AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Cruise to 4-1 Win over Marlies

Published on October 18, 2014 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Toronto, ON)... The Rochester Americans used a three-goal second period and 24 saves from goaltender Nathan Lieuwen to cruise to a 4-1 win over the North Division rival Toronto Marlies Saturday afternoon at Ricoh Colisem. The game was the first of 10 meetings between the two teams this season, and with the win, the Amerks (2-1-0-0, 4 points) move into a two-way tie with the Marlies for second place in the American Hockey League's North Division.

Rochester again put its offense on display as four different goal-scorers found the back of the net to bring the Amerks' total to a league-high 14 goals through the first three games of the season. Dan Catenacci, Akim Aliu, Phil Varone and Mikhail Grigorenko all scored for the Amerks, while Lieuwen turned in yet another solid performance between the pipes, stopping 24 of 25 shots in his third straight start. Chad Ruhwedel and William Carrier also both picked up assists in the win to extend their respective point streaks to three games.

Rookie forward Connor Brown recorded Toronto's lone goal and Christopher Gibson made 37 saves in the losing effort.

Rochester opened the scoring first for the third straight game of the young season with Catenacci converting a nifty no-look pass from Matt Ellis just 5:15 into the contest for his first of year. Mark Pysyk, who was reassigned to the Amerks from the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, retrieved a loose puck from the right corner and moved it to Ellis behind the Toronto net. The veteran forward caught the pass in stride and swung a blind back-hander to the far post that a streaking Catenacci tapped past Gibson for a 1-0 lead.

The Amerks quickly added to their lead with a pair of tallies in the first 4:07 of the second stanza, beginning with Luke Adam setting up Aliu off an odd-man rush for his team-leading third goal of the season just 24 seconds in. Varone soon made it a three-goal advantage for the Amerks minutes later when his attempted centering feed from the left half-wall caromed off a Toronto defenseman and behind Gibson despite the Toronto netminder's desperate attempt to corral it with his glove.

Grigorenko put the game out of reach 5:40 later on an extraordinary individual effort from the top of the crease. Carrier sent a pass through the low slot to Grigorenko, who was able to elude his defender with a quick spin move and deposit a back-hander inside the right post to put the Amerks ahead 4-0.

The hosts closed the gap with a goal from Brown just 25 seconds into the final frame as he capped a 3-on-1 fastbreak with a wrist shot under the crossbar for his first tally of the season. Josh Leivo and Sam Carrick earned the assists on the play for the Marlies, denying Lieuwen his bid for the shutout and making it a 4-1 game.

The Amerks begin their first busy stretch of the season with three games in four nights when they return home on Wednesday, Oct. 22 to take on T.J. Brennan and the Rockford IceHogs at The Blue Cross Arena. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will be the first of just two meetings between the interconference foes this season and will be carried live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester.

GAME NOTES

The Amerks have now scored at least four goals in each of their first three games of the season and share the league lead with 14 goals... Aliu, who scored twice last Saturday against Hamilton, ranks tied for third in the AHL with a team-high three goals... With another assist in tonight's win over Toronto, Ruhwedel leads all defensemen and is tied for second overall with five points (1+4)... Carrier closes the weekend with four points (1+3) through his first three professional games and is currently tied for second among all AHL rookies.

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