ALBANY — Over the past 15 years, some of the best and most prolific offensive players have worn No. 11 for the Albany River Rats, names like Keith Aucoin, Zach Parise, John Madden, Bobby House and Jim Dowd.

Dwight Helminen is more than willing to carry on the tradition.

“I like being in a position where you get a lot of responsibility, and are expected to perform,” Helminen said. “I think that kind of sit­uation motivates me, and puts me at my best.”

With Matt Murley’s sudden and unexpected departure to Russia last week and an early injury to 21-goal scorer Jerome Samson, the Rats are counting on Helminen more than ever.

Albany (0-1) hosts the Worcester Sharks (0-1) tonight at 7:30 in the first of four games at the Glens Falls Civic Center this season. The Rats play their road opener Saturday night in Bridgeport.

After spending last season in Finland, the 25-year-old Helminen signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes this summer and got a long look in training camp.

“He’s put up numbers wherever he’s played,” first-year Albany head coach-GM Jeff Daniels said. “He’s a smart hockey player, he’s quick and he’s good around the net. He’s got a real knack, a quick little shot here and there.

“He’s a guy that we’re going to really rely upon now, obviously, with Matt leaving. He’s going to get plenty of ice time to show his stuff.”

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 191 pounds, the lefty-shooting Helminen had a goal and assist in Albany’s 4-2 season-opening loss to Bridgeport Oct. 11.

He made a nice play to set up defenseman Mark Flood for a short-handed goal to give the Rats a 1-0 lead in the first period, then crashed the net to poke a loose puck in off the goal line late in the third.

“He seems to be in the right place at the right time,” Daniels said. “He’s got a quick shot, and he’ll go to those areas where it’s tough to score goals. He gets his nose in there. It might not be a pretty goal, but at the end of the day, they all count.”

A native of Hancock, Mich., Helminen turned pro in 2004 after three seasons at the University of Michigan. He played parts of three AHL seasons with the Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring 32 goals in 77 games in 2005-06. He was durable, missing only three of 160 regular-season games his last two years.

Helminen headed overseas last season to play for JyP HT Jyvaskyla, where he was second on the team with 20 goals and third with 45 points in 52 games.

Not only did playing in Finland allow Helminen to explore his family’s history, it also gave him the chance to play with younger brother, Lars, a defenseman who attended Michigan Tech.

“My brother actually signed over there first, and I still hadn’t signed yet,” Helminen said. “The same team came in with an offer, and I saw an opportunity to play with him and play in a good league. It was nice to go over there and see what life was like. It was a great experience.”

Helminen will earn $100,000 with Albany and $475,000 with Carolina this season. Getting into his first NHL action was a motivating factor in his return.

“I signed a one-year deal just to kind of see how it goes,” he said. “I actually talked to Carolina before I went over there, so when I came back they were one of the teams my agent was talking to. We thought going over there might open up a few more doors coming back. My goal is to get back to the NHL.”

NOTEBOOK

The Rats and Tri-County United Way are holding a food drive tonight, asking fans to bring canned goods to the game to benefit the Salvation Army ... Albany captain Tim Conboy will finish his eight-game AHL suspension tonight and make his season debut on Sat­­-

urday ...

Daniel Manzato will get the start in goal tonight.