ALBANY — As the top returning scorer from last season, Jakub Petruzalek will figure prominently into the Albany River Rats offensive scheme again this year.

With four points in Albany’s 5-3 preseason win Wednesday night over Bridgeport, the third-year forward is already off to a good start.

“I’m just trying to do my best every night and use my strengths, speed and play quick hockey,” Pet­ruzalek said. “Make a lot of passes and put the puck to the net. That’s what I try to do every night.”

The Rats rallied from a 2-0 deficit after one period to score five unanswered goals, two apiece by Nicolas Blanchard and Yannick Tifu.

Petruzalek wound up with the decisive goal, making a clean steal from Bridgeport defenseman Reagan Leslie, skating in alone and roofing a shot in the upper right corner 94 seconds into the third period.

It made a winner of new Albany head coach-GM Jeff Daniels in his debut behind the bench.

“He’s got a lot of skill,” Daniels said. “He’s a high-end guy. He’s got a couple of years under his belt now, and I’m expecting a big year from him. He showed his skill; he’s got to keep going like that every game. He can’t take a step back. For a first game, an exhibition game, he was very good.”

Petruzalek, 23, had an abyssmal start to last season, going the first 25 games without scoring a goal, netting his first on Dec. 14. He finished with 14 goals and 45 points in 78 games, ranking third on the club behind Jamie Johnson, now in Finland, and Brandon Nolan, who was not re-signed.

A native of the Czech Republic, Petruzalek has 24 goals and 73 points in 132 games for Albany since being acquired from the New York Rangers in 2006.

“That’s what I’ve got to come with,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of pressure, not just on me. Last year, I didn’t start really well because I was thinking about too many chances and everything. What I’m going to do this year is go out there and do my best and not think about anything, justs put pucks to the net and do what the coaches want.”

NOTEBOOK

Because of injury and absence, the Rats dressed only 10 forwards and eight defensemen. . . .

Troy native Matt Murley began the night on a forward line with defensemen Casey Borer and Brett Carson, who eventually rotated through the back pairings. . . .

Murley was one of six Rats with a multi-point night, picking up two assists. . . . He and Borer each wore an “A” as alternate captain.

Bridgeport 2 0 1 — 3

Albany 0 3 2 — 5

First period — 1, Bridgeport, Sixsmith (Walsh), 8:29. 2, Bridgeport, Gleed (Sertich, Pitton), 12:48. Penalties — Angelidis, Alb (boarding), 1:58; Sixsmith, Bpt (cross-checking), 5:33; Hart, Bpt (holding), 9:20; Weston, Alb (hooking), 9:26; M.Rechlicz, Bpt (hooking), 14:58.

Second period — 3, Albany, Blanchard (Murley, Paiement), 9:54 (pp). 4, Albany, Tifu (Petruzalek, Reed), 12:28. 5, Albany, Tifu (Petruzalek, Paiement), 18:54 (pp). Penalties — Hennigar, Bpt (hooking), :26; Weston, Alb (hooking), 3:16; Cavosie, Alb (hooking), 4:08; Cavosie, Alb (elbowing), 6:48; J.Rechlicz, Bpt (roughing), 9:47; Babin, Alb (holding), 15:01; Takahashi, Bpt (slashing), 17:20.

Third period — 6, Albany, Petruzalek (Bellemore), 1:34. 7, Albany, Blanchard (Petruzalek, Murley), 12:29 (pp). 8, Bridgeport, Pitton (Sixsmith, Leslie), 14:45 (pp). Penalties — Pitton, Bpt (holding), 1:21; Reed, Alb (tripping), 1:21.; Leslie, Bpt (hooking), 4:42; Hart, Bpt (slashing), 6:55; Gleed, Bpt (charging), 10:24; Morency, Bpt (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:19; M.Rechlicz, Bpt (slashing), 13:06; Olson, Alb (slashing), 13:06; Paiement, Alb (holding), 14:13; Paiement, Alb (holding), 18:30.

Missed penalty shot — Hennigar, Bpt, 11:41 second.

Shots on goal — Bridgeport 6-11-8 — 25. Albany 18-16-10 — 44.

Goaltenders — Bridgeport, Lawson (21 shots-21 saves), Mole L (9:47 second, 23-18). Albany, Leggio (17-15), Munce W (0:00 third, 8-7).

Power-play opportunities — Bridgeport 1 of 10. Albany 3 of 12.

A — 967. T — 2:08.

Referee — Chris Brown. Linesmen — Steeve Lemay, Mike Emanatian.