Tlusty providing experience for Rats

Forward Jiri Tlusty has brought a special mixture of youth, talent, and experience to the River Rats' line-up. The Troy Record takes a closer look at the 20-year-old native of the Czech Republic. 

Tlusty giving Rats his best

Lately Jiri Tlusty has been demonstrating precisely why he was selected in the first round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has the story. 

News & Notes UPDATED

• Goaltender Justin Peters today was recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes. Canes' starter Cam Ward is experiencing an upper-body muscle problem, possibly related to a chronic back issue. Coach Paul Maurice say Peters could make his NHL debut tomorrow night against the New York Islanders. Netminder Mike Morrison, who was reassigned to the ECHL yesterday, will likely be returned to the River Rats. Mike Murphy has recovered from a hip injury and should be able to start for Albany tonight against the Senators in Binghamton. The Rats signed goalie Tyler Sims temporarily to play back-up.

• Rookie forward Zach Boychuk was also recalled to the Hurricanes today. Carolina forwards Chad LaRose and Tuomo Ruutu recently joined Erik Cole and Scott Walker on the team's injured list. Boychuk will likely skate tonight on a line with Brandon Sutter and Pat Dwyer as the Canes take on the Sabres in Buffalo. 

• Forward Jiri Tlusty yesterday was reassigned to the River Rats. Tlusty has a goal and five assists in 18 games with the Hurricanes this year. The former first-round draft pick was acquired in December in a trade with Toronto and appeared in four games with Albany earlier this season. Read more in the Troy Record. 

• Gritty winger Steven Goertzen made his debut with the Hurricanes Wednesday night in Calgary. He saw just over six minutes of ice-time and registered an even plus/minus rating as the Canes fell 4-1 to the Flames. Goertzen will play again tonight in Buffalo alongside Stephane Yelle and Rod Brind'Amour. 

• Rumors are swirling that Hurricanes' veteran blueliner Niclas Wallin will soon be traded to the San Jose Sharks for a second-round draft pick. That means defenseman Brett Carson has likely earned a full-time NHL spot. D-man Joe Corvo, who was cut with a skate blade in late November, recently returned to the line-up, giving the Hurricanes an extra defenseman. Wallin was a healthy scratch Wednesday night. UPDATE: The trade is off. Wallin decided not to waive his no-trade clause.

• Rookie defenseman Jamie McBain has been getting his fair share of press coverage lately. Check out this article in the Albany Times Union and these two features at the Schenectady Daily Gazette. 

• The fourth annual Ronald McDonald House jersey auction will be held tomorrow night at the Times Union Center after the Rats face the Springfield Falcons at 5 pm. Read more at the Rats' website. Also check out pictures of players visiting the Ronald McDonald House and other locations around the Capital District.

• Forward Milan Gajic of the Florida Everblades has put up six goals and 11 points in his first six games since returning from a long-term lower-body injury. Gajic skated with Albany during the preseason and his services may soon be needed once again.
  

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. 
  

New Canes in fast lane

Albany prospects talk about their NHL experience with Chip Alexander at the Raleigh News & Observer. 

Future may be now for Canes

Good article on the call-ups in Carolina today in the Raleigh News & Observer. 

Dwyer nets game-winner for Canes

Pat Dwyer last night netted the game-winning goal for the Carolina Hurricanes in a 4-2 road victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

With the contest tied late in the third period, the Albany captain cycled the puck down low to Jiri Tlusty, who brought it back to the point for Joni Pitkanen. Dwyer cut across the net just as Pitkanen was shooting and redirected the puck in mid-air with precision.

Dwyer, who was recalled to Carolina on December 15, now has three goals and two assists in 21 games with the Hurricanes this season. Linemate Jiri Tlusty has a goal and three assists after nine games.

Dwyer and Tlusty each stand a chance of earning a permanent spot with the big club should space soon open up.

Brandon Sutter, who made the team earlier this season, also scored last night, driving home a rebound in the second period to tie the game at 2-2.

The Hurricanes have won three in a row and are now only four points shy of pulling out of last place in the Eastern Conference, largely thanks to the efforts of players recalled from Albany. 

Watch highlights of last night's game here. 

News & Notes

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

• Forward Harrison Reed today was temporarily reassigned to the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. Reed will play for the Blades tomorrow night and likely rejoin the Rats this weekend. 

• Injured Carolina Hurricanes' forwards Sergei Samsonov, Erik Cole, and Chad LaRose are back at practice. All three accompanied the team on the road this week and coach Paul Maurice told the Raleigh News & Observer that at least one may be ready to play Thursday in Detroit. The Canes are in Toronto tonight to face the Maple Leafs. 

• Some of the River Rats recently called up to the Hurricanes may never come home. Canes' GM Jim Rutherford says full-time openings may soon be available. "Things are starting to open up now as far as moving players," Rutherford told the Raleigh News & Observer. "It's not like we're giving up on the second half, but there are some players we are developing who are closer to playing here. We won't just move someone out just to move someone out. We will try to build assets, whether it's trading for a player or for draft picks or getting a spot open for a player from Albany."

• Jiri Tlusty is the subject of an article in today's Raleigh News & Observer.  

• Rob Hennigar was recently in Florida to have a specialist look at the hand he injured on December 6 against Wilkes-Barre. He is still weeks away from playing, but stopped in at a Blades' practice to see his old teammates. The Naples Daily News keeps us informed. 

• Forward Milan Gajic of the Florida Everblades is having trouble recovering from a leg injury sustained back in early November. Gajic would now likely be skating with the River Rats had he not been sidelined. Gajic is pitching in as an acting assistant coach with the Blades and proudly tells the Naples Daily News that the team is 7-3 with him behind the bench. 
  

Rats lead Canes to victory

Albany alumni yesterday led the Carolina Hurricanes to a decisive 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. 

Defenseman Brett Carson picked up his first NHL goal, while Brandon Sutter, Pat Dwyer, and Jiri Tlusty earned an assist each, helping the Canes to their second straight win. 

Brandon Sutter started things off for Carolina in the second period by dishing a near-perfect pass directly in front of the net to Tom Kostopoulos. The goal squashed the Senators' momentum, as it came just 40 seconds after Ottawa had taken a 1-0 lead.

Sutter now has 17 points (10 G, 7 A) in 35 games since earning a full-time NHL spot earlier this season. 

Later in the second, Jiri Tlusty made a play to Pat Dwyer, who then set up veteran captain Rod Brind'Amour for a one-timer that turned out to be the game-winner.

Tlusty now has a goal and two assists after eight games with the Canes this year, while Dwyer has two goals and two assists in 19 games. 

Carolina took a 3-1 lead in the third on a Brett Carson point shot that found its way through traffic to give the well-rounded blueliner his first NHL tally.

Carson now has a goal and three assists in 16 contests with the Canes this season.

Watch highlights from the game here. 

Boychuk, Tlusty called back up

The Carolina Hurricanes yesterday recalled forwards Zach Boychuk and Jiri Tlusty for the second time in less than a week. 

Both players were returned to Albany on Saturday, but the parent club was forced to summon the youngsters again due to a string of nagging injuries. 

Forwards Chad LaRose, Scott Walker, Sergei Samsonov and Erik Cole all remain sidelined. 

This marks the third call-up of the season for Boychuk, who picked up an assist in his first three games with Carolina this year. 

Boychuk performed exceptionally well with the Canes this past Saturday against the New York Rangers. He was held scoreless, but chipped in defensively and was the driving force behind several offensive opportunities. 

Tlusty also returns to Carolina for the third time this season. He has a goal and an assist in three games with the Canes this year. Tlusty earned the primary assist on the Canes' only regulation goal Saturday.

The call-up of Boychuk and Tlusty leaves the River Rats with a limited number of forwards. 

Rob Hennigar is still out with an injury sustained in early December; Brad Herauf suffered a lower-body injury on Saturday; Michael Ryan has been out with an injury since last Wednesday; Nicolas Blanchard has one game remaining on a three-game suspension; and Matt Schepke was released Monday from a professional tryout contract. 

The Rats will need reinforcements for tonight's contest against Adirondack if Ryan and Herauf are unable to play.

Boychuk, Tlusty returned

The Carolina Hurricanes today reassigned forwards Zach Boychuk and Jiri Tlusty to the Albany River Rats. 

Both players were recalled for today's afternoon contest against the New York Rangers. Each had several memorable moments and displayed few mistakes, helping the Canes to a 2-1 overtime victory. 

Zach Boychuk demonstrated his skill-sets well, creating opportunities on the forecheck and hustling back to chip in defensively during his 10:15 of ice-time.

Tlusty was on the ice for 7:19 and picked up an assist after Tom Kostopoulos batted in a blocked shot Tlusty had thrown on the net.

Boychuk, Tlusty called up

The Carolina Hurricanes today recalled forwards Zach Boychuk and Jiri Tlusty from the Albany River Rats. 

Carolina forwards Scott Walker and Sergei Samsonov were sidelined on Thursday with upper-body injuries. Both are listed as day-to-day and are expected to miss the team's next contest, scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. 

Boychuk and Tlusty will likely enter the line-up tomorrow alongside fellow Albany alumni Pat Dwyer, Brett Carson, and Brandon Sutter, all of whom have been logging significant ice-time with the Rats' parent club.

Boychuk, a highly-touted prospect and former first-round draft pick, joins the Canes for the second time this season. He registered an assist during a brief two-game call-up in early November.

Boychuk has been on fire with the River Rats lately, tallying five goals and four assists in his last ten games. The rookie sensation has a team-leading 11 goals and ranks second in team-scoring with 27 points. 

Tlusty, also a former first-round pick, has been shuffling from place to place since Carolina acquired him in a trade with Toronto on December 3rd. 

Tlusty was bogged down by immigration issues for about two weeks after skating in two games with the Hurricanes in December. He returned to Albany on December 27th.

Tlusty was held scoreless in four games with the Rats, but notched a goal in his first contest with Carolina on December 11th. 

Tlusty has 76 games of NHL experience under his belt. He holds a respectable 11 goals and 10 assists during his time in the big league.

News & Notes

• Seven straight wins by the River Rats has earned the team some extra coverage at the AHL's website. 

• The latest installment of Murphy's Mailbag is up on YouTube. 

• The Rats' website has the usual weekly summary.

• The Carolina Hurricanes yesterday placed defenseman Aaron Ward on waivers and he cleared today at noon. Read more at Tracking the Storm.

• Call-ups could be in the works. The Hurricanes are short two players with a game tomorrow night. Carolina has just five healthy blueliners, including Brett Carson and Jay Harrison, who were recently recalled from Albany to replace injured D-men Niclas Wallin and Joe Corvo. Tim Gleason, who was hit in the face with a shot Friday night, is listed as day-to-day. The team is also down one forward after returning Pat Dwyer and Jiri Tlusty to the River Rats on Sunday. According to Tracking the Storm, Dwyer will likely be headed back up. 

Dwyer, Tlusty reassigned

Captain Pat Dwyer and newly acquired forward Jiri Tlusty are back with the Rats. Tracking the Storm has the news. 

Dwyer, Tlusty recalled

The Carolina Hurricanes today recalled Rats' captain Pat Dwyer and newly acquired forward Jiri Tlusty, while Albany called up center Harrison Reed and winger Matthew Pistilli. 

Canes' forwards Chad LaRose and Erik Cole were both placed on injured reserve today. LaRose is expected to miss three to four weeks with a lower-body injury and Cole will be out for two to three weeks with an upper-body condition.

Dwyer, who is tied for the lead in goals scored for Albany, will join the Canes for his second NHL stint of the season. Dwyer played six games with Carolina in late November, averaging 10:53 of ice-time and filling in on the penalty killing unit. 

In 22 games with Albany this season, Dwyer, arguably the AHL club's most valuable player, has 11 goals, 12 assists and a plus-1 rating.

Jiri Tlusty, who was acquired by the Canes in a trade on December 3, heads to Carolina after just one game of action with the River Rats. 

Tlusty was mostly a non-factor in his first contest with the organization. He demonstrated exceptional skating ability, but was still adjusting to the new team and system. 

Tlusty heads into Carolina with 74 games of NHL experience under his belt. He holds ten goals and ten assists during his time in the big league. 

Harrison Reed reunites with the Rats after a rock-solid eight-game stretch in the ECHL. Reed, who was reassigned to the Florida Everblades on November 24, earned eight goals, five assists and was named ECHL player of the week for November 23-29. 

Prior to joining the Blades, Reed skated in 19 games with Albany, registering two assists and a plus-1 rating. 

Rookie forward Matthew Pistilli, who was reassigned to Florida on December 3, was held scoreless in three games with the Everblades. 

In 21 games with the Rats this season, Pistilli has three goals, two assists and a plus-2 rating.

Tlusty faced hurdles en route to Albany

Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union talks with forward Jiri Tlusty about his journey to the Capital District. 

News & Notes

• Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union catches up with injured defenseman Casey Borer, who recently returned to Albany and started skating for the first time since having neck surgery in September. 

• Forward Rob Hennigar, who was recently recalled from the Florida Everblades of the ECHL, chats with Chris Fitz Gerald at the Troy Record about his new role as a member of the Albany River Rats. 

• Goaltender Justin Peters talks with Bill Cain of the Schenectady Daily Gazette about his time with the Canes and his desire to stay focused and prepared for any and all opportunities.  

• Center Harrison Reed, who was reassigned to the Florida Everblades on November 24, earned ECHL player of the week honors after scoring seven goals and five assists in four games with the Blades.

• Hurricanes' General Manager Jim Rutherford has expressed interest in "transitioning" his team. "If we could [move contracts out], we would probably move a handful of guys out today and move the younger guys in, even if they weren't ready," Rutherford told Tracking the Storm. The process is easier said than done. 

• Hurricanes' goaltender Cam Ward, who was cut by a skate blade on November 7, returned to practice this week and is hoping to play in net against New Jersey on December 9th. Barring any more injuries, the Canes will soon have three healthy netminders. Veteran goalie Manny Legace, who was signed to a two-way deal after Ward went down, could be reassigned to Albany. 

• Cory Lavalette at Canes Country has a bit more on the latest addition to the Rats' squad, Jiri Tlusty.

• Who is the funniest River Rat? Watch the latest installment of Murphy's Mailbag and find out. 

Jiri Tlusty to join Rats

The Carolina Hurricanes today acquired forward Jiri Tlusty from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for the rights to 2009 first-round draft pick Philippe Paradis.

Tlusty (pronounced "To-loo-stee") will join the Albany River Rats, while Paradis, 18, remains in juniors with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL. 

Tlusty, a six-foot-tall 209-pound goal-scorer and playmaker from the Czech Republic, was a first-round pick by the Leafs in 2006. The 21-year-old has skated in 74 NHL contests, scoring 10 goals and 10 assists. 

In 130 regular season and playoff games with the Toronto Marlies, Tlusty netted 45 goals and accumulated 70 assists for 116 points. Tlusty tallied 66 points (25 G, 41 A) in 66 games last season with the Marlies and has 15 points (8 G, 7 A) in 19 games so far this year. 

Highlights of Tlusty's five-goal game against the Syracuse Crunch on February 18, 2009.

"They're two different types of players," said Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford, referring to Paradis and Tlusty. "We need to score more goals and we need to have skill. In our opinion, Philippe is more along the lines of a power forward and Jiri is more skilled where we project him being able to put up points in our top six."

"This trade gives us an opportunity to pick up a young, skilled forward who is further along in the development phase," Rutherford said. "I'm dealing with trying to put a player in our lineup by the start of next season that's going to be able to help produce points."

Read more at Tracking the Storm.