Albany River Rats Notebook

This week's storylines:

* The River Rats have won four of their last six games and have earned 11 of apossible 16 standings points in their past eight games, going 5-2-1-0 in thatstretch. They begin the week in fifth place in the East Division with 17 points(8-8-1-0, .500), two points in back of fourth-place Bridgeport.

* The River Rats are 5-3-1-0 (.611) through their first nine games in November,including 4-1-0-0 away from home. Albany's five wins this month are the most inNovember by the club since 2003-04, when they won five games. The River Rats havenot finished with a record above .500 in November since 1999-00, when they went6-3-2-0.

* The River Rats host the Lowell Devils for the first time this season at PepsiArena on Saturday at 7 p.m. Lowell currently has 15 players on its roster thatplayed for the River Rats last season during their 13th and final season as the topaffiliate for the New Jersey Devils: Nicklas Bergfors, David Clarkson, PatrickDavis, Frank Doyle, Adrian Foster, Mark Fraser, Stephen Gionta, Dan McGillis, ChrisMinard, Ryan (J.) Murphy, Tuomas Pihlman, Jason Ryznar, Barry Tallackson, AaronVoros and Petr Vrana. In addition, former River Rats Kevin Dean and Chris Terreriserve as assistant coaches with Lowell. The River Rats defeated the Devils, 5-3,October 7 at Paul E. Tsongas Arena in the first meeting of the season.

* Center Keith Aucoin has recorded points in nine of his last 10 games (six goals,12 assists), including six multiple-point efforts. He enters the week tied forfirst in the AHL in game-winning goals (three), tied for 10th in assists (12) andtied for 15th in points (18).

* Left wing Brad Isbister is the River Rats nomination for CCM Vector/AHL Player ofthe Week for the period ending November 19, 2006. Isbister had a goal on a team-higheight shots November 17 against Syracuse and two assists November 19 againstPhiladelphia.

* Defenseman Johnny Boychuk has compiled a plus-7 rating over his last eight games. He is plus-2 on the season after being minus-5 after 10 games.

* Goaltender Tyler Weiman is 4-1-0 with a 2.19 GAA and .930 SPCT in his last sixgames (five starts), stopping 147 of the 158 shots he has faced. He has beenbetween the pipes for all five of the River Rats road wins.

THIS WEEK'S GAME PREVIEWS:

Wednesday, November 22 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Wachovia Arena, 7:05 p.m.

The River Rats and Penguins meet for the third time this season with this Albany'ssecond visit to Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. The Rats are 0-2-0-0 against thePenguins this season, falling 6-3 October 20 at Pepsi Arena and 3-0 October 21 inWilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Penguins enter the week 12-3-1-0 and in second place inthe East Division, three points in back of first-place Norfolk. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 25 points trail only Rochester (28) and Norfolk (26) in theoverall league standings. The Penguins rank first in the AHL on the power play(24.3%) and fifth in penalty killing (87.9%). Center Erik Christensen is tied forfourth in the AHL in goals (12) and fifth in points (24). Center Rob Schremp(4-9-13) was a first-round pick by Edmonton in 2004. Andrew Penner (7-2-0, 2.62 GAA,.899 SPCT) and Jeff Deslauries (5-2-0, 2.68 GAA, .897 SPCT) man the nets. NHLAffiliate: Pittsburgh Penguins.

Friday, November 24 at Philadelphia Phantoms, Wachovia Spectrum, 7:05 p.m.

The River Rats and Phantoms meet for the third time this month and for the secondtime in Philadelphia. The River Rats beat the Phantoms 6-2 November 3 at theWachovia Center and 4-1 November 18 at Pepsi Arena in the previous two match-ups. Philadelphia has lost its last three games after winning four in a row November4-11. Right wing Stefan Ruzicka (7-6-13) and center Mark Cullen (5-8-13) lead thePhantoms in scoring. Scott Munroe (2-4-0, 3.24 GAA, .897 SPCT) and Martin Houle(3-4-0, 4.24 GAA, .880 SPCT) share the goaltending duties. NHL Affiliate:Philadelphia Flyers.

Saturday, November 25 vs. Lowell Devils, Pepsi Arena, 7 p.m.

The Lowell Devils make their first visit of the season to Pepsi Arena as they facethe River Rats for the second time this season. Albany defeated the Devils, 5-3,October 7 at Paul E. Tsongas Arena in Lowell's first-ever game as the top affiliatefor the New Jersey Devils. Lowell has earned points in six straight (5-0-1-0) andnine of its last 10 outings (7-1-1-1), climbing into third place in the AtlanticDivision. Center Justin Papineau (5-9-14) and former River Rats defenseman DanMcGillis (4-10-14) lead the Devils in scoring. Another former River Rat, FrankDoyle (5-5-1, 2.95 GAA, .895), has seen the bulk of the action between the pipes.

Sunday, November 26 vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Bridgeport's Arena at Harbour Yard,4 p.m.

The River Rats complete a four games in five days week as they face the Sound Tigersfor the first time this season. Bridgeport enters the week 8-5-0-3 and two pointsin front of Albany for fourth place in the East Division. The Sound Tigers havestruggled at home, going 1-2-0-2 through their first five games at Harbour Yard. They enter the week ranked first in the AHL in penalty killing, allowing just 10power play goals-against in 109 shorthanded situations (90.8%). Center RobertNilsson (7-10-17) and left wing Jeff Tambellini (9-7-16) lead the Sound Tigers inscoring. They were both selected in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft(Nilsson 15th overall by the New York Islanders; Tambellini 27th overall by LosAngeles). Goaltender Wade Dubielewicz (5-2-3, 2.62 GAA, .915 SPCT) has played in 10of Bridgeport's 16 games. NHL Affiliate: New York Islanders.

ON THE AIR: Radio: ESPN Radio 1300 The Team. Web Casts: Video ($6 - B2 Networks)and audio (free) available through www.albanyriverrats.com.

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