AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Fall To Bears Despite Late Comeback

Published on December 19, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Despite staging a late come-from-behind rally on the same night veteran forward Chris Taylor captured his 1,000th career point, the Rochester Americans fell to the Hershey Bears 5-4 tonight at the Giant Center in a battle between the American Hockey League's oldest teams. The loss was Rochester's second straight and third against the defending Calder Cup champions this season as the Amerks fell to 20-9-0-1.

The Amerks were led offensively by a two-goal effort from forward Jamie Johnson who extended his lead in the category and is now tied for the team lead in points. Defenseman Clay Wilson collected a pair of power-play assists as rookie forward Evgeny Dadonov (1+1) and newcomer Daniel Steiner (1+1) each chipped in with a goal an assist as well. The highlight of the night, however, was Taylor's two-point performance which gave the 18-year pro his 1,000th career point. Amerks goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu made 28 saves in the losing effort in just his second start between the pipes of the season.

Hershey's Oskar Osala tallied a game-high three points (2+1), while Alexandre Giroux (1+1), Keith Aucoin (0+2) and Francois Bouchard each contributed two points for the 10-time AHL champs. Bears goaltender Jason Bacashihua logged 25 saves for his sixth win.

After a scoreless first period, the Amerks stuck first on Dadonov's fourth goal of the season at 3:26 of the second stanza. Taylor picked up his first point of the night with an assist along with defenseman Jordan Henry to help Rochester take a 1-0 lead.

Hershey quickly made it a 2-1 game just 47 seconds later with goals just nine seconds apart from Bryan Helmer and Osala. The goal was Helmer's first of the season and second in as many games for the second-year Osala.

Rochester evened the game at 2-2 as Steiner, who joined the team tonight after signing a professional tryout contract earlier in the day, converted on a power-play opportunity at 11:21 of the period. On the goal, Taylor recorded his 1,000th career point with his second assist of the game.

The Bears would soon regain the lead with goals from Giroux and Osala within two minutes of each other to give Hershey a 4-2 cushion heading into the final frame.

Rochester came out flying in the third, once again tying the score at 4-4 with back-to-back goals from Johnson, including one on the power-play. The Amerks' comeback chances were denied midway through the third when Mathieu Perreault netted his second goal of the season, and ultimately the game-winner, on the power-play at 12:21.

Rochester returns home on Sunday, December 20th as it hosts the Hamilton Bulldogs at 5:00 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena. The North Division contest will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The game will also be televised live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet Channel 26.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2009


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