AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Get Past Flames with 3-2 Shootout Win

December 19, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Zac Dalpe scored the winning goal in the seventh round while Nathan Lieuwen denied all seven of the attempts he saw in the shootout as the Rochester Americans prevailed with a 3-2 over the visiting Adirondack Flames Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena. The Amerks overcame another early deficit, and peppered the Flames with a season-high 50 shots on goal on their way to their second win in three games.

The game also marked the first shootout the Amerks have faced this year and one successful attempt was all they needed to improve their season record to 11-17-1-0.

Lieuwen, whose last win came back on Oct. 22 against the Rockford IceHogs, also made 28 saves in regulation and overtime to supplement the perfect shootout performance. Tim Schaller scored on a penalty shot in the second period for Rochester while Johan Larsson added his team-leading eighth goal of the season for the Amerks.

David Wolf and Garnet Hathaway scored for the visiting Flames, with Brad Thiessen stopping 47 of the Amerks 50 shots.

The Flames got off to a fast start against the Amerks, scoring their first goal just 36 seconds into the contest after Wolf threw a shot on net that fooled Lieuwen. Joel Armia, playing in his first game after missing the last nine with an injury, nearly tied the score minutes later after retrieving the puck in Adirondack's zone and firing a wrist-shot that fooled Thiessen, but rang off the post.

Rochester answered midway through the first period after Brayden Irwin dug the puck out of the corner and spun a quick pass out to Larsson, who quickly one-timed a shot that snuck through Thiessen's five-hole to tie the score 1-1.

Adirondack added its second goal of the night just moments after its first power-play of the night expired when Hathaway's shot from the blueline snuck through multiple screens in front and found its way through Lieuwen with just 1:24 left in the opening period.

Larsson nearly tied the game with his second goal of the night from the right circle on the power-play during the middle frame, but his attempt hit the right bar and bounced to the corner. The Amerks would eventually tie the score, however, when Schaller gained a head of steam and cut through the middle of the ice, but was hauled down by an Adirondack defender. Schaller was awarded a penalty shot for the second straight game, and used a nifty back-hand move to fool Thiessen and tie the score 2-2.

Despite a number of scoring chances for the Amerks that included 12 shots on goal during the final period, Thiessen held down the fort and forced overtime. Both teams exchanged scoring chances in the extra session, including a series that saw Max Reinhart hit the post at one end followed by a missed breakaway chance from Larsson moments later.

Neither team could find the back of the net in overtime, sending the game to Rochester's first shootout of the season. The goaltending was the story from that point on, as each team was shutout through the first six rounds. In the deciding seventh round, Lieuwen denied Taylor Vause with a sprawling, highlight reel glove save to give the Amerks a chance to win on their next attempt. In their seventh attempt, Dalpe whipped a low wrist-shot past Thiessen to win the shootout, and the game, for Rochester.

The Amerks play their final game before the Christmas break on Saturday, Dec. 20 as the Milwaukee Admirals make their only visit of the season to The Blue Cross Arena. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will be the first of just two meetings between the interconference rivals this season and will be carried live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester.

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