Next Up For River Rats, The Hershey Bears
by Bob Wage on Apr 22, 2010 3:17 PM EDT
32 comments
The Albany River Rats swept through the first round of the AHL playoffs against the Wilkes-Barre Penguins but will now face a much more formidable opponent in the second round. The next foe will be none other than last year's Calder Cup Champions, the Hershey Bears.
The Bears finished this season at the top of the East Division, 29 points ahead of second place Albany. The team's 123 points were the highest in the entire AHL. Of course the Rats roster was constantly being raided by their ailing brethren in Carolina. Now that Albany has a full compliment of quality players, this should be a whale of a matchup.
On the other side of the coin the Washington Caps, the affiliate team for Hershey, recalled their top defenseman John Carlson for the playoffs. But the Bears still have plenty of fire power to work with.
Ex-Hurricanes property, Keith Aucoin led the Bears with 106 points this past season. Alexandre Giroux was next with 50 goals and 103 points. Giroux has 9 points in 5 games so far in the playoffs.
Jamie McBain is leading the River Rats postseason scoring so far with 4 goals and 4 points. Nick Dodge scored 3 goals and also has 4 points. Leading regular season scorer, Jerome Samson has 2 goals so far. Samson had 37 goals and 78 points in 74 games during the regular season.
The wild card in this series could be Oskar Osala, the ex-Bear who was traded by Washington to Carolina in the Joe Corvo deadline deal. Osala said that he hoped for a postseason matchup against his former teammates, and now he has his wish. We will see what he does with it.
The goalie matchup will be Justin Peters for Albany, (4-0, GAA 2.25 SV% .927), against Michal Neuvirth for Hershey, ( 3-0, GAA 1.67, SV% .924).
This should be a great series and we will provide as much coverage as we can. The schedule is as follows:
Game 1 – Sat., Apr. 24 – Albany at Hershey, 7:00
Game 2 – Sun., Apr. 25 – Albany at Hershey, 5:00
Game 3 – Tue., Apr. 27 – Hershey at Albany, 7:00
Game 4 – Thu., Apr. 29 – Hershey at Albany, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 1 – Albany at Hershey, 7:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 3 – Hershey at Albany, 7:00
*Game 7 – Wed., May 5 – Albany at Hershey, 7:00
(* if necessary)
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All I know is
That if the rats don’t come out each and every shift of every gamelike they were shot out of a canon and keep the bears off balance,and smother them like a wet blanket, out hustle and out muscle the bears…then it could be a short series…several of the rats do know how to stay one step ahead of the D squad of the bears…so and IF the rats try a carolina style of coming out slow…then it will all over but the crying…and i say that based on the stats for the last 2 years the rats had against the bears…Hershey can be beaten…but you have to want that more than life it’s self and you have to play like it …treat each game like it’s a win of go home type of thing…and it is for the CUP !! but this fan will sit and listen and hope and pray that the rats will do all they can do..and in the end…win 4 games and move on…and NOT lose 4 games and go play pack up and move …have a good & safe evening everyone
" Chadness" is contagious ! Go Canes !!
I was really hoping the Rats would get to play Norfolk just so I could get to a game. Should be a good test taking on the best competition in the AHL.
I just wish JR would have given up Ray Whitney for Lent.
No question but that the Rats have brought in the heavy artillery with all the Canes there now. Add in Barrasso and Francis.
I did a look at the game sheets of the last 3 games between these 2 teams. May have overlooked some, but you get the idea:
3/19 at Hershey, lost 8-2. (the game with so many fights and 77 PIM for the Rats, 57 for the Bears)
Missing: Peters, McBain, Conboy, Harrison, Rodney (that’s #1 Goalie + 4 D), Boychuk, Tlusty, Dalpe
2/21 at Hershey, lost 5-3. (Oly break)
Missing: Tlusty, Conboy, Dalpe, Osala (who played for Bears)
2/12 at Albany, lost 5-2.
Missing Harrison, Peters, Dalpe, Osala (who played for Bears)
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
esp if we carpool
"The increase in pain is way beyond what you would expect a person to play with," said coach Paul Maurice. "Unfortunately it’s even beyond what Tim Gleason can play with, because he can play with just about anything."
I see 7 hours from Chapel Hill. If I could, I would so be there. Those 2 back-to-backs this weekend are pretty enticing. And imagine how the Rats who know the Caniacs would feel to see a small but vocal group in the enemy’s barn.
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by hockeymomof2 on Apr 23, 2010 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I can’t do this weekend, just got home from a week out of town, and have some obligations already for this weekend.
BUT… IF this goes to a game five, I’d seriously consider the game on 5/1.
Phoblographer and Finn Aficionado
SISU
Nice
I lived outside Hershey before moving to the Raleigh area. Bears games were always fun. Would be cool to go back to see them play the Rats!
At last, hello.
I’ve been spying religiously on you all for the past year, avoiding posting in a futile attempt to limit my obsession. I’m done holding my tongue.
Home is in Raleigh but I’m currently in school in Pennsylvania and just bought tickets to Game 2 in Hershey. I plan to do my best LTD impression and take some photos for you.
This is one of my favorite places on the web and I’m excited to start contributing to it.
Welcome anafternoon. Thrilled to know the Canes will have some friends in Hershey. And yes – pictures are very much appreciated around here. Let us know if you have any problem figuring out how to post or upload links etc.
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by hockeymomof2 on Apr 23, 2010 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Greetings anafternoon. Don’t be a stranger and post more often!
Can’t wait to see your photos from the game.
"The increase in pain is way beyond what you would expect a person to play with," said coach Paul Maurice. "Unfortunately it’s even beyond what Tim Gleason can play with, because he can play with just about anything."
Welcome! Glad to have you on board! By now you probably now that while we’re a little eccentric, we’re a whole heck of a lot of fun. :)
Enjoy the game and I can’t wait to see your pictures!
"What Carolina really has going for them is Brandon Sutter. When that kid first showed up, he looked like a skinny little thing that wouldn’t last two weeks. But he’s turned into a real star."
Eureka!
Finally found something from the Rats before they got on the bus to Hershey this afternoon.
Comments from Peters, Rodney, Daniels and McBadass/Cutie. You’d think if McBadass could handle the Pens and Caps without looking outmatched, Aucoin and Giroux wouldn’t that much more difficult, right?
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
“Page not found” when clicking on your link
"The increase in pain is way beyond what you would expect a person to play with," said coach Paul Maurice. "Unfortunately it’s even beyond what Tim Gleason can play with, because he can play with just about anything."
Try this one (I think they archive them strangely)
The best place to start the morning is The Infestation – he links around 6am every morning. Afternoon updates are hard to find.
Olympian Tim Gleason in Vancouver: "I don’t care what anybody says, to watch an exciting hockey game, there’s nothing like it."
by hockeymomof2 on Apr 24, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
6am?!?! I’m just getting into RIM sleep. hehe
"The increase in pain is way beyond what you would expect a person to play with," said coach Paul Maurice. "Unfortunately it’s even beyond what Tim Gleason can play with, because he can play with just about anything."
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