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AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Fall To Monsters In Overtime; Drop Fourth Straight

March 25, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Greg Mauldin broke a 2-2 deadlock with 32.9 seconds left in overtime to lift the Lake Erie Monsters to a 3-2 victory over the Rochester Americans tonight at The Blue Cross Arena. The win extends Lake Erie's season-long winning streak to seven games and gave the red-hot Monsters their sixth straight road win, a new franchise record for consecutive wins on opponents ice. With their fourth straight loss, the Amerks fall to 30-34-4-3 on the season and have now lost eight of their last nine games, while the Monsters, who continue their North Division dominance, improve to 39-25-3-5 to remain atop the division standings.

Lake Erie's Mauldin (1+2) and Ben Walter (1+2), who skated during all three of the Monsters' goals, led the team with three-points each. Walter, the first star of the game, now leads the team with 62 points (20+42) and is just one goal shy of tying fellow teammate Matthew Ford in goals (21). David Van der Gulik (1+1) also added a goal and assist in the victory.

Bill Thomas (1+0) scored the go-ahead goal for the Amerks in the second period and earned the third star in tonight's loss. Michael Duco (1+0), who also is just one goal shy of reaching the single-season 20-goal plateau, also opened up the scoring for the club with the first tally of the game for Rochester.

In the win, netminder Jason Bacashihua picked up his 20th win of the season and stopped 16 of 18 shots in Rochester's slow offensive outing.

Despite a strong defensive performance by Amerks goalie Tyler Plante, he earned his 15th loss of the season, two games under .500 and stopped 34 of 37 shots that he faced in his first appearance back with the red, white and blue after being promoted to the big club earlier this week.

The Monsters had an opportunity to score the go-ahead goal midway through the first period when Walter wound up for the slap-shot from the high slot , but Plante, fresh-off his promotion to the Florida Panthers, managed to block the initial shot. Mauldin then picked up the rebound, trying to sneak the puck past glove-side, but Plante again was able to grab the puck and hold on for the whistle.

Plante wasn't so lucky on the next attack by the Lake Erie Monsters, who became the first to strike at 12:27 of the first when Van der Gulik took a shot from the top of the slot, which beat Plante five-hole. Mauldin also picked up his first point of the night with the helper.

Minutes later, the Amerks came back with their own goal, evening things out at 1-1 with help from goal-leader Duco, who picked up his 19th of the season. As Jordan Knackstedt brought the puck up the ice to the neutral zone, he made a pass to Clay Wilson at the top of the right faceoff circle. Wilson then sent the puck to Duco who capitalized on the play by sending the wrister past Monster's goalie Bacashihua from the center of the slot at 18:06.

Newcomer Cory Conacher, who's on an amateur tryout with the club, also made his professional debut with the Amerks in the opening frame, taking one of Rochester's small sum of shots, which totaled six at the conclusion of the first.

The Amerks took a one-goal lead early on in the second period shorthanded. Thomas scored his 13th goal of the season, when AJ Jenks brought the puck into the zone and left it for defensemen Mike Kostka, who crashed the right side of the net and found Thomas across the crease for the one-timer at 6:41 of the third. Rochester's Triston Grant was serving a minor for roughing when Thomas found the back of the net.

Walter, Mauldin and Van der Gulik combined again for the game-tying score at 12:34 of the closing period. Mauldin picked up his second assist upon a pass to Walter, who was setup right in front of Plante, knotting the game at 2-2 and giving the three multi-point games.

After a few last minute knocks at Bacashihua, the Amerks were unable to break the tie, sending the two clubs into the extra frame. At the end of regulation, the Amerks were only able to make two attempts at Bacashihua, the second coming in the final minutes of play, for a three period total of 13. The Monsters added nine, good for 32.

Headed into the overtime period, Rochester and Lake Erie both took their shots at the net, and came up with strong saves to keep the game locked at two. Plante then made a huge catch in his glove hand at 19:28, after a wrister from the Monsters at the right faceoff dot, causing the whistle and resulting in a timeout by Lake Erie.

On the Monsters' next shift with only seconds to go in the extra period, Julien Brouillette sent the puck across the ice in their zone to Walter, who sent a shot sailing from the top of the left faceoff circle. Mauldin, who was right in front of the Amerks' netminder, was denied on his initial shot, but while Plante was unable to hold on to the loose puck, Mauldin was able to slip the puck just above Plante's right shoulder during his second-go at the net for his first goal of the night and the game-winner.

Rochester closes out the weekend on Saturday, March 26th as the Amerks exchange pleasantries with the Syracuse Crunch at the War Memorial at Oncenter for the final time this season. Fans can tune in live for the 7:30 p.m. matchup on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk.

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