RIVER RATS BITE PENGUINS, 3-0

WILKES-BARRE, PA - Michael Leighton made 35 saves and newcomer Ben Cottreau picked up two goals in his first professional game, leading the Albany River Rats to a 3-0 win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday night at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza.

The loss snapped a team-record nine-game winning streak for the Penguins, and dropped them three points behind the Philadelphia Phantoms in the race for first place in the East Division.

The Phantoms posted a 5-4 shootout victory against the Hartford WolfPack on Friday night, raising their record to 41-23-3-3 (88 points) on the season. The Penguins, who have one game in hand on the Phantoms, fell to 41-25-0-3 (85 points). Albany is breathing heavy down the Penguins' necks, with a 39-26-2-4 mark, good for 84 points.

Both teams entered the game with a playoff mentality, and neither held back when it came to physical play. Five fighting penalties were dished out to each side, with a pair of those coming just three seconds apart in the early part of the first period.

Kiel McLeod's first period tally proved to be all the offense the River Rats would need. His fifth of the season came with less than five minutes to play in the opening frame.

The biggest surprise of the night was the play of Ben Cottreau, who was signed to a contract on Thursday after completing his senior season at Mercyhurst College. The Lakers' leading scorer during his final year, Cottreau potted a pair of goals in his first professional game.

Cottreau did all of his work in a span of 2:05 in the second period, and chased netminder John Curry from the Penguins crease. Curry saw his personal win streak of eight games come to an end with the early exit.

The game was the sixth between the teams this season, with four of those contests ending in shutouts (three for Albany, one for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton).

The Penguins return to action Saturday night, when they host the AHL leading Providence Bruins at 7:05pm.