Rats shank Sharks, 5-3

Post-game coverage:

• Rats drop Sharks 5-3, AlbanyRiverRats.com
  
• Samson lends helping hand, Albany Times Union
  
• Rats notes 'n quotes: Hershey clinches division, Albany Times Union
  
• Samson leads Rats to fourth straight win, Troy Record
  
• Rats 5, Sharks 3: Notes; Osala-Samson-Chaput; Osala sparks Albany, Schenectady Daily Gazette
  
• Sharks have no Spring, Worcester Telegram
  
• Sharks' win-streak ends at four after 5-3 loss in Albany, SharksAHL.com
  
• Samson, River Rats stay hot, TheAHL.com
  
• Official scoresheet, TheAHL.com
  

Rats fall to Sharks, 5-3

The River Rats' four-game winning streak came to an end today in Worcester as Albany fell 5-3 to the Sharks. 

After giving up two goals in the first period, the Rats were forced to play catch-up for the rest of the game. Albany was able to pull within one on two separate occasions, but they never made it out of the hole.

A defensive breakdown midway through the first allowed the Sharks to send a cross-ice pass from one set of hash marks to the other. Netminder Mike Murphy went side-to-side and made a huge kick save, but the rebound landed in the slot square on the stick of Worcester's Andrew Desjardins for an easy goal. 

Minutes later the Sharks went up 2-0 by cycling the puck and running traffic in front of the net. A shot from the top of the circle by Worcester's John McCarthy was deflected directly in front of the crease by Jamie McGinn, leaving Murphy no chance.

Captain Pat Dwyer took things into his own hands on the next shift, scoring top shelf on a breakaway and bringing the Rats back within one.

But the Sharks did not slow down. Worcester again took a two-goal lead 34 seconds into the second period. Some nifty stick work behind the net and a quick pass in front by Worcester's Steve Zalewski caught both defenders and Murphy off guard.

Worcester made it 4-1 less than two minutes later. Sharks' center Logan Couture, despite being hooked down by Bryan Rodney, found a rebound off a point shot and put it over Murphy's shoulder from an incredibly sharp angle. 

Captain Pat Dwyer responded again less than a minute and a half later. Receiving a nice pass in front from Drayson Bowman in the corner, Dwyer quickly shuffled the puck from left to right and then fired, beating the defenseman and the goaltender. 

That's where the game stood until late in the third period. 

Albany, trailing 4-2 with about two minutes remaining, pulled netminder Mike Murphy.

Jamie McBain scored from the point with 1:11 left on the clock. Assists went to Jerome Samson and Brandon Sutter.

Unfortunately, the Rats' last minute efforts were too late. The Sharks held on and landed an empty net goal with less than two seconds to go, sealing the deal at 5-3.

Post-game coverage:

• River Rats fall 5-3 in Worcester, AlbanyRiverRats.com
  
• Sharks stop Rats' winnings streak at 4, Troy Record
  
• Rats' win streak ends in Worcester, My Phil-osophy
  
• Official scoresheet, TheAHL.com
  

Ryan McGinnis Joins K-Wings

Defenseman Ryan McGinnis, who played 27 games with the River Rats last season, has found a new home with the Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL affiliate of the Worcester Sharks and Adirondack Phantoms. The full story is available at the K-Wings' website.

Dwight Helminen Signs With San Jose

The River Rats bid farewell to Dwight Helminen. The 26-year-old center from Hancock, Michigan, has signed a contract with the San Jose Sharks.

Helminen, a defensive forward with a scoring touch, earned 30 points (15 G, 15 A) in 54 games with Albany last season. He played 23 regular season games with Carolina and made his first NHL playoff appearance in a contest against New Jersey.

Helminen was picked up by the Hurricanes last summer after spending a season in Finland with the premier league SM-liiga. Prior to that he spent three years with the Hartford Wolfpack as property of the New York Rangers. He was originally drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2002.

Helminen is scheduled to play next season somewhere between Worcester and San Jose.

"Dwight is a high-energy player that helps build our organizational depth," said Sharks' Executive VP and GM Doug Wilson. "We've watched him since his days with the U.S. development team and he fit in well with Carolina last season."

The departure of Helminen is not a total surprise. Space is limited in both Albany and Carolina. The Canes have been busy filling the ranks with depth signings of their own, and several draft picks are preparing to kick off their professional careers.

There will be plenty of new faces to make up for the loss.