I'd agree, not just because I'm a rats fan. Around the trade deadline, Philly had about a 13 or so point lead on the entire division. Boucher signs with SJ, and they had a massive slump and ended up coming in 2nd.
The Rats had people injured and called up through this stretch like crazy. Dwyer and Jensen called up for a while, Nolan and Samson injured, we needed to freaking play Carson on forward, but with the magic of Rowe, we hung in there and hung on for 3rd place and closed in on the top 2.
Now Samson is healthy, Dwyer, Jensen and the like have been returned to us so we're all stocked up, Hamilton is back for another stretch and gives us an offensive boost, and Conboy is back for some more grit and defense.
Leighton is the AHL's best goalie (or at least definitely top 3, I haven't seen every other goalie enough to say for sure) and has major defensive depth in front of him.
I would not say the Rats have this wraped up already. I have alot of faith in the Rats and I think we have alot better chance at getting out of the first round this season than we did last season but Philly is not just going to give up and give us the series either. I say the Rats will take this series in atleast 6 games.
Munroe blew, and Philly played a "get into the zone and fire off a bunch of shots" game plan, which just doesn't work on Leighton, because he's just too good. Then the awesome brawl at the end there.
If the other games look like this one in any way, it'll be a sweep.
Things got ugly with 28.7 seconds remaining, when new Rats defenseman David Cornacchia dumped the puck in at center ice and turned to go to the bench, only to be drilled from behind by Phantoms forward Triston Grant.
The play touched off a melee at center ice near the two benches that resulted in 52 penalty minutes and the ejections of Albany’s Tim Conboy and Trevor Gillies.
Referee Chris Cozzan whistled Conboy under rule 70.6 for returning to the ice from the bench, while Gillies was penalized under rule 47.15 for being a third man in. Both could be facing suspensions.
AHL vice president Jim Mill, who is in charge of ruling on those matters, was at the game, and met with Rowe and assistant coach Geordie Kinnear briefly afterward. A decision is expected today.
I hope the fact that Philly has started a few line brawls in the last few days factors in. Conboy was on the ice when the fight started, it may have been as part of a line change, but he was on the ice. I'll be very dissapointed if he receives a suspension.
I hope the fact that Philly has started a few line brawls in the last few days factors in. Conboy was on the ice when the fight started, it may have been as part of a line change, but he was on the ice. I'll be very dissapointed if he receives a suspension.
Why? Conboy is a disgrace to hockey as is career AHL'er Trevor dumbass Gillies for the stupid **** they pulled last night.
It takes a hell of a man, well 2, to double team a guy in a fight. Conboy and Gillies are career nothings and never-beens. They can't handle their business one on one?
The American Hockey League today announced that Albany River Rats defenseman Tim Conboy has been suspended for eight (8) games as a result of his actions during an AHL playoff game vs. Philadelphia on Apr. 16. Conboy was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 70.6 (leaving the players’ bench during an altercation) and AHL Rule 29.1 (supplementary discipline).
Why? Conboy is a disgrace to hockey as is career AHL'er Trevor dumbass Gillies for the stupid **** they pulled last night.
It takes a hell of a man, well 2, to double team a guy in a fight. Conboy and Gillies are career nothings and never-beens. They can't handle their business one on one?
Pathetic.
People can lose their cool when things explode like that. Most of the time that I've seen, Conboy only jumps in fights if somebody is being a butthead and deserves it, but when a huge brawl like that erupts and somebody is whaling on your partner, you don't sit there and think to pick your target, you just jump in there and try to help your partners out.
As far as being a "career nothing" goes, how about his 20 or so games in the NHL this season? I'm sure the 'Canes would've called up Carson or Borer instead if Conboy was a "career nothing"
The loss of Conboy loses the Rats some grit and defensive power, but if the rest of the team plays like they did in Game 1, they shouldn't need him, not to mention their depth at defense. I'm still waiting on Bellemore's Albany debut, a prospect who had over a +40 in college.
Philadelphia needs to change their game plan of just getting in the zone and firing off a bunch of shots and hoping one goes in, Leighton is just too sharp of a goalie for that to be effective on. They need to work the puck around and make plays on him.
i've seen BS games before but damn...this one was awful.
I bet that ref's wife wishes he screwed her that much.
About 6-7 terrible calls on the Rats. I arrived late and saw the last 6 minutes of the 1st period; from that point onward, I saw 3 penalties vs. the Phantoms.
Then for the goal that got waved off for the Rats, how exactly isn't it a goal if the puck is in the goalie's glove, and the goalie's entire body is in the net?
I've yet to find the answer as well, I heard he had a big hit or something, but there was no penalty on the play so I dunno.
It was an elbow to the back of the head on Marc Cavosie.
Last night's game was insane. 7:00 - 12:34 or so. 98 saves for Leighton, about 70 for Munroe. Once the Phantoms got their 99th shot, everybody just kept staring at the board, waiting for it to turn 00; it was kinda exciting.
Disappointing loss though, and now Philly has the momentum going home. It'll be tough to turn this one back around.
