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River Rats Blank Syracuse 3-0

September 28, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


TROY, NY - The Albany River Rats opened their 2007 preseason campaign with a resounding 3-0 shutout over the Syracuse Crunch Friday night at Houston Field House.

Neither team could crack the armor of either starting goaltender Kevin Nastiuk (Albany) or Dan LaCosta (Syracuse) in the opening period. The Crunch were whistled for four consecutive minor penalties, even giving the River Rats 15 seconds of a 5-on-3 power play, but the home side failed to score. Syracuse had the first and last power play of the first period, but they too could not find the net.

The River Rats got down to business in the second period. 20 seconds after Yannick Tifu was called for holding, rookie defenseman Brett Peterson knocked in a loose puck, scoring Albany's first goal of the 2007 preseason; assisted by Noah Babin and Pat Dwyer at 3:05.

Syracuse tried the level the score with several power plays in the middle frame, including 16 seconds of a 2-man advantage halfway through the second period, but due to some solid Albany penalty killing the Crunch failed to convert. As promised, River Rats Head Coach Tom Rowe replaced Nastiuk with Justin Peters at the 10-minute mark of the period.

Newcomer Jamie Johnson doubled the River Rats lead as he banged the puck into an open net after a beautiful post-to-post feed from Jerome Samson (ZHAIR-ohm SAHM-suhn) at 13:19. Samson completed the assist during a delayed penalty call, after he had shrugged off a hook from a Syracuse defender. Before they could even announce Johnson's goal on the public address system, Samson ignited the crowd as he skated down the right wing and beat LaCosta to the near post with a blazing wrist shot for Albany's third goal of the game. The goal, assisted by Johnson, came at 13:35, just 16 seconds after Johnson's goal.

Opening the third period River Rats goaltender Justin Peters made a highlight-reel save a mere 19 seconds into the third period. Syracuse intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and raced into the Albany zone on a two-on-one shorthanded counter-attack. Peters split the pads, going from post-to-post in spectacular fashion, to keep the Crunch off the scoreboard.

Kevin Nastiuk earned the win in goal for Albany (1-0 in preseason); making 19 saves on 19 shots in the first 29:49 of the game. Justin Peters finish the remaining 30:11 in goal for the River Rats, stopping all nine shots he faced. Dan LaCosta took the loss for Syracuse, turning aside 30-of-33 shots. Albany finished the game 1-for-10 on the power play and out-shot Syracuse 33-to-28. The Crunch were 0-for-7 with the man advantage.

Albany travels to Syracuse on Saturday, September 29th for a 7:30 pm exhibition rematch with the Crunch at the War Memorial at Oncenter.

Earlier in the day the Carolina Hurricanes, Albany's NHL affiliate, reassigned defenseman Casey Borer and Brett Carson to the River Rats.

The River Rats begin their 15th anniversary AHL campaign on the road against the Binghamton Senators on Saturday October 6, 2007 at 7:05 p.m. The primary affiliate of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes will play their home opener at the Times Union Center against the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday October 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Full and partial season tickets packages for the 2007-08 River Rats season are on sale now. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.

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