News & Notes

• The usual weekly round-up has been posted at the Rats' website.

• Forward Nicolas Blanchard talks with the Albany Times Union about his three-game suspension. More here.

• The River Rats released rookie Matt Schepke from his professional tryout contract. 

• Forward Brad Herauf is questionable for tomorrow's game at home against Adirondack. Herauf left the ice Saturday with a lower-body injury after absorbing a hit along the boards.

• Forwards Chad LaRose, Erik Cole and Sergei Samsonov of the Carolina Hurricanes remain day-to-day with injuries. Unless two of three are healthy to play in the Canes' next contest on Thursday, Carolina will be looking for help from Albany.

• Canes' forward Scott Walker, who sustained an upper-body injury on New Years Eve, is scheduled to undergo surgery this week. He is expected to miss at least a month. The Raleigh News & Observer has the news.

• Defenseman Joe Corvo of the Carolina Hurricanes, who suffered a severe leg laceration in late November, is recovering ahead of schedule. Read more at Tracking the Storm.  

• Carolina D-man Aaron Ward is scheduled to play Thursday in his tenth game since clearing waivers. After 10 games of action, Ward will be ineligible for reassignment.
  

Blanchard suspended

Nicolas Blanchard has been handed a one-game suspension by the AHL for his actions Wednesday night against the Norfolk Admirals. 

Blanchard was assessed a five-minute major boarding penalty for a retaliatory hit on Norfolk's Matt Smaby. Blanchard took exception to an open-ice hit Smaby placed on Steven Goertzen.

Blanchard will miss tomorrow night's contest against the Adirondack Phantoms. Brad Herauf will fill in.

News & Notes

• With two leaders injured early in the season, players like Nicolas Blanchard are stepping up to fill the void. The Troy Record has the story. 

• Undrafted sensation Jerome Samson continues to play above and beyond expectations. The Albany Times Union calls the speedy forward a "young veteran."

• Rookie Drayson Bowman was ranked #3 on this week's "Hot List" composed by the Hockey News. Bowman and Zach Boychuk lead the AHL in rookie scoring with five points each.

• D-man Joni Pitkanen of the Carolina Hurricanes is still out of action with knee soreness. He will not play tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Canes' star forward Eric Staal missed practice yesterday with "tightness" but is expected to play tonight. Chip Alexander and Paul Branecky keep us updated.

• Local actor, producer, hockey fan and now internet comedian Donny Ferlazzo shows off his new River Rats' "training program" on YouTube. A little weird.
  

• Not Rats related, but legendary defenseman Chris Chelios, who started playing in the NHL back in 1983, just joined the AHL's Chicago Wolves. No joke. Get the full story at Puck Daddy.

Blanchard glad to be back with Rats

Back on his skates, Nicolas Blanchard could not be happier. Chris Fitz Gerald of the Troy Record traces the young forward's journey from hospital bed back to the hockey rink.

Blanchard throws down in preseason loss

Nicloas Blanchard, Triston Grant
(Photo by Associated Press)

The Carolina Hurricanes lost their first preseason game last night against the Nashville Predators, 4-2. Albany's Nicolas Blanchard made the highlight reel by dropping the gloves with Nashville's Triston Grant. Recap of the game available here. Clips below.

Rats Included In First Carolina Preseason Game

The Carolina Hurricanes have released the team's roster for tomorrow night's first preseason game at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Notable names include Nicolas Blanchard, Michael Ryan, Pat Dwyer, Brandon Sutter, Zach Boychuk, Bryan Rodney, Jay Harrison, Brett Carson and Justin Peters. The team will face-off against the Nashville Predators at 7pm. Read more at Tracking the Storm.

Important notes: Hurricanes' coach Paul Maurice says D-man Joni Pitkanen is "progressing nicely" and is expected to return for the team's two final exhibition games. If this holds true, the Rats will most likely have Jay Harrison and/or Brett Carson to start the season.

Several of the Rats' "higher-end skaters" are expected to play in all four Carolina preseason games. This means fans in Albany will probably get to see some of the ECHL crop during the Rats' two-game exhibition series with the Adirondack Phantoms. The Rats play the Phantoms in Glens Falls on September 25th and again at home on September 26th.

Nick Dodge has put up a new blog entry.