 and 2003.
Albelin, who appeared in nine games with the River Rats, as well as a pair of stints with the Utica Devils, went on to become just the fifth player in New Jersey franchise history to rejoin the team.
Dean, 41, is entering his fifth season as a coach in New Jersey’s system after serving as an assistant coach for the Lowell Devils for the past four seasons.
The former defenseman is a veteran of 331 NHL games with New Jersey, Atlanta, Dallas and Chicago, including 198 with the Devils.
In 1995, Dean was the only member of the New Jersey organization to win a Stanley Cup with the Devils and a Calder Cup with the Albany River Rats as he served as team captain of the AHL champions.
Dean appeared in 146 games over the course of five seasons with Albany.
“Hockey is hockey and I enjoy it,” Dean said. “I love hockey and I’ll enjoy it at this level as well.”

AHL, now at 30 teams, announces alignment for 2010 season

2010-06-16T18:21:00.001-04:00

The American Hockey League has reached its long-term goal of 30 clubs, each serving as a primary affiliate among the National Hockey League’s 30 teams.
Yet here are few changes in the divisional alignment for the upcoming 2010-11 season for the AHL, which serves as the top developmental league for the NHL.
The new Albany Devils team will skate in the Eastern Conference’s East Division, just like its predecessor, the Albany River Rats — did before it was sold and moved to Charlotte, N.C. after serving as the top farm club of the Carolina Hurricanes for the past four seasons.
The Devils, who return to Albany after stocking the River Rats club with players for 13 seasons (1993-94 through 2005-06), moved their franchise to the Capital District after their affiliate spent the last four AHL campaigns in Lowell, Mass.
The new Albany franchise will be joined in the eight-team East Division by Empire state foes Adirondack, Syracuse, now Anaheim’s top affiliate, and Binghamton; Hershey, which recently won its second consecutive Calder Cup; Charlotte; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Norfolk.
With the move of the Devils to Albany, the Atlantic Division was trimmed to seven teams, which includes Springfield, now the top farm club of Columbus.
The Edmonton Oilers, who did house their prospects in Springfield, moved their franchise to Oklahoma City, which will compete in the Western Conference’s West Division.
Here are the new division alignments:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders)
Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers)
Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings)
Portland Pirates (Buffalo Sabres)
Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)
Springfield Falcons (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Worcester Sharks (Worcester Sharks)
East Division
Adirondack Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers)
Albany Devils (New Jersey Devils)
Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators)
Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes)
Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)
Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Syracuse Crunch (Anaheim Ducks)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
North Division
Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames)
Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)
Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal Canadiens)
Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado Avalanche)
Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks)
Rochester Americans (Florida Panthers)
Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)
West Division
Chicago Wolves (Atlanta Thrashers)
Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)
Oklahoma City Barons (Edmonton Oilers)
Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues)
Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)
San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix Coyotes)
Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

A Devil of a town once again

2010-06-10T17:57:00.007-04:00

It's official --- the New Jersey Devils are back in town.
The Devils announced they will move their American Hockey League franchise from Lowell, Mass. to Albany for the upcoming season.
New Jersey, which owns its AHL team, agreed to a five-year deal with the Times Union Center.
The arena hosted the Devils' farm team --- the Albany River Rats for 13 seasons (1993-94 to 2005-06).
The new team will be called the Albany Devils and will wear sweaters with the traditional colors of red, black and white --- with the new logo an 'A' complete with Devil horns and tail.
The 2010-11 campaign will be the 18th consecutive season of pro hockey in downtown Albany.
The River Rats franchise, which was sold by owner Walter Robb, has been relocated to Charlotte, N.C., after four seasons as the Carolina Hurricanes top affiliate, where it will become the Charlotte Checkers.

Madden reunited with Lord Stanley

2010-06-10T00:01:00.003-04:00

John Madden has reached the pinnacle of hockey again.
The 37-year-old center won his third Stanley Cup on Wednesday night as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-3 in overtime in Game 6 to claim their first Cup since 1961.
Madden, who spent two seasons with the Albany River Rats (1997-98 and 1998-99) won two Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils in 1999-2000 and 2003-04.
The University of Michigan product spent 10 seasons with New Jersey and joined Chicago this season, and posted 23 (10-13) points in 79 games and contributed a goal and an assist in 21 playoff games.

Leighton guides Flyers into Game 7

2010-05-13T23:56:00.004-04:00

Michael Leighton is shining in his first opportunity in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
And the former Albany River Rats goalie has seized the moment for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Stepping in for the injured Brian Boucher after not having played for two months because of injury, Leighton has helped energize the Flyers’ comeback bid in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Boston Bruins.
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette told Leighton: “You worked hard to get back to this. It’s your show now,” according to the Associated Press.
With Philadelphia trailing 3-1 in the series, Leighton got the call when Boucher left with a knee injury 4:31 into the second period of Game 5. A nine-year pro, Leighton stopped all 14 shots he faced in a 4-0 victory on Monday in his first Stanley Cup playoff appearance to preserve Boucher’s win.
Leighton started in Game 6 on Wednesday, making 30 saves in the Flyers’ 2-1 victory to force Game 7, which will be played tonight in Boston.
“When I had to go in the last game I didn’t have time to think about it,” Leighton told the Boston Globe. “Actually, I was more nervous (Wednesday night). It took me a few minutes to get rid of the butterflies and get my feet wet.”
Leighton was at the center of the classic, five overtime playoff game for the Albany River Rats against the Philadelphia Phantoms in 2008 — the longest in AHL history at 142 minutes, 58 seconds.
He made a stunning and team-record 98 saves, but was out dueled by Scott Munroe’s 65-save effort as the Phantoms won 3-2 in Game 5 of the East Division semifinal series in Albany.
Leighton, an AHL All-Star that season, went onto spend the 2000-09 campaign with the Carolina Hurricanes, faring 6-7-2 in 19 appearances, then only won one of seven appearances (1-4-0, 4.29 goals against average) to open this season.
This season after Leighton was sent down to Albany on loan; he was placed on re-entry waivers the next day on Dec. 12 by the Carolina Hurricanes and was claimed by Philadelphia.
The Flyers are sure glad they did.
He went on to post a 16-5-2 mark in 27 games with a 2.48 GAA, including a five-game winning streak, before he was sidelined in mid-March with a sprained ankle.
“This team’s been through a lot, and every time we get thrown something, we just take it in stride and continue to push,” Laviolette told NHL.com. “You know, they just seem to respond to any type of adverse circumstance, whether it's the season or schedule or injury or a goaltender (or a) circumstance like (being down) 0-3. Our guys continue to push back. They won’t go away.”
The Flyers, just the sixth team in NHL history to force a Game 7 after being down, 0-3, is looking to become just the third team to win a series after facing that deficit along with the 1975 New York Islanders and the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
“Down 3-0 is certainly not a great situation,” said Leighton, who will turn 29 on Wednesday. “But Lavy (Laviolette) said ‘Either you can give up or you can get back.’ We knew we had to take it one game at a time, but we wanted it.
“We knew we were a better team than losing four straight.”
Perhaps Philadelphia should have given Leighton a chance earlier in the postseason.

Devils clear another hurdle in return to Albany

2010-05-11T23:52:00.001-04:00

ALBANY — The New Jersey Devils are one step closer to returning its American Hockey League franchise to downtown Albany.
The Albany County Legislature approved improvements to be made to the Times Union Center, including a new video scoreboard and LED ribbon-board advertising along the lower rim of the upper deck of the arena.
These improvements were required by New Jersey in order to secure a deal with the TUC where it would move its AHL team from Lowell, Mass. to Albany.
The 17-year-old Albany River Rats franchise, which was sold by owner Walter Robb, is moving to Charlotte, N.C. to become the Charlotte Checkers for next season.
Albany housed the Devils’ top AHL affiliate for 13 years (1993-94 to 2005-06) and the Carolina Hurricanes farm team resided here for the past four seasons.
Other improvements to be made under the $1.6 million bond are: new lighting on the outside of the arena as well as new LED video boards on the basketball scoring and media tables. The bond will be paid back by SMG, which will pay the money back via its arena profits.

Bears finish off Rats in OT, 5-4

2010-04-29T22:08:00.004-04:00

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.

Bears, Rats tied 4-4 after regulation

2010-04-29T21:28:00.001-04:00

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 leads Hershey, 3-2 after two periods

2010-04-29T20:25:00.000-04:00

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.

Rats lead Bears, 2-1 after first period

2010-04-29T19:34:00.001-04:00

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.

Rats-Bears Game 4 Pre-Game

2010-04-29T19:21:00.001-04:00

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

Bears beat Rats in OT, take series 3-0 lead

2010-04-27T23:03:00.002-04:00

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.

Rats, Bears tied at 5-5 heading into OT

2010-04-27T20:29:00.002-04:00

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.

Bears rally to tie Rats, 3-3 through two periods

2010-04-27T20:29:00.000-04:00

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.

Rats lead 2-0 after first period in Game 3

2010-04-27T19:51:00.001-04:00

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.

Herauf, FitzGerald in Albany lineup for Game 3

2010-04-27T19:15:00.001-04:00

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

Bears shell Rats in third to win Game 2, 6-3

2010-04-25T20:13:00.004-04:00

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.

Albany, Hershey tied at 2-2 after two periods

2010-04-25T18:27:00.002-04:00

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.

Rats, Bears tied at 1-1 after first period

2010-04-25T17:35:00.001-04:00

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.

Chaput returns to Rats lineup for Game 2

2010-04-25T16:52:00.002-04:00

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

Bears rally past Rats to win in OT, 4-3

2010-04-24T22:32:00.000-04:00

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.

Rats, Bears tied 3-3, headed to overtime

2010-04-24T21:38:00.001-04:00

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.

Rats end power-play drought, tied 2-2 after two periods

2010-04-24T20:34:00.001-04:00

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.

Rats, Bears tied at 1-1 after first period

2010-04-24T19:42:00.001-04:00

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.

River Rats vs. Bears Game 1 Pre-Game

2010-04-24T18:47:00.001-04:00

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

Hershey wins, next up for Albany

2010-04-21T21:48:00.004-04:00

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

Boychuk scores game winner as Albany sweeps Wilkes-Barre

2010-04-19T22:05:00.000-04:00

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.

Rats, Penguins tied 2-2 after two periods

2010-04-19T20:36:00.000-04:00

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.

Penguins lead 1-0 after first period

2010-04-19T19:42:00.000-04:00

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.

Rats-Pens Game 4 Pre-Game

2010-04-19T18:56:00.000-04:00

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

Peters flourishing in first playoff series

2010-04-19T15:32:00.001-04:00

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.

Rats edge Penguins again, take command with 3-0 lead in series

2010-04-18T17:35:00.000-04:00

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.

Rats-Penguins Game 3 Pre-Game

2010-04-18T14:48:00.001-04:00

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

Rats' 'Dodge City' line leading the way

2010-04-17T19:57:00.002-04:00

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.”

Rats edge Pens, take 2-0 series lead

2010-04-16T23:51:00.000-04:00

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.

Rats-Penguins Game 2 Pre-Game

2010-04-16T18:48:00.002-04:00

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

Jordan signed by Carolina, assigned to Albany

2010-04-16T16:28:00.000-04:00

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.

River Rats' balance paying off

2010-04-15T21:18:00.000-04:00

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.

Dodge lifts Rats to win in final minute

2010-04-14T22:41:00.000-04:00

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.

Rats-Penguins Game 1 Pre-Game

2010-04-14T18:41:00.001-04:00

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

Harrison back for playoffs, Pogge returns from injury

2010-04-13T16:36:00.001-04:00

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.

Albany receives reinforcements for playoffs

2010-04-11T21:20:00.000-04:00

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.

Rats to face Penguins in playoffs

2010-04-11T20:40:00.001-04:00

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

Rats edge Phantoms in regular-season finale

2010-04-10T23:30:00.000-04:00

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.

Pens edge Rats to clinch berth

2010-04-09T22:13:00.002-04:00

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.

Ex-Rat Aucoin named AHL's MVP

2010-04-09T17:58:00.001-04:00

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.

Conboy back with Albany

2010-04-09T17:55:00.002-04:00

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.

Hurricanes call up Borer

2010-04-08T18:04:00.001-04:00

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.

Conboy recalled by Carolina

2010-04-08T18:02:00.000-04:00

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.

Gilbert joins AHL's 300 win club

2010-04-07T22:57:00.001-04:00

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.

Plenty of possibilities for River Rats' first-round opponent

2010-04-06T18:10:00.003-04:00

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

Lashoff recalled by Lightning again

2010-04-06T17:32:00.001-04:00

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.

Rats win to clinch second place in regular-season home finale

2010-04-04T00:12:00.002-04:00

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.

Rats lose to Norfolk, but clinch playoff berth

2010-04-03T00:07:00.001-04:00

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.

Dignard signed to ATO

2010-04-02T17:19:00.000-04:00

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.

Borer earns AHL sportsmanship award

2010-04-02T17:14:00.002-04:00

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.

Robb to be honored Saturday

2010-04-02T17:13:00.002-04:00

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.

Brian Lashoff back with Grand Rapids

2010-04-01T18:49:00.002-04:00

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.

Samson honored as first-team AHL all-star

2010-04-01T18:46:00.002-04:00

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.

AHL All-Rookie Team announced

2010-03-31T17:45:00.002-04:00

The American Hockey League announced its all-rookie team on Thursday and no Albany River Rats were included.
The team is comprised of Worcester goalie Alex Stalock (37-16-2, 2.63 goals against average, .908 save percentage), defensemen John Carlson (4 goals-35 assists-39 points, plus-37) of Hershey, P.K. Subban of Hamilton (18-34-52, plus-43); and forwards Logan Couture (20-33-53) of Worcester, Lars Eller (16-37-53) of Peoria and Tyler Ennis (23-42-65) of Portland.
Albany’s top rookie scorers are left wing Chris Terry (17-29-46, plus-11), defenseman Jamie McBain (7-33-40, plus-11), center Stefan Chaput (10-28-38, plus-10) and center Zach Boychuk (15-21-36, plus-1).

Binghamton edges Albany again

2010-03-21T20:06:00.000-04:00

The Binghamton Senators and the Albany River Rats are two teams headed in opposition directions.
Left wing Denis Hamel scored a goal and assisted on defenseman Geoff Kinrade's game winner in the third period as Binghamton edged Albany, 3-2 in an American Hockey League Sunday matinee at Times Union Center.
The fifth-place Senators won their third consecutive game to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive and in the process dealt the River Rats their third straight loss.
After carrying a four-game winning streak into Friday, Albany lost 8-2 at Hershey on Friday and 2-1 at Binghamton on Saturday before the Senators swept the home-and-home series.
Even with the loss, second-place Albany (38-27-3-5) remains six points ahead of third-place Norfolk and eight points in front of fourth-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, who were both idle.
After the Senators (31-32-5-3) seized a 2-1 lead on Hamel's goal 6:50 into the third period, center Mike Angelidis scored the tying goal on a shorthanded tally just 13 seconds into a Binghamton power play at 6:50.
But Kinrade responded with the decisive goal only 42 seconds later as a shot by Hamel deflected off a defender's stick and right to Kinrade at the left post at 8:16.
Chris Holt, who became only the 10th goaltender in AHL history to score a goal in a 4-2 win over Rochester on Sunday, made 24 saves to turn back the Rats.
Mike Morrison stopped 23 of 26 shots faced for Albany.
The Rats have seven games remaining in their regular season, with only two at home. Albany plays at rival Adirondack on Wednesday night at 7.

Cheechoo lifts Sens past Rats

2010-03-21T00:22:00.001-04:00

Jonathan Cheechoo’s shorthanded, unassisted goal in the second period proved to be the game winner as the Binghamton Senators edged the Albany River Rats, 2-1 on Saturday in an American Hockey League game at Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.
Senators leading-scorer Martin St. Pierre also scored unassisted for Binghamton (30-32-5-3). Left wing Oskar Osala the lone goal for Albany (38-26-3-5).
St. Pierre scored the first period’s only goal at 13:32, intercepting a cross-ice pass in the neutral zone and beating Albany goaltender Mike Morrison to the stick side on the ensuing breakaway.
Binghamton doubled its lead at 5:12 of the second period, when Morrison mishandled a dump-in behind the goal line and Cheechoo scored into the open net. Osala scored at 9:01 of the period, but the Rats would get no closer.
Goalie Chris Holt stopped 30 of 31 shots faced for Binghamton and Morrison finished with 29 stops for Albany.
The Rats and Senators square off again today in Albany at 3.

Hershey rolls past Albany

2010-03-20T00:11:00.004-04:00

The Hershey Bears continued their dominance of the Albany River Rats on Friday night.
River Rats defenseman Jonathan Paiement’s second goal of the night evened the score at 2-2 early in the second period, but Hershey scored the game’s next six goals in an 8-2 victory over Albany in an American Hockey League game at the Giant Center.
The team’s combined for 10 fighting majors and 124 penalty minutes, as league-leading Hershey (52-13-0-3) snapped both Albany’s four-game winning streak and its eight-game point streak.
Chris Bourque and Keith Aucoin each scored two goals for the Bears, which won its fifth consecutive game against the Rats and improved to 6-2-0-0 against Albany this season.
Alexandre Giroux and Boyd Kane each tallied a goal and an assist each to lead Hershey to its 24th straight home win.
Goalie Braden Holtby stopped 13 of 14 shots through the first two periods to earn the win.
Mike Morrison made 21 saves on 29 shots faced for Albany (38-25-3-5).
Earlier on Friday, the Carolina Hurricanes recalled defenseman Bryan Rodney from the Rats, Rodney's fifth recall of the season. In a separate move, Albany recalled defenseman Elgin Reid from the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.
After playing at Binghamton at 7:05 tonight, the Rats return to host Binghamton at 3 on Sunday afternoon.

Zalpe signs with 'Canes, to join Rats

2010-03-18T17:38:00.001-04:00

The Carolina Hurricanes they have agreed to terms with center/right wing Zac Dalpe to a three-year, entry-level contract.
At the NHL level, Dalpe will be paid $550,000 next season, $600,000 in 2011-12 and $700,000 in 2012-13, and at the American Hockey League level he will be paid $65,000 per year. He also receives a signing bonus of $262,500.
Dalpe will join the Albany River Rats on an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of this season.
The 20-year-old Dalpe, recently completed his sophomore season at Ohio State, where he led the Buckeyes in goals (21), points (45), and power-play goals (8), and ranked second in assists (24), while playing in all 39 of the team’s games. At the completion of Ohio State’s season, the Paris, Ontario native’s 21 goals ranked first among Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) skaters, and his 45 points ranked second in the conference.

Samson, Osala pace Rats past Sharks

2010-03-17T23:43:00.002-04:00

The Albany River Rats passed their first test this week against a division leader in the American Hockey League.
Right wing Jerome Samson registered a four-point night, including three assists, and left wing Oskar Osala scored two goals as the River Rats rolled past Atlantic Division-leading Worcester, 5-3 on Wednesday at Times Union Center.
Goalie Mike Morrison made a season-high 37 saves for Albany, which won its fourth consecutive game and halted the Sharks’ winning streak at four.
The River Rats (38-24-3-5) now lead third-place Norfolk by 10 points (84-74) in the race to secure second place in the East Division.
Next up for Albany is a Friday night game at East Division leader and rival Hershey.
Samson, who assisted on both of Osala’s goals, scored the go-ahead goal while on the power play at 19:28 of the second period for his team-leading 33rd tally.
Center Cedric McNicoll, left wing Drayson Bowman and Osala followed a goal each in the third period to put away Worcester (41-21-2-3).
Morrison made seven saves over the final 1:20 of play to secure the win for Albany.
Former Rats goalie Frank Doyle finished with 24 saves in taking the loss.

Report: Albany arena offers deal to Devils

2010-03-17T19:49:00.000-04:00

In the latest attempt to draw an American Hockey League franchise to Albany for next season, Times Union Center management has offered the New Jersey Devils a long-term contract to house their prospects in the downtown Albany arena, according to a local report.
Reportedly, TUC general manager Bob Belber has sent a 10-year contract to Devils team officials for New Jersey to reclocate its AHL franchise from Lowell, Mass. to Albany after this season.
Earlier in the week, negotiations between Belber and Portland Pirates management were mutually ended as TUC officials had sought to lure the Portland franchise and its affiliation with the Buffalo Sabres to Albany.
Albany is in its fourth and final year as an affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes as the River Rats franchise will be moved to Charlotte, N.C. for next season.
The New Jersey Devils served as the top affiliate of the River Rats in the franchise's first 13 years in Albany.
When Carolina moved its AHL affiliation from Lowell to Albany for the 2006-07 season, the Devils moved their AHL affiliate to Lowell the same year.
Belber couldn't reached for comment on Wednesday.

Rats sign Van Buskirk to PTO

2010-03-17T17:29:00.001-04:00

The Albany River Rats have signed rookie goalie Parker Van Buskirk to a professional tryout contract and will be available for Wednesday’s game against the Worcester Sharks.
The 21-year-old Van Buskirk, was acquired by the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League from the South Carolina Sting Rays on March 9 in exchange for forward Chris Capraro. A Windsor, Ontario native, Van Buskirk began his rookie season with the Utah Grizzlies and posted a 5-8-1 record with a 3.39 goals against average and a.881 save percentage, before being traded to South Carolina for future considerations. He made seven appearances with the Stingrays (1-3-2, 3.84).

McBain records first NHL point

2010-03-16T21:35:00.002-04:00

In his National Hockey League debut, rookie defenseman Jamie McBain notched his first NHL point with an assist for the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.
McBain, on his first NHL recall, assisted on Erik Cole’s power-play goal 13:53 into the second period in the Hurricanes’ 5-2 loss to Boston in Raleigh, N.C.
McBain, who ranks second on the Albany River Rats in scoring with 40 points and tops the team in assists (33), also registered a shot on goal against the Bruins.

McBain on first NHL recall

2010-03-16T18:23:00.001-04:00

Rookie defenseman Jamie McBain was recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes.
The recall is the first for McBain, who will be available for Tuesday night’s game against the Boston Bruins.
McBain, who will turn 22 on March 25, native leads all Albany River Rats defensemen and ranks second among the team in scoring this season with 40 points (7 goals-33 assists) in 68 games played. Listed at 6-2, 200 pounds, McBain ranks third on the River Rats in plus/minus (+13) and is currently ninth among AHL defensemen in points this season.

Rats complete perfect weekend

2010-03-14T17:30:00.000-04:00

ALBANY --- The Albany River Rats completed a perfect weekend on Sunday.
Defenseman Jamie McBain scored the game winner and goalie Mike Morrison made 27 saves as Albany downed Syracuse, 3-1 in an American Hockey League matinee.
The River Rats (37-24-3-5) made it a six-point weekend with three consecutive wins and also earned seven of a possible eight points from eight games this week. Second-place Albany now leads third-place Norfolk by eight points (82-74) in the East Division.
Rookie center Cedric McNicoll scored an unassisted goal in the first period for Albany at 10:27. After Syracuse defenseman Grant Clitsome followed with a power-play goal 3:02 into the second period, McBain followed with the decisive power-play goal at 8:31 on a blast from just inside the inside which eluded goalie Kevin Lalande, who was screened by Rats left wing Oskar Osala.
Right wing Matthew Pistilli completed the scoring by sweeping in a feed from behind the net from defenseman Jonathan Paiement at 3:13 of the third period.
Morrison won his third consecutive decision for Albany, which hosts Worcester on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Lalande finished with 27 stops for Syracuse (29-32-3-3).

Samson reassigned to Albany

2010-03-14T14:45:00.000-04:00

Right wing Jerome Samson's latest stay with Carolina proved to be a brief one.
Samson was reassigned by the Hurricanes to Albany on Sunday.
Summoned by Carolina on Friday for his second NHL recall, Samson played in a 4-0 loss to Phoenix on Saturday, logging 10:17 of ice time.
The third-year pro has recorded one assist in six games with the Hurricanes this season.
Samson leads Albany and is tied for third in the American Hockey League in goals (32) and is tied for seventh in the circuit with a team-leading 62 points.

Rodney lifts Rats past Pens in SO

2010-03-13T22:46:00.003-05:00

ALBANY — This time, the River Rats turned the tables on the Penguins in the shootout.
Left wing Drayson Bowman and Bryan Rodney each scored in the shootout to lift Albany past Wilkes-Barre, 5-4 on Saturday in an American Hockey League game before a turnout of 5,657 at Times Union Center.
Just three days before, the Penguins edged the River Rats in a shootout in a 4-3 decision in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.
In this meeting, after Tim Wallace scored the tying goal for the Penguins with 55 seconds remaining in regulation, Bowman scored in the third round of the shootout and Rodney tallied in the final round to edge out Wilkes-Barre 2-1 in the shootout to clinch the victory.
Left wing Jacob Micflikier scored two goals for the Rats and center Nick Dodge contributed a goal and an assist.
Goalie Mike Morrison made 29 saves to earn the win for Albany (36-24-3-5).
Morrison got the start a day after he was credited with the victory on Friday at Rochester in relief of goalie Justin Pogge after Pogge left the game with a lower-body injury.
Earlier in the day, right wing Jerome Samson was summoned by the Carolina Hurricanes for his second NHL recall.
John Curry finished with 15 saves for the Penguins (33-29-1-3).

Rats rally past Rochester

2010-03-13T00:30:00.001-05:00

ROCHESTER — The River Rats proved to be resilient on Friday night.
Left wing Oskar Osala scored twice and defenseman Bryan Rodney followed with the game-winning goal in the third period as Albany rallied past Rochester to record a 4-3 American Hockey League victory at Blue Cross Arena.
Rodney, who also registered an assist, scored the deciding goal while on the power play at 7:04 of the final period for Albany (35-24-3-5).
Goalie Mike Morrison made 21 saves for the River Rats in relief of starter Justin Pogge.
After Chris Taylor opened the scoring 5:39 into the game for Rochester (37-27-2-0), Pogge left with an injury at 10:14.
Drayson Bowman drew Albany even at 1-1 with a power-play goal at 15:36, but the Amerks followed with a power-play tally of their own on Jordan Henry’s goal at 17:28.
Osala, reassigned to the Rats by Carolina earlier in the day, scored 1:46 into the second period.
After Scott Hotham provided Rochester with a 3-2 lead at 13:31, but Osala struck again with an unassisted goal at 14:08 to pull Albany even.
McBain recorded a pair of assists for Albany, which wins the season series at 3-1-0-0.
Goalie Tyler Plante stopped 29 of 33 shots faced for the Americans. The Rats return to host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton today and Syracuse on Sunday, with both starts at 3.

Osala reassigned to Albany

2010-03-12T18:10:00.001-05:00

ALBANY — After a short stay with Carolina, left wing Oskar Osala has been reassigned to the Albany River Rats.
Osala made his debut with Hurricanes on Wednesday, taking eight shifts and recording 6:46 of ice time in Carolina’s 4-3 overtime loss at Washington.
The 22-year-old Osala defenseman Brian Pothier, a former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute standout and captain, were acquired by the Hurricanes in a trade with the Washington Capitals on March 3 for defenseman Joe Corvo.
Osala, who has recorded two assists in two games with the Rats, has totaled 31 (15-16) points in 55 games this season with Hershey and Albany.

Rats offering $10 game ticket deal

2010-03-12T17:57:00.001-05:00

ALBANY — The Albany River Rats announced the club will offer $10 tickets to any of their five remaining regular season home games to those in attendance at Saturday’s 3 p.m. game the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Interested fans can visit the Times Union Center ticket booth located on the Arena Concourse behind Section 115 from 2 p.m. until 30 minutes after the game. There is no limit on how many tickets can be purchased at this discounted price, making it a good opportunity for groups, birthdays, and family outings.
For more information, call the River Rats offices at 487-2244 or visit www.AlbanyRiverRats.com.

Rats' Clear Day roster announced

2010-03-11T21:16:00.002-05:00

ALBANY — The Albany River Rats announced their Clear Day roster, which is comprised of 20 skaters and two goaltenders.
According to American Hockey League by-laws, only those 22 players listed on a team’s Clear Day roster are eligible to compete in the remainder of the regular season and in the playoffs, unless emergency conditions arise as a result of recall, injury or suspension.
Teams may also add signed junior players or players on amateur tryout contracts after their respective junior or college seasons are complete.
The River Rats Clear Day roster includes:
Forwards: Mike Angelidis, Nicolas Blanchard, Drayson Bowman, Zach Boychuk, Stefan Chaput, Nick Dodge, Steven Goertzen, Brad Herauf, Jacob Micflikier, Oskar Osala, Jerome Samson, Chris Terry, Jiri Tlusty.
Defensemen: Brett Bellemore, Casey Borer, Tim Conboy, Zack FitzGerald, Jay Harrison, Jamie McBain, Bryan Rodney.Goalies: Justin Peters, Justin Pogge.

Sabres extend affiliation with Portland, yet Albany still in mix

2010-03-11T21:04:00.004-05:00

The drama over the potential of an American Hockey League team relocating to Albany for next season took yet another turn on Thursday.
The Buffalo Sabres announced they have extended their affiliation agreement with the Portland Pirates, nhl.com and theahl.com reported, but exactly where the AHL franchise will play next season remains uncertain.
Albany arena management maintains the city, which will lose the Albany River Rats when the franchise moves to Charlotte at the end of this season, remains in the mix of luring the Portland team to the Capital District.
“We’re looking at it as a good thing,” Times Union Center general manager Bob Belber said. “This doesn’t mean that they’re staying in Portland and it doesn’t mean they’re coming here. That decision still hasn’t been made.”
The Pirates franchise, which has been engaged in talks with Belber about the prospect of moving the team to Albany, is currently in the second year of its original deal with the Sabres.
The new extension is a long-term agreement between the two franchises, the websites reported.
“Lyman (Bullard, the Pirates chairman/governor) and I are thrilled to share this great news with our fans, our sponsors and the entire community, who have experienced firsthand, over the past two seasons, the quality and exciting style of Buffalo Sabres hockey at the AHL level at the Cumberland County Civic Center,” Pirates Managing Owner/CEO Brian Petrovek said in a statement. “Greater Portland has embraced a group of world class players, coaches and team staff who have been and continue to be outstanding professionals and people both on and off the ice.
“We’re looking forward to our future together with high hopes and expectations as we continue to do our part to help develop future Buffalo Sabres and compete for Calder Cup championships.”
While based on these comments, the Pirates franchise is apparently staying in Portland, but Belber says not so fast.
“No it’s not,” Belber said about whether the Pirates remaining in Portland is a done deal. “We’re still in negotiations with them and this process still has to be played all the way out.”
Belber confirmed there’s still another NHL team in the Northeast interested in relocating an AHL franchise to Albany. This team is likely either the New Jersey Devils, whose AHL affiliate is in Lowell, Mass., or the New York Rangers (Hartford).
“We do have a team that’s interested on the back burner,” Belber said. “I’m confident we can ultimately get a deal done with a team so we can continue to have pro hockey in Albany.”

Penguins nip Rats in SO

2010-03-10T22:12:00.001-05:00

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton continued its mastery of Albany on Wednesday night.
Right wing Nick Johnson scored the deciding goal in the shootout as the Penguins edged the River Rats, 4-3 on Wednesday in an American Hockey League game at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Johnson also contributed a goal and an assist in regulation for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which has now won five of the six meetings against Albany, including four consecutive wins against their East Division rival.
Right wing Jerome Samson picked up where he left off last weekend for the Rats by scoring a pair of power-play goals, including the tying tally with nine seconds left in regulation.
Center Mark Letestu and right wing Chris Conner each scored as the Penguins won the shootout, 3-2.
Left wing Drayson Bowman and defenseman Jamie McBain both scored in the shootout for Albany.
With the win, fourth-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (32-29-1-2) gained a point in the East Division standings and now trails second-place Albany (34-24-3-5) by nine points,
Goalie John Curry made 31 saves to earn the win for the Penguins.
Trailing 3-2 entering the third period, Samson drew Albany even at 19:51 on a goal set up by left wing Chris Terry, who scored earlier in the game.
Samson also opened the scoring with a power-play goal 11:20 into the game to provide the Rats with a 1-0 lead.
Samson scored two goals in Saturday’s 4-2 victory at Norfolk to reach the 30-goal plateau this season.
The Penguins responded with a power-play goal of their own as left wing Tim Wallace scored at 17:40.
Terry provided Albany with a 2-1 edge 8:35 into the second period, but WBS right wing Nick Johnson scored at 14:10 and center Dustin Jeffery followed with the go-ahead goal for the Penguins at 17:06.
Justin Pogge finished with 32 saves, including seven stops in both the third period and overtime to force overtime.
With his goal, Terry extended his point streak to five games, with four goals and two assists over this span.
The Rats play at Rochester on Friday night at 7:05 before returning to host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday and Springfield on Sunday, both 3 p.m. starts.

Portland's Dineen suspended

2010-03-10T16:38:00.002-05:00

Portland Pirates coach Kevin Dineen was suspended by the American Hockey League for one game.
Dineen was suspended for his actions on Saturday, as walked onto the ice to dispute referee Chris Cozzan decision to wave off a last-second goal by Portland which would have forced overtime against the Syracuse Crunch, the Portland Press Herald reported.
Dineen, who already missed Portland’s game versus Rochester on Sunday, is eligible to return effective immediately.

Lawson signed by Carolina, assigned to Rats

2010-03-10T16:17:00.002-05:00

The Carolina Hurricanes have signed defenseman Kyle Lawson to a two-year, entry-level contract and assigned him to the Albany River Rats.
He will join the River Rats for the remainder of this season in the American Hockey League on an amateur tryout agreement.
Lawson, 23, recently completed his senior season at Notre Dame, leading all defensemen and ranking third on the team in scoring with 22 (4-18) points in 38 games.
A native of Southfield, Ind., Lawson ranked fourth among CCHA defenseman in scoring with three goals and 15 assists in 28 conference games, including one game-winning goal and three power-play tallies.
Drafted by Carolina in the seventh round (198th) overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Lawson completed his collegiate career with 90 (17-73) in 161 games.
Lawson receives an $80,000 signing bonus and will be paid $500,000 on the NHL level and $50,000 on the AHL level in 2010-11 and $525,000 on the NHL level and $50,000 on the AHL level in 2011-12.

Hurricanes recall Osala

2010-03-10T16:15:00.000-05:00

The Carolina Hurricanes recalled left wing Oskar Osala from the Albany River Rats on Wednesday.
Osala was acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals last week which also sent former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute standout Brian Pothier to the Hurricanes.
The 22-year-old Osala, who registered a pair of assists in two games with the River Rats, totaled 29 (15-14) points in 53 games with American Hockey League-leading Hershey this season.
Osala will be available to play in Wednesday night’s game at Washington as Carolina winger Erik Cole is expected to miss the contest because of an illness.
A third-year-pro, Osala made his NHL debut last season and skated in two games with Washington.

Samson reaches 30-goal milestone in win

2010-03-06T21:58:00.000-05:00

Jerome Samson joined the Albany River Rats 30-goal club in style on Saturday night.
Samson scored twice, including the game-winning goal, and added an assist to spark Albany past Norfolk, 4-2 in an American Hockey League game at the Norfolk Scope.
Samson is the eighth River Rat to score at least 30 goals in a season. Pierre Dagenais, who accomplished this twice, is the last Albany player to reach the 30-goal plateau with 34 goals in the 2000-01 campaign and also scored 35 goals the previous season.
Jeff Williams owns the Rats franchise record for goals scored with 46 in the 1998-99 season.
With the victory, second-place Albany (34-24-3-4) moved three points ahead of third-place Norfolk (34-28-3-1) in the East Division.
With the Rats leading 2-1 through one period, Samson tallied his 30th goal of the season 1:55 into the second and assisted on Stefan Chaput’s goal at 5:21 for a 4-1 advantage.
Norfolk center Blair Jones scored at 14:01 of the third period, a goal set up by defenseman and East Greenbush native Matt Lashoff, but the Admirals wouldn’t get any closer.
Left wing Oskar Osala, acquired in a trade with Washington earlier in the week, recorded his first points with Albany with a pair of assists.
Goalie Justin Pogge, assigned to Albany after he was traded to Carolina by Anaheim this week, made 29 saves to record his first win with the Rats.
Dustin Tokarski stopped 24 of 28 shots faced for the Admirals.
In a penalty-free first period, Norfolk center Dana Tyrell struck first with a goal at 10:44.
Samson followed with his goal at 17:23 for Albany and left wing Drayson Bowman staked the Rats to a 2-1 advantage at 18:47.
NOTES — Albany leads the season series 5-0-1-1. … Samson has scored 13 goals over his past 15 games. … Terry has forged a four-game point (3-1) streak. … The Rats play at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday and at Rochester on Friday, before returning to host Wilkes-Barre/Scranton next Saturday and Syracuse next Sunday, both in 3 p.m. starts.

Norfolk trims Albany in SO

2010-03-05T22:19:00.000-05:00

The Norfolk Admirals made the playoff chase in the East Division a little closer on Friday night.
Four Admirals scored after overtime as Norfolk edged past Albany, 3-2 in a shootout in an American Hockey League game at the Norfolk Scope.
With the two points earned, Norfolk (34-27-3-1) moves within a point, 73-72, of second-place Albany (33-24-3-4) in the East Division standings.
The Admirals’ two wins in the season series have both come after regulation as the Rats slipped to 4-0-1-1 against Norfolk.
Trailing 2-1 entering the third period, rookie defenseman Jamie McBain scored an unassisted goal just 26 seconds in to draw the River Rats even.
McBain and left wing Chris Terry, who scored in the first period, converted for Albany in the third and fourth rounds of the shootout.
Justin Keller, Blair Jones, Matt Fornataro and Mitch Fadden each cashed in on their attempts for Norfolk, which won the shootout, 4-2.
Rookie goalie Jaroslav Janus made 28 saves to earn the win for the Admirals.
Goalie Justin Pogge, acquired in a trade by the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday, stopped 36 of 28 shots faced in his River Rats debut.
Terry opened the scoring with a goal 3:47 into the game.
Norfolk took the lead with two goals in the second period as right wing Adam Hall scored at 9:59 and left wing Justin Keller followed with a power-play goal at 16:07.
Albany went 0-for-6 on the power play while surrendering one man-advantage goal.
Right wing Milan Gajic, recalled earlier in the day from Florida of the ECHL with the two-game suspensions of forwards Mike Angelidis and Brad Herauf, played for Albany and finished as a plus-one
Admirals D and East Greenbush native Matt Lashoff had two shots on goal.
The Rats wrap up their two-game series at Norfolk at 7:15 tonight and next play at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday.

'Canes assign trio of new acquisitions to Albany

2010-03-04T18:13:00.000-05:00

Left wing Oskar Osala, goaltender Justin Pogge and rookie center Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll, each acquired by the Carolina Hurricanes this week, have been assigned to the Albany River Rats.
The Hurricanes also dealt defenseman Joe Corvo to the Washington Capitals to acquire Osala and defenseman and former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute standout Brian Pothier.
The 22-year-old Osala has totaled 29 points, including 15 goals, in 53 games this season with the AHL-leading Hershey Bears. Originally the fourth-round selection (97th overall) of the Washington Capitals in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Osala is in his second pro season in North America.
Pogge, 23, was traded to the Hurricanes by the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Aaron Ward along with a 2010 or 2011 six-round draft pick
Pogge, the Toronto Maple Leafs third-round selection (90th overall) in the 2004 Entry Draft, was traded from Toronto to Anaheim last Oct. 9. He posted a 12-7-3 record with a 2.57 goals against average in 23 games this season with San Antonio of the American Hockey League.
Carolina also traded veteran forward Stephane Yelle and River Rats forward Harrison Reed to the Colorado Avalanche for Lablond-McNicholl and a 2010 sixth-round draft pick.
Lablond-McNicoll, 21, has registered 13 (5-8) points in 45 games with Lake Erie of the AHL this season.

AHL suspends Angelidis, Herauf

2010-03-02T20:16:00.002-05:00

The American Hockey League announced on Tuesday that center Mike Angelidis and left wing Brad Herauf of the Albany River Rats and defenseman Matt Generous and center Travis Turnbull of the Portland Pirates have been suspended for two games each as a result of their altercations at the conclusion of the Pirates’ 4-2 victory on Sunday in Portland.
In addition, all four players have been fined an undisclosed amount.
Angelidis and Herauf will miss Albany’s games on Friday and Saturday, both at Norfolk.
Generous and Turnbull will miss Portland’s games at Bridgeport and at Syracuse on Friday and Saturday.

Rats early risers against Senators

2010-03-02T19:02:00.001-05:00

The River Rats were truly early risers on Tuesday morning.
Albany scored three unanswered goals in the first period en route to a 6-1 rout of East Division foe Binghamton before a crowd of 5,032, with mostly school groups from throughout the region attending the contest.
In the first morning game at home in the 17-year history of the franchise, the River Rats excelled in the 11 a.m. start.
Albany’s top-scoring line of Jerome Samson, Stephan Chaput and Zach Boychuk combined for 10 points, including four goals.
The French Connection line had a hand in four of the Rats’ goals — with Samson totaling four (1 goal-3 assists) points and Chaput (2-1) and Boychuk (1-2) registering three points each.
The Rats scored three goals on the first 10 shots taken against goalie Andy Chiodo.
Chaput set up Samson’s team-leading 28th goal 1:38 into the game, Chaput scored a power-play goal at 14:11 and center Nick Dodge followed with a goal at 16:50 as Albany built a 3-0 advantage.
Ryan Keller scored a power-play goal 49 seconds into the second period to draw the Senators within two goals, but Chaput scored again at 10:23 on a tally set up by Samson — who extended his team season-high point streak to eight games (with 7 goals and 6 assists) — and Boychuk followed with a power-play goal at 18:06.
Left wing Chris Terry added an unassisted goal 4:55 into the third period.
Goalie Mike Morrison made 32 saves to record his first win with Albany (33-24-3-3), which moved into sole possession of first place in the East Division, two points ahead of Norfolk.
The Rats play at Norfolk both on Friday and Saturday night at 7. Only six of Albany’s 17 remaining games are at home, with the Rats next hosting a game a week from Saturday against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Portland holds off River Rats

2010-02-28T23:00:00.000-05:00

Foiling a comeback bid, the Portland Pirates got even with the Albany River Rats on Sunday.
Two days after losing at home to the River Rats, Portland rode left wing Derek Whitmore’s two goals to defeat Albany, 4-2 in an American Hockey League game at Cumberland County Civic Center.
On Friday night, the Rats downed the Pirates by the identical score. This time, Atlantic Division-leader Portland (35-18-5-3) scored the game’s first three goals in the second period to take control and then held off Albany (32-24-3-3) in the third.
After right wing Kyle Rank scored 2:55 into the middle period, left wing Brad Larsen followed with a goal at 5:06. Whitmore scored a power-play goal at 18:44 to build a 3-0 advantage.
Right wing Jerome Samson sparked Albany’s comeback bid with his team-leading 27th goal 31 seconds into the third period and Chris Terry tallied at 13:44 to pull the Rats within 3-2. Whitmore followed with a goal at 15:22 for the final margin.
Goalie J.P. Lamoureux made 28 saves to earn the win for Portland, which split the season series with Albany at 2-2-0-0.
Mike Morrison, who got the start after Justin Peters was recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, stopped 18 of 22 shots faced for Albany.
The Rats return to host the Binghamton Senators on Tuesday at 11 a.m. in Albany’s first morning AHL game.

Albany turns on the power against Manchester

2010-02-27T21:54:00.002-05:00

The Albany River Rats turned on the power against the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday night.
The River Rats scored three power-play goals, including two within a span of 13 seconds in the third period and goalie Justin Peters made 26 saves as Albany downed Manchester, 5-2 in an American Hockey League game at Verizon Wireless Arena.
Left wing Chris Terry and defenseman Bryan Rodney each registered three assists for Albany (32-23-3-3), which has won both games on its road trip.
After Manchester (33-22-2-5) drew even at two on right wing Geoff Walker’s goal at 4:48 of the third period, the Rats struck for a pair of man-advantage goals to take control.
Terry set up left wing Drayson Bowman’s goal at 8:40 and still on the power play, Zach Boychuk scored at 8:53 to stake Albany to a 4-2 advantage.
Left wing Nicolas Blanchard added an empty-net goal at 19:57.
The Rats scored three power-play goals on six opportunities, while only allowing one man-advantage goal by Manchester from six chances.
Albany seized a 2-0 lead in the first period as center Nick Dodge scored 13:16 into the game and left wing Jacob Micflikier followed with a power-play goal at 19:46.
Terry and Rodney assisted on both goals in the opening period.
Monarchs defenseman David Kolomatis trimmed Albany’s lead to 2-1 with a power-play goal at 17:46 of the second period.
Goalie Jeff Zatkoff made 30 saves for Manchester.
Albany, which won 4-2 at Portland on Friday night, returns to play in Portland again today at 4.
The Rats return home to host the Binghamton Senators on Tuesday at 11 a.m. — Albany’s first ever morning AHL game.

Herauf lifts Rats past Pirates

2010-02-26T23:36:00.000-05:00

The River Rats turned to a new source of scoring on Friday night.
Brad Herauf broke a 2-2 tie midway through the third period and Chris Terry added an empty-net goal to spark Albany to a 4-2 triumph over the Portland Pirates on Friday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
The game winner was just the fourth goal of the season for Herauf, a regular on the Rats’ checking line.
Drayson Bowman and Matthew Pistilli also scored for the River Rats (31-23-3-3) and Jacob Micflikier chipped in with two assists as Albany (31-23-3-3) snapped Portland’s eight-game home winning streak.
Goalie Justin Peters made 26 saves to earn the win. Jhonas Enroth stopped 22 of 235 shots faced for Portland (33-18-5-3).
The River Rats return to action tonight in Manchester at 7 and returns to play at Portland again on Sunday.

Samson reassigned to Carolina

2010-02-20T21:21:00.006-05:00

Right wing Jerome Samson's latest stay with Carolina proved to be a short one.
Samson was reassigned by the Hurricanes to Albany on Sunday.
Summoned by Carolina on Friday for his second NHL recall, Samson played in a 4-0 loss to Phoenix on Saturday, logging 10:17 of ice time.
The third-year pro has recorded one assist in six games with the Hurricanes this season.
Samson leads Albany and is tied for third in the American Hockey League in goals (32) and is tied for seventh in the circuit with a team-leading 62 points.

Samson recalled by Carolina

2010-02-20T21:21:00.005-05:00

Right wing Jerome Samson was recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes from the Albany River Rats on Saturday.
This is the second NHL recall for the 22-year-old Samson, who recorded one point in five games with Carolina, including an assist in his NHL debut with Carolina on Jan. 7 at Nashville.
Samson ranks third in the American Hockey League in goals (32) and seventh in points with 62.
The third-year pro will be available for tonight's game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Carolina.

Samson recalled by Carolina

2010-02-20T21:21:00.004-05:00

River Rats edge Phantoms to clinch 'Cup'

2010-02-20T21:21:00.003-05:00

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.

Streaking Portland steals one from Rats

2010-02-20T00:03:00.000-05:00

The River Rats found an unusual way to lose on Friday night.
The Portland Pirates rallied with two unassisted goals in the third period, with the deciding goal coming in the final two minutes of regulation as defenseman Joe DiPenta scored from his own blue line to down Albany, 3-2 to stretch their winning streak in the American Hockey League to 10 games.
The Pirates overcame a pair of one-goal deficits, including the tying goal 2:17 into the third period as left wing Brad Larsen was credited with the tally after the puck was knocked in by Albany center Stefan Chaput.
Events turned even more bizarre as with Portland defenseman Mike Weber off for boarding, Albany goalie Justin Peters ranged out of his crease and fired the puck up ice and off the boards.
DiPenta collected the puck in and fired from the Pirates blue line — and with Peters scrambling to return to his net, the puck carried into the open goal for the game winner with 1:21 left.
Goalie Jhonas Enroth made 28 saves to record his ninth consecutive win for Portland (31-16-5-2). Peters finished with 25 saves.
Nicolas Blanchard and Jerome Samson scored for Albany (29-22-3-3), with Samson tallying at 9:41 to provide the Rats with a 2-1 advantage with his team-leading and career season-best 23rd goal.
The Rats lost left wing Jiri Tlusty to injury as he drew a kneeing penalty committed by defenseman T.J. Brennan 2:28 into the second period and did not return.
Albany hosts Adirondack at 5 today and completes its weekend at Hershey on Sunday, also at 5.

Defense sparks Rats past Norfolk

2010-02-15T23:05:00.000-05:00

ALBANY — In a meeting of two defense-oriented teams, the Albany River Rats got defensive against Norfolk on Monday.
The River Rats held the Admirals to 23 shots, defenseman Bryan Rodney scored the game winner midway though the third period and rookie defender Jamie McBain assisted on both goals as Albany trimmed Norfolk, 2-1 in a meeting of East Division foes in the American Hockey League.
Goalie Justin Peters made 22 saves to earn the win after he was reassigned to the Rats by Carolina. The fourth-year netminder won both of his first two NHL career starts in his last recall, including a 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.
After Norfolk seized a 1-0 lead on Mark Parrish’s goal 4:16 into the second period, rookie left wing Drayson Bowman swept in a rebound of a McBain drive from the left point to draw Albany even at one at 7:43.
McBain also assisted on the deciding goal as left wing Jiri Tlusty sent a cross-ice pass to Rodney, who beat rookie goalie Dustin Tokarski (29 saves) with a one-timer at 9:11 of the third period for the second-place Rats (29-20-3-3), who expanded their lead over third-place Norfolk (27-25-3-1) in the division to six (64-58).
Albany continues its stretch of five games in seven days with a Wednesday night game at Binghamton (7:05 p.m.) and returns home to host Portland on Friday at 7 p.m. and Adirondack on Saturday at 5 p.m. before concluding the week at Hershey on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Carolina sends down trio to Rats

2010-02-14T15:49:00.000-05:00

ALBANY — Goalie Justin Peters, center Zach Boychuk and right wing Steven Goertzen have been reassigned to the Albany River Rats by the Carolina Hurricanes.
With the Olympic break starting Monday and running through Sunday, Oct. 28, all three players were sent down to Albany.
Peters won both of his starts for the Hurricanes over the course of a week, including his NHL debut — a 34-save effort in a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday, Feb. 7— and made 23 saves in Carolina’s 5-2 win over New Jersey on Saturday night.
Boychuk, a rookie forward, scored his first NHL goal on Saturday and has posted four (1-3) points in 12 games with the Hurricanes this season.
In his first NHL recall with Carolina, Goertzen appeared in seven games and averaged 7:44 of ice time.

Peters wins again for Carolina, Boychuk scores first NHL goal

2010-02-14T00:22:00.003-05:00

Justin Peters continues to enjoy his stay with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The goalie made 23 saves to earn his second NHL win in as many starts in Carolina’s 5-2 victory over New Jersey on Saturday night.
Peters received offensive support from a trio of former River Rats, as rookie center Zach Boychuk scored his first NHL goal 16:47 into the game, with right wing Brandon Sutter and defenseman Brett Carson assisting on the goal.
Peters, a four-year pro, has allowed three goals in two games with Carolina and sports a 1.51 goals against average with .950 save percentage.
The 20-year-old Boychuk, on his fifth NHL recall after he was summoned by the Hurricanes on Friday, now has tallied four (1-3) points 12 games with Carolina this season.