Albany enters Saturday night's game winners in nine of its last 12 road tilts (9-3-0-0). The River Rats began the year 1-6-1-1 away from Times Union Center. Jerome Samson is the Rats' points leader with 16 goals and 37 points in 45 games. He has notched at least a point in eight of his last 10 games (5-5-10).
TEAM RECORDS
(1st place in East Division, 1st place in Eastern Conference)
Albany: 26-16-3-2, 57 points
(2nd place in East Division, 5th place in Eastern Conference)
HOW THE BEARS AND RATS MATCH UP
2009-2010 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey: 2-2-0-0
Albany: 2-2-0-0
2008-2009 HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
Hershey: 4-2-0-0
Albany: 2-2-1-1
THE LAST FIVE YEARS
Hershey: 21-8-0-1
Albany: 9-18-2-1
THE 2009-2010 SEASON SERIES
Oct. 31: Albany @ Hershey-- BEARS 4, Rats 1
Dec. 4: Hershey @ Albany-- Bears 1, RATS 3
Dec. 11: Hershey @ Albany-- Bears 0, RATS 3
Jan. 15: Hershey @ Albany-- BEARS 10, Rats 4
The Bears scored 10 goals in their last outing with Albany on Jan. 15 but surrendered three third period goals to the River Rats, the most in a single period this season. Alexandre Giroux recorded a five-point effort in that contest. The Rats are responsible for dealing Hershey its longest losing streak on the road this season--two games at Times Union Center on Dec. 4 and Dec. 11. The Dec. 11 loss also marks the last time the Chocolate and White was shut out, courtesy of Justin Peters.
BEARS BY THE NUMBERS
ON THE OFFENSIVE
Keith Aucoin and Alexandre Giroux both carry AHL-leading 14-game scoring streaks into tonight and have combined for a total of 58 points over that span. Giroux and Andrew Gordon each show five points against the River Rats this season (3-2-5), in two games and four games, respectively. With two assists last night, Chris Bourque shows points in his last seven games (5-10-15). Oskar Osala has scored goals in three straight games. Aucoin's seven game-winning goals this season rank him second in the AHL. As a team, the Bears possess far and away the most goals for in the league--197--but by allowing six goals to the Baby Pens last night, they now rank third in the AHL in goals against--108 (behind the Texas Stars, with 105, and the Hamilton Bulldogs, with 108 in 48 games). Hershey averages 4.3 goals per game.
A STRONG CASE FOR THE DEFENSE
Bears captain Bryan Helmer registered his 500th career point last night and became just the second defenseman in AHL history to achieve this feat (the other was John Slaney). Helmer shows 118 goals and 382 assists for 500 points in 950 career AHL games. Freshman defenseman John Carlson ranks third in assists among rookies and second among all defensemen with 26 and second in rookie plus/minus with +23. Patrick McNeill potted the game winner in last night's 8-6 defeat of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, his fifth goal of the season.
SPECIAL TEAMS
With two power play goals last night, the Chocolate and White now boast a 21.8% conversion rate on the man advantage this season, the third best power play in the AHL. The penalty kill has had a league-leading 90.7% success rate, with 12 shorthanded goals for the Bears. Boyd Kane leads the league in shorthanded goals this season with four, while Steve Pinizzotto sits tied for fourth with three.
HERSHEY'S RECORD
In January: 11-1-0-0
On Saturdays: 14-1-0-2
At home: 19-3-0-2
Puck drop between the Bears and River Rats is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. To those coming out tonight: don't forget to help a fellow Bears fan by donating to the Jason Hartle Mobility Fund at the Booster Club table behind Section 117. If you are unable to make the game, John Walton's live broadcast will be available on WQIC 100.1 FM or at sportsjuice.com, with airtime at 6:40 p.m.
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