Pirates out, Devils in

After weeks of back-and-fourth negotiations, officials from the Times Union Center and the Portland Pirates have ended talks to relocate the franchise to Albany. 

The arena is reportedly now in discussions to move the farm team of the New Jersey Devils back to the Capital District. 

Bob Belber, general manager of the Times Union Center, said today he hopes to have a deal finalized with an AHL team within the next two weeks. 

Read more at the Albany Times Union.

Pirates back at the table in Portland

Over the past week we were told an announcement regarding the relocation of the Portland Pirates was imminent, but today the Portland Press Herald reports that managing owner Brian Petrovek is back at the negotiating table with the Cumberland County Civic Center. We hope to hear more this weekend. 

News & Notes

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

• Defensive prospect and Notre Dame star Kyle Lawson this week agreed to a two-year entry-level deal with the Hurricanes and will join Albany on a tryout contract for the remainder of the season. Read more here and here. 

• Recently acquired power forward Oskar Osala today was recalled by the Carolina Hurricanes. Erik Cole is out with an illness. Read more at the Albany Times Union.

• The Rats may soon have to officially name a new captain. Jason Karmanos, VP and assistant GM of the Carolina Hurricanes, said during a recent interview that Pat Dwyer, as well as Brett Carson and Brandon Sutter, will be staying in the NHL for good, even if the Canes miss the playoffs.

• Forward Milan Gajic was recently reassigned by Albany to the Florida Everblades of the ECHL.

• Rats' leading scorer Jerome Samson was named AHL Player of the Week for the first week of March. Read more here. Samson is featured today in the Troy Record. 

• Negotiations to keep the Portland Pirates in Maine appear to be over. Expect an announcement regarding the team's relocation very soon. Read the latest at the Albany Times Union, Portland Press-Herald, and Central Maine Sports Blog.

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Pirates' negotiations nearing an end, WCSH6 Portland
  
• New offer, but still no deal for the Pirates, Portland Press Herald
  
• Pirates push for rights to more revenue, Portland Press Herald
  
• Why Albany? Location, location, location, Portland Press Herald
• Pirates: Civic center deal 'highly unlikely', CMSB Media
• Audio: CCCC Board of Trustees press conference, CMSB Media
• Pirates' statement regarding lease negotiations, PortlandPirates.com
  

Report: Negotiation tactics revealed

The Central Maine Sports Blog, a reputable online publication covering sports in Maine, offers a revealing inside account and perspective of the negotiations between the Times Union Center and the Portland Pirates. 

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Pirates have deal in principle w/ Times Union Center, CMSB Media
  
• GM: Deal close for new team, Albany Times Union
  
• Pirates owner: 'No deal with Albany', Portland Press Herald
  
• Portland CEO denies deal with Albany, Schenectady Daily Gazette
• Civic center pushes to keep Pirates revenue, Mainebiz
  
• Despite reports, Pirates say no deal with Albany, Maine Hockey Journal
• Rumors continue to swirl about Pirates' move to Albany, WMTV-8 Portland

Deal inching closer

A deal to bring a new AHL franchise to Albany could be signed in the next 7-10 days and may be officially announced on March 10th. Pete Dougherty at the Albany Times Union has the story.

Rats drowned by Pirates, 4-2

Post-game coverage:

• Pirates hold off Albany 4-2, AlbanyRiverRats.com
  
• Rats drop finale of road trip, 4-2, Albany Times Union
  
• Herauf, Angelidis may receive suspensions, Schenectady Daily Gazette
• Pirates finish strong against River Rats, Maine Hockey Journal
  
• Pirates double River Rats to complete weekend, PortlandPirates.com
  
• Official scoresheet, TheAHL.com
  

Rats down Pirates, 4-2

Post-game coverage:

• Rats sink Pirates 4-2, AlbanyRiverRats.com
• Herauf's game-winner leads Rats in Portland, Albany Times Union
• Pirates falter against River Rats, Maine Hockey Journal
• River Rats double Pirates to end streak, PortlandPirates.com
• Official scoresheet, TheAHL.com

Arena GM: AHL deal 'potentially close'

Times Union Center General Manager Bob Belber tells the Albany Times Union that a deal to bring a new AHL team to the city could be in place by the first week of March. 

Pirates' owner talks about the future

Managing owner of the Portland Pirates Brian Petrovek sits down with Pete Dougherty of the Albany Times Union to discuss the possibility of the franchise relocating to the Capital District. Read the full interview here. 

Rats robbed by Pirates, 3-2

Post-game coverage:

• Portland steals 3-2 win in Albany, AlbanyRiverRats.com
  
• Fluke goals stun River Rats, Albany Times Union
  
• Pirates rally to stun Rats, Troy Record
  
• Pirates 3, Rats 2: What a way to lose, Schenectady Daily Gazette
  
• Pirates win, equal franchise record, PortlandPirates.com
  
• Official scoresheet, TheAHL.com
  

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Pirates' future in Portland uncertain, FOX 23 Portland
  
• Schumer wants Pirates to skate their way to Albany, Buffalo News
  
• Misinformation can cause more harm than good, LetsGoSabres.com
  
• Senator Collins releases statement on Portland Pirates' relocation rumors, Maine Hockey Journal
  
• Pirates moving is becoming political, Maine Hockey Journal
  
• AHL affiliation changes coming, SportsTalkBuzz.com

(A source with an inside track tells us a deal is close to being completed!)

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Portland owner denies team moving to Albany, Troy Record
  
• Portland CEO won't discuss Albany move, Albany Times Union
  
• Portland Pirates: 'We're not looking for alternatives', WCSH-6
  
• Pirates keep move to Albany an option, Buffalo News
  
• Pirates owner insists team committed to Portland, MPBN
  

Chatter on the future

Latest on the future:

• Pirates may ship to Albany, Albany Times Union
  
• AHL deal not on hold, but could take awhile: arena GM, Albany Times Union 
  
• Large turnouts this month could help keep AHL hockey here, Albany Times Union
  
• River Rats players, coaches ponder move to North Carolina, Schenectady Daily Gazette
• Fans react to River Rats' departure, WTEN-10
  

Rats sink Pirates 5-2

Brandon Sutter camps in front of goaltender Jhonas Enroth

(Photo by 'akoszuta')

Prospects Zach Boychuk, Brandon Sutter, Chris Terry and Drayson Bowman put on a show last night for the Albany faithful, helping the River Rats sail past the Portland Pirates by a score of 5 to 2. 

The Rats' young offensive talent skated circles around the Pirates' defenders with a tremendous display of speed, passing and playmaking. 

The Rats came out firing on all cylinders from the get-go, dominating the first period in shots 16 to 5.

Zach Boychuk did an excellent job of quarterbacking an early power play. Boychuk hustled to keep things alive in the offensive zone, and for the second time in two games he found Brett Carson open at the point. Carson, who continues to develop his offensive game, put the puck home with a little help from Brandon Sutter in front. 

Sutter had a great game, tallying a goal and an assist. He is very smart when it comes to positioning, both offensively and defensively. 

Sutter also has the brains to keep up with Boychuk, who scored his first professional goal on a nice give-and-go with Sutter in the third period. 

Boychuk picked up three points on the night with a goal and two assists.

Boychuk commented after the game that the team is developing genuine chemistry, a fact that was evident from the stands. 

Drayson Bowman and Chris Terry are proving to be a dynamic combo in their own right. They both know how to think on their feet and move the puck in heavy traffic. They were dishing and dealing throughout the game and teamed up for a power play goal in the second period. 

Terry scored again in the third, finishing the night with a goal and an assist. 

Bowman and Terry each have two goals in two games. 

Jerome Samson maintained his reputation for pouncing on loose pucks. After Zach Boychuk was stopped on a breakaway in the second period, Samson beat the defenders to the rebound and rattled it home. He is looking better than ever.

Pat Dwyer, on the ice and on the bench, is proving why he was named captain. Dwyer's ability to move the puck down low is invaluable. He assisted Chris Terry's second goal in the third period.

Justin Peters was fantastic in net. He kept the Rats comfortably ahead in the second and third periods with several high-concentration saves. He stopped 24 of 26 shots. 

Peters was also the subject of an amusing video segment that was played on the Jumbotron during a media timeout. In the clip, Peters is identified by several of his teammates as the Rats' "toughest" player. Skaters on the bench couldn't help from sneaking a peek at the screen as highlights were shown of Peters fighting during last year's season-ending brawl. The fans enjoyed the moment.

The worst news from the night is that Brett Carson left the game in the third period after taking a hard hit in the defensive zone. He remained on the bench for a moment, but eventually returned to the locker room. He was holding ice on his wrist. His status is unknown, but we should know more tonight. 

Benn Olson and Matthew Pistilli were healthy scratches. Olson will be in the line-up tonight if Carson is unable to play. 

The Rats take on the Rochester Americans at 7 p.m. at the Times Union Center. 

More post-game coverage:

• Power play clicks for River Rats, Troy Record
  
• Rats power past Portland, 5-2, WNYT-13
  
• Rats notes 'n quotes: Carson's status questionable, Albany Times Union
• Boychuk is making most of his chance, Albany Times Union
  
• River Rats bury Pirates, 5-2, Schenectady Daily Gazette

News & Notes

• Defenseman Zack FitzGerald is spotlighted in the Troy Record.

• Injured leader Mike Angeldis is the focus of the Albany Times Union.

• Goaltender Mike Murphy will get the first start of his pro career this weekend. Coach Jeff Daniels says Murphy will likely play against Rochester on Saturday.

• Forward Harrison Reed will play in his first contest of the 2009-10 season tonight against the Portland Pirates. Reed was impressive at training camp and in the preseason. Expect him to skate hard. Phil Janack has more.

• Fans in Albany can forget about seeing defenseman Jay Harrison in the short-term. Carolina D-man Joni Pitkanen remains day-to-day. Pitkanen, who underwent knee surgery in September, skated in his first contest of the season Tuesday night, but did not play in the third period because of soreness in his knee. Pitkanen also sat out of practice the last two days. That means Harrison will be back in the line-up for Carolina this weekend. 

• Coach Jeff Daniels tells Phil Janack that the injury to Carolina's Erik Cole should not affect things in Albany, at least not for the time being. Former River Rat Tim Conboy filled in for the Canes Tuesday night in a 2-1 shootout win over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Conboy had a fight in the first period, but did not play a regular shift. He registered only 3:25 of ice-time. Conboy will likely play again tonight in the Canes' contest against the Florida Panthers. 

• Portland tonight will be without blueliner Joe DiPenta, who was recently handed a one-game suspension for taking a two-handed chop at Kip Brennan of the Springfield Falcons.
  

Rumor: Trevor Gillies Talking with Buffalo

There is a rumor floating around that former River Rats' enforcer and free agent Trevor Gillies is in discussions with the Buffalo Sabres. The Maine Hockey Journal has the story.