Amerks Fall to Flames in Fullerton's Debut
January 31, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release
(Glens Falls, NY)... Rochester Americans goaltender Travis Fullerton made a solid 31 saves in his American Hockey League debut, but it was not enough as the Amerks came up short on the losing end of a 3-2 decision to the Adirondack Flames Saturday night at the Glens Falls Civic Center. With the loss, Rochester falls to 18-26-1-0 on the season and remains winless against the Flames in Glens Falls.
Brayden Irwin finished with a goal and an assist and closed out the weekend with four points after scoring twice in Rochester's loss to Syracuse on Friday. Jake McCabe also found the back of the net while top point-getter and AHL All-Star forward Phil Varone tacked on his team-leading 33rd point of the season with an assist. Fullerton, who rejoined the Amerks this week from the Elmira Jackals, stopped 31 of the 34 shots he faced while becoming the fifth different Amerk goaltender this season to see game action for Rochester.
The Flames were led by a two-goal effort from second-year forward Turner Elson, whose second of the night proved to be the eventual game-winner. Sena Acolatse also finished with two points (1+1) while Drew Shore, Max Reinhart and Markus Granlund all tallied assists in the win for Adirondack. Joni Ortio recorded 20 saves, extending his personal win streak to three games.
Adirondack wasted no time in testing Fullerton in his AHL debut as the Flames carried the momentum early with some quality scoring chances in the opening minutes. Fullerton made some key saves in the early goings, but the Flames would eventually solve the Rochester netminder just 4:27 in as Elson picked the upper left corner off a 2-on-1 rush to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Max Reinhart and Acolatse earned the assists on Elson's fifth of the season for Adirondack, which has opened the scoring in each of the first five games against the Amerks in Glens Falls this season.
Rochester responded nearly seven minutes later with a power-play tally from McCabe, who quickly turned a fortuitous bounce into his third goal of the season at 11:26. Varone set up Irwin with a one-timer opportunity from within close range, but Ortio was equal to the task and shut the door with a timely left pad save to keep the puck out of the net. Ortio, however, failed to control the rebound, which made its way out to McCabe at the high slot, and the rookie blueliner wired a slap-shot through traffic to make it a 1-1 game.
The Amerks fell into penalty trouble in the waning minutes of the first period after consecutive penalties to Dan Catenacci and Jerry D'Amigo left Rochester shorthanded with 57 seconds remaining. Rochester appeared to have escaped the final minute of the frame unscathed, but a one-timer from Acolatse zipped past a screened Fullerton with four seconds left and the Flames took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
Elson gave the Flames their largest lead of the night with his second of the game when he converted on a shorthanded breakaway at 12:17 of the second stanza. After making a last-ditch effort to cause a turnover at the Adirondack blueline, Elson gained possession and skated the length of the ice while Joel Armia gave chase. Despite heavy pressure from Armia, Elson was able to hold off his pursuer and snapped a wrist shot by Fullerton for the unassisted goal and a 3-1 Flames advantage.
Irwin brought the Amerks within a goal late in the third period when he intercepted a clearing attempt and slammed it home with 1:17 remaining. With Fullerton on the bench for an extra attacker, Ortio corralled a loose puck behind his own net and attempted to shoot the puck the length of the ice in an effort to score. Irwin, though, knocked it down at the top of the crease and put a back-hander past a diving Ortio, bringing the score to 3-2.
Fullerton remained on the bench for the final 77 seconds of regulation, but the Flames and Ortio were able to hold off the Amerks' attack.
Rochester begins the Midwest portion of its season-long eight-game road swing on Tuesday, Feb. 3 when the Amerks visit Allstate Arena for one final go-around with the Chicago Wolves. The special 12:00 p.m. EST matinee will be the second and final meeting between the two teams this season and will be broadcast live on WBER 90.5 FM.
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