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Rochester Americans

Amerks Come up Short in 3-2 Loss to Bulldogs

December 12, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Hamilton, ON)... Johan Larsson and Dan Catenacci scored 1:12 apart in the second period, but it was not enough as the Rochester Americans dropped a 3-2 decision to the Hamilton Bulldogs in the front-end of a home-and-home series Friday night at FirstOntario Centre. The Amerks are now winless in their last six games, dropping the team's overall record to 9-16-1-0 heading into Saturday's rematch against the Bulldogs at The Blue Cross Arena.

In addition to the goals from Larsson and Catenacci, Phil Varone, Mikhail Grigorenko, Chad Ruhwedel and Jake McCabe all recorded assists for Rochester while Nathan Lieuwen stopped 21 of the 24 shots he faced.

Two-time AHL All-Star forward T.J. Hensick finished with a pair of goals, including the eventual game-winner, while leading point-getter Charles Hudon chipped in a pair of assists and starting goaltender Mike Condon steered aside 21 shots in the win for Hamilton. Daniel Carr also scored for the Bulldogs while Gabriel Dumont and Drayson Bowman each collected assists.

After a scoreless opening period, the teams would combine for all five goals in the middle frame, with the Bulldogs getting things going just 3:26 in when Carr grabbed a loose puck and zipped it by Lieuwen for his sixth of the season. Following a face-off win by Hamilton captain Dumont, a Rochester clearing attempt somehow ended up on the stick of Carr and the rookie forward capitalized with a low shot inside the right post that eluded the Rochester netminder. Dumont earned the lone assist on the goal.

Hamilton's lead would be short-lived, though, as the Amerks quickly erased the one-goal deficit with a pair of tallies from Larsson and Catenacci just 1:12 apart. An aggressive forecheck by Grigorenko deep in the Hamilton zone resulted in the former first round pick stripping the puck of a Bulldogs defender, allowing Varone to gain possession and set up a wide-open Larsson for a one-timer from between the hash marks to knot the score at 1-1.

Catenacci gave Rochester its first lead of the night 72 seconds later when he redirected a Ruhwedel point shot through the legs of Condon to make it a 2-1 game. McCabe also earned an assist on the goal, Catenacci's third of the season and first since Nov. 15.

The Bulldogs responded with a pair of goals of their own with Hensick scoring twice in a span of 3:31 to restore Hamilton's lead. Hensick's first came at 16:11 when he followed up a Bowman rush and tucked the rebound up under the crossbar following a goal-mouth scramble. After Lieuwen made the initial save on Bowman, the puck was knocked into the air and came to rest at the top of the crease, where Hensick shoveled into the empty net.

Hensick added his second of the period to close out the high-scoring frame, forcing a turnover at the Rochester blueline and putting another past Lieuwen with 18 seconds remaining to send Hamilton into the intermission up 3-2.

The third period mirrored much of the first with both teams generating quality scoring chances, including a power-play opportunity for Rochester. With former Amerk Joe Finley serving a delay of game penalty, Luke Adam nearly finished a perfect back-door feed from Varone, but Condon was able to kick out his right leg at the last second to shut the door.

For the fourth straight game, Rochester would again pull its goaltender in favor of an extra attacker, but could not get anything past the Hamilton defense.

The Amerks and Bulldogs will have another go-around tomorrow night when the home-and-home series shifts back to Rochester for a 7:35 p.m. face-off at The Blue Cross Arena. The game will be the first of a season-long eight-game homestand for the Amerks and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester.

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