AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Open Season with 6-1 Rout of Flames

Published on October 11, 2014 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... The Rochester Americans scored three times in the second period and added three more in the third as they opened the 2014-15 season with a dominating 6-1 rout over the Adirondack Flames Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena. The matchup was the first-ever between the Amerks and the Flames, who are entering their inaugural American Hockey League season, and was the first of 12 games between the newly-formed division rivals.

Second-year defenseman Chad Ruhwedel topped the Amerks with a goal and two assists, while Mikhail Grigorenko scored the first tally of his American Hockey League career during the second period that would prove to be the eventual game-winning goal. Tim Schaller, Matt Ellis, Joel Armia and Phil Varone also added goals for the Amerks, with newcomer William Carrier chipping in with two assists in his professional debut.

Nathan Lieuwen was steady between the pipes in his season debut, stopping 27 of 28 shots to earn his first win on the young season.

Ken Agostino scored Adirondack's first franchise goal, while Joni Ortio relieved starter Brad Thiessen just 2:12 into the game and finished with 28 saves.

The teams wasted no time getting acquainted with each other, combining for seven minor penalties over the first 20 minutes in a tight-checking first period. The early story was Lieuwen, who was coming off a shutout effort in his only preseason action for the Amerks and was rock solid early on as the teams settled in.

As the physical play continued into the second period, the scoring opportunities finally arrived. Just 3:55 into the second period, Ruhwedel sprung Schaller through the neutral zone, and Schaller whipped a wrist shot past Ortio to give the Amerks a 1-0 lead. The Flames bounced back minutes later on a quick passing play by Agostino and Ben Hanowski in front of Lieuwen that tied the score 1-1 with 9:39 remaining in the second period.

The Amerks would answer with Grigorenko's late goal on a play started by Armia. With Grigorenko moving to find open space in front, Armia fed a quick pass on the tape and Grigorenko made no mistake to provide a 2-1 Rochester lead.

With a power-play opportunity late in the middle frame, Johan Larsson controlled the puck along the half-boards. With Ruhwedel stationed at the point, Larsson passed over to the waiting defenseman, who in-turn blasted a one-timer with 1:55 left in the period as the Amerks went up 3-1.

Rochester's fourth goal came 3:10 into the third period on a play set up by two of the Amerks captains. After receiving a pass from Carrier, Drew Bagnall took a shot that deflected off the post right to Ellis. While fighting off an Adirondack defenseman, Ellis muscled the puck around a sprawling Ortio to put the Amerks up by three goals.

Adirondack nearly brought the game within two goals midway through the third period when Brett Kulak's slapshot found its way to the net and beat Lieuwen, but the puck rang off the left post. Minutes later, Armia was hooked down on a breakaway attempt and was awarded a penalty shot. On the ensuing attempt, Armia faked out Ortio and swung the puck into the corner of the net to seal the game for the Amerks.

At the 3:09 mark of the third period, the Flames paraded to the box as Trevor Gillies and Patrick Sieloff took simultaneous penalties that ended with Gillies' ejection, providing the Amerks with a 5-on-3 power-play opportunity.

The Amerks wasted no time on the two-man advantage, when Varone controlled the puck at the top of the circle and made a quick move to the middle before picking the top corner to pad the Amerks lead to a comfortable 6-1 cushion.

The Amerks get right back to work on Saturday, October 11 as they welcome the Hamilton Bulldogs for the first time this season at The Blue Cross Arena. The 7:05 p.m. contest will be the first of 10 meetings between the North Division rivals this season and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports Rochester 1280.

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