Rats get day of rest; changes ahead for Game 3

Coach Jeff Daniels talks to Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union.

Daniels rising fast in the hockey world

Rats' head coach Jeff Daniels is featured today in the Raleigh News & Observer.

News & Notes

• Zack FitzGerald and Oskar Osala talk to Bill Cain at the Schenectady Daily Gazette about making a playoff run. Coach Jeff Daniels throws in his two cents. 

• Chris Fitz Gerald at the Troy Record says the Rats are revved up for a playoff push.

• With his first two NHL goals under his belt, rookie Drayson Bowman tells Tracking the Storm he is feeling more confident in his ability to perform at the top level. 

• Jerome Samson today was recalled to the Carolina Hurricanes. Samson will play in the team's season finale tomorrow, filling in for veteran Rod Brind-Amour, who suffered a groin injury last night.

• Tim Conboy was recalled to the NHL for one game this week. He skated last night in Raleigh during the Hurricanes 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadians. 

• Casey Borer was recalled to the Hurricanes yesterday and stepped into the NHL line-up last night as well. Borer is featured today at the Raleigh News & Observer. 
  

Q&A with Jeff Daniels

Coach Jeff Daniels talks with Cory Lavalette at Canes Country about the latest influx of talent, the graduation of players to the NHL, and the Rats' hunt for the playoffs. 

Q&A with Jeff Daniels

Coach Jeff Daniels chats with Cory Lavalette at Canes Country. 

News & Notes

• The regular weekly round-up is available at the Rats' website.

• The River Rats have been getting along without an official captain for some time. Coach Jeff Daniels tells the Albany Times Union the team has plenty of leaders and is in no rush to designate a new "C" in the near future. 

• The Rats are focused for Wednesday's game and ready to bounce back from Saturday's loss in Hershey. Bill Cain at the Schenectady Daily Gazette has the story.  

• Goaltender Mike Murphy, who is still recovering from a hip injury, is back at practice and could return to the line-up this weekend.

• Carolina Hurricanes' defenseman Joe Corvo, who was sidelined with a leg laceration in late November, could return to action this weekend, meaning Brett Carson, who was recalled from Albany in early January, may be soon be reassigned to the Rats. The Canes could decide to keep Carson over another blueliner, namely veteran Aaron Ward. 

• The comeback of Casey Borer is the focus of a story today at the NHL's website.

• Forward Milan Gajic recently returned to the ice for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. Gajic skated for Albany during the preseason and would have likely joined the Rats at some point during the regular season had he not been sidelined for three months with a leg injury. Gajic is featured in the Naples Daily News.

• Former Rats' enforcer and hometown favorite Reid Simpson is back in the AHL at age 40. Simpson, who was thought to have finished his career in Russia in 2007, recently signed a tryout contract with the Chicago Wolves. The team's website has the story.
  

News & Notes

• The Carolina Hurricanes next season will move their AHL affiliate to Charlotte, North Carolina. Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer says "it's a go." The River Rats will need to find a new parent club to continue operations in 2010-2011. 

• Defenseman Casey Borer has been cleared for game action and may return as early as tomorrow night. Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has the news.

• Coach Jeff Daniels, defenseman Bryan Rodney and goaltender Justin Peters chat with Bill Cain at the Schenectady Daily Gazette about preparing for the second half of the season. 

• Permanent NHL spots could soon be available for Pat Dwyer, Jiri Tlusty and Brett Carson. Paul Branecky at Tracking the Storm says trades are in the works. 
  

News & Notes

• The River Rats have a busy schedule ahead of them, Justin Peters and Bryan Rodney in particular. After the Rats finish playing three games in three nights this weekend, Peters and Rodney will head off to the AHL All-Star Classic in Portland, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Albany's two All-Star representatives talk with Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union.  

• Jacob Micflikier may be only 5-foot-8, but the solid winger packs a punch from both ends of the ice. Micflikier is featured today in the Troy Record. 

• Chris Fitz Gerlad at the Troy Record grades the River Rats' performance midway through the season.
  

• Coach Jeff Daniels talks with Bill Cain at the Schenectady Daily Gazette about coping with a thinning roster. 
  

Rats taking nothing for granted

The River Rats may have four consecutive wins under their belt, but the team is taking nothing for granted. Coach Jeff Daniels, captain Pat Dwyer and goaltender Justin Peters talk with Bill Cain at the Schenectady Daily Gazette.

Catching up with coach Daniels

Cory Lavalette at Canes Country catches up with Rats' coach Jeff Daniels. 

News & Notes

• After missing 12 games with a broken wrist, alternate captain Brett Carson is back. With fellow defenseman Bryan Rodney recalled to Carolina, the timing could not have come sooner. The Troy Record catches up with the Albany blueliner. 

• Coach Jeff Daniels says the struggles of the Carolina Hurricanes are not affecting the River Rats. If anything, the problems in Raleigh provide extra incentive for those hoping to crack the NHL line-up. The Albany Times Union has more.

• With a busy weekend ahead of them, the Rats are looking to tighten their game and boost their position in the standings. To get things done, they'll need to stay focused and play with consistency. The Schenectady Daily Gazette has the story. 

• Rookie forward Drayson Bowman is out with a chest injury that apparently occurred last Saturday against Adirondack. After being taken down from behind, Bowman slid hard into the boards and looked pretty shaken up. He returned to the ice later that night, but was absent Wednesday in Syracuse and is not expected to play this weekend. 
  

Recapping Traverse City's prospects

Jeff Daniels, head coach of the River Rats and the prospect team champs, talks up his players at NHL.com. Paul Brenecky has a bit more at Tracking the Storm.

Canes' Prospects Beat Rangers 5-3

Carolina celebrates a goal during a 5-3 win over the Rangers
(Photo by Hockey's Future)

The NHL prospects tournament kicked off today in Traverse City, Michigan. Brandon Sutter, Zach Boychuk, Drayson Bowman, Mike Murphy and several other River Rats are showcasing their skills in hopes of earning an invite to the Hurricanes' training camp.

About half of the prospects team is on track to play with the River Rats next season. Albany coaches Jeff Daniels and Geordie Kinnear are directing the young squad. The full roster is available here.

The team squared off today at 3 p.m. against prospects from the New York Rangers.

The Canes were led to a 5-3 victory on goals by Drayson Boyman (Chris Terry, Nick Dodge), Matt Kennedy (unassisted), Zach Boychuk (Harrison Reed), Elgin Reid (Jamie McBain), and an empty netter by Brandon Sutter (unassisted).

Carolina gave up a two goal lead in the third period, but Jamie McBain set up Elgin Reid for the game winner with just 2:25 remaining on the clock.

Goaltender Mike Murphy registered the win, stopping 32 of 35 shots.

Both teams were scoreless on the power play. The Canes failed to capitalize on five chances. The Rangers did not convert on their only opportunity.

The boxscore is available here.

The next game is scheduled for tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. against the young Detroit Red Wings.

Update: Hockey's Future has a quick rundown of the game. The writer says the Canes "looked like a top team in this tournament from the opening face off." There is also a short video from the morning skate featuring an interview with coach Daniels.

Albany Inks D-Man Jonathan Paiement

Jonathan Paiement
(Photo by Jennifer Bock)

Add another defenseman to your list. Jonathan Paiement is on his way back to Albany.

The 24-year-old Montreal-native has reportedly signed an AHL contract with the Rats, meaning he will be back for a second season with the club in 2009-10.

Malcolm Cameron, coach of the Rats' ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, broke the news during an interview with the Naples Daily. “His days in the ECHL are over,” Cameron said of Paiement, revealing that the well-rounded blueliner had inked the AHL deal.

Paiement, last listed at 6-foot-1, 205-pounds, played 45 games with Albany last year, tallying a goal, 11 assists and 38 penalty minutes. Prior to earning a full-time spot on the Rats' roster, he skated in nine contests with the Blades, netting three goals and six assists.

Unfortunately Paiement was injured in the team's February bus crash in the Berkshires. He did not return to action until April. After recuperating, he played one game with the Rats and joined the Everblades for the playoffs.

Paiement, who spent five solid years in the QMJHL as a youngster, was drafted by the New York Rangers in the eighth round in 2004. He played his first professional season in 2006-07 with the ECHL's Texas Wildcatters, earning seven goals and 39 assists in 82 total games. In 2007-08, he played 42 AHL games with the Hershey Bears, scoring three goals and 11 assists.

With Albany last season, Paiement proved to be competent in every sector of the ice. Whether battling along the boards, clearing the front of the net, or patrolling the blue line, he took control of his territory. He played on both special teams and at one point was even assigned shootout duties.

"We have a lot of confidence in him, no matter if it’s five-on-five, power play or penalty kill," said Rats' coach Jeff Daniels to the Schenectady Daily Gazette in January. “He’s played well enough that his spot in the lineup, game in and game out, it’s there."

“Jon’s in a case where he has to bring it every day, and he knows that," Daniels said. "The way he’s doing it right now, he’s here to stay, and he deserves it.”