Congrats to River Rats alternate captain Pat Dwyer, in his second stint with the Carolina Hurricanes this month, got his first major-league goal in the Canes' 3-2 OT win over the Flyers in Philadelphia today.

Dwyer scored off assists from Joni Pitkanen and Dennis Seidenberg with five minutes left in the second period to make it a 1-1 game. It was Dwyer's only shot of the day. According to the Raleigh News & Observer, Pitkanen's shot from the left wing glanced off Dwyer in front of the net and went in. Take 'em any way you can get 'em.

(Anyone remember ex-Rat Rob Skrlac's first (and only) NHL goal for the NJ Devils? Similar play, standing in front of the net when a shot deflected in off his shin pad. It wasn't changed until after the game, so Skrlac never had hte chance to truly celebrate. Ah, well. I'm sure he'll just take the goal.)

Dwyer was recalled Monday to replace injured forward Patrick Eaves. He also played seven games for the Canes between Nov. 2 and 16.

Rookie forward Harrison Reed, assigned to ECHL Florida on Monday, has been recalled back to Albany, which hosts Hershey tonight off its Thanksgiving shootout win in Binghamton.

As for myself, I've been down with a stomach bug all day and bowing before the Porcelain King, but am planning to attend the game. If I make it, I'll be the one sitting a mile away from anyone else.

Should I not make it, it would be only the second time in 15-plus years that I missed a home game due to illness. That may actually be a good thing for the Rats, since the last time was Dec. 23, 2000, when Jean-Francois Damphousse made 42 saves as Albany beat Rochester, 1-0, on Pierre Dagenais' goal 2:36 into overtime.