Pack hand Rats 13th straight loss

Chris Rutsch photo

Having fallen hopelessly out of the playoff picture a long time ago and then seeing their only good player (Aleksander Suglobov) traded away in early March-- not to mention their parent club's seeming lack of interest in the team, marked by a switch in affiliations for next season-- the Albany River Rats are performing like a team with almost nothing to play for. Continuing the string of failures for the River Rats, the Hartford Wolf Pack went into Albany on Wednesday and secured a 3-2 victory. It was the River Rats' 13th straight defeat, dropping Albany to within 2 points of sinking below San Antonio into the AHL cellar.

Dwight Helminen scored the eventual game-winner for the Pack with 2 minutes left in the second period, his 32nd goal of the year, giving Hartford a 3-2 lead after they had trailed, 2-1, earlier in the contest. Lee Falardeau (5) and Hugh Jessiman (7) also scored for the Wolf Pack, with newcomer Lauri Korpikoski assisting on the goal by Jessiman.



In other Wolf Pack news, it was announced earlier today that the Rangers have signed Maine Black Bears forward and captain Greg Moore (link via CSTB). Moore will be assigned to Hartford, and will suit up for the Wolf Pack in their game against Providence on Friday.

From the Bangor Daily News article:

Rangers assistant general manager and director of player personnel Don Maloney said Moore is a "powerful kid who skates well and thinks the game well. He has an NHL frame [6-foot-1, 214 pounds] and winning seems to follow him wherever he goes. We're excited to get him. He will definitely play a lot on Friday."

Former Rangers scout Bob Crocker, who is now with Los Angeles, said Moore will play in the NHL some day. "His potential is big. I can see him as a third-line guy [in the NHL] who will be able to contribute and score goals. He'll be strong along the wall and in the corners. He'll be a physical force in the tough areas of the ice. He's going to be a very good pro," said Crocker who also called him a "great kid."

Maloney said Moore will need to improve his "first couple of strides" and he has to become more consistently physical "and bump people off the puck."



Russian Super League update

In the Russian Super League finals, Ak Bars Kazan steamrolled over Avangard Omsk, 6-1, to take a 1-0 series lead. Six different players scored goals for Ak Bars. Game Two is scheduled for this Friday, the 14th.

Check out Russian Hockey Digest for a concise and useful preview of the finals. It's good to see that former AHL'er Ray Giroux has been having a good playoffs so far, with 10 points (3g, 7a) in 10 games for Ak Bars.