Amerks Rally in Third, Top Marlies in Overtime
October 14, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release
(Toronto, ON) - Facing a 4-1 deficit entering the third period, the Rochester Americans erupted for four straight unanswered goals, including Jiri Kulich's game-winner halfway through overtime, to prevail with a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Toronto Marlies Saturday afternoon at Coca-Coliseum.
The Amerks, who twice rallied back from three-goal deficits, closed out the opening weekend of their 68th American Hockey League season earning three out of a possible four points. With back-to-back overtime appearances, it marked the first time since the 2002-03 campaign the Amerks began a season with consecutive games being decided beyond regulation. (Oct. 11 vs. Albany, 2-2 tie; Oct. 12. at Philadelphia, 1-0 OTL)
Rochester's three third-period goals were the first by the club since a three-goal frame in the final 20 minutes on Mar. 24, 2019 at Toronto (also a 5-4 overtime win). In 25 of the last 29 meetings between the Amerks and Marlies, the winning team has scored at least four goals dating back to the 2017-18 season.
In addition to Kulich recording a two-point outing (1+1), Isak Rosen (1+1), Jeremy Davies (1+1), Aleksandr Kisakov (1+1), Michael Mersch (0+2) and Ryan Johnson (0+2) all notched a pair of points in the win. Lukas Rousek and Nikita Novikov each chipped in an assist to complete the scoring.
Goaltender Michael Houser made 39 saves in his season debut, while facing double digits in shots in each period, including 30 through the first two frames. Since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, Houser has seen 40 or more shots in four of his last 22 appearances.
Toronto was led by captain Logan Shaw's four-point (2+2) outing. He also matched a career-best with eight shots on goal while Bobby McMann (2+1) and Nicholas Robertson (0+2) also tallied a multi-point effort. Nick Abruzzese, Topi Niemela and Marshall Rifai all had an assist.
Goaltender Keith Petruzzelli stopped 27 of the 32 shots he faced for the Marlies in his season debut.
Less than five minutes after starting the final period, the Amerks trimmed the Marlies lead to 4-3 as Murray and Kisakov both found the back of Petruzzelli's net.
Murray kicked off the third-period scoring frenzy as he converted Johnson's centering feed from behind the net 1:54 into the frame before Kisakov buried a rebound on the power-play.
The Amerks, who outshot the Marlies 10-0 in the first 10 minutes of the third period, continued working to find the equalizer as they tested Toronto.
The Marlies were given a three-minute powerplay with just over eight minutes to play, but immediately after the infraction, Rosen provided an outlet pass to Davies at the far blueline. The defenseman gathered the pass in stride and unleashed a blast from the top of the circle that sailed past Petruzzeli to force overtime with his first of the season.
During the extra frame, Tyson Kozak nearly completed comeback as both he and Brandon Biro had an odd-man rush but were denied in the first minute.
Later in the period, Davies sprinted up the ice carrying the puck through the Amerks zone. Prior to reaching the center-ice logo, he left it for Kulich near the Rochester bench. The second-year pro cut inside the Marlies blueline and left the puck for Rousek, who returned it to Kulich for a one-timer to complete the 5-4 win.
Toronto opened the scoring as they built a 3-0 lead and eventually a 4-1 cushion going after 40 minutes of play, but the Amerks countered back with four unanswered tallies to come way with their first win of the season.
The Amerks continue their three-game Canadian road swing on Wednesday, Oct. 18 with the first of back-to-back meetings against the Laval Rocket at Place Bell. Game time is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start and will be carried on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV.
Storyline Stripes:
With three assists through his first two professional games, Ryan Johnson leads all AHL rookie defensemen while Nikita Novikov is one of nine blueliners overall with two or more helpers ... Jiri Kulich was credited with the secondary assist on Aleksandr Kisakov's power-play goal ... Of Kulich's 49 career points with Rochester, Kulich has 21 power-play points (9+12) in 64 games.
Goal Scorers
ROC: I. Rosen (2), B. Murray (1), A. Kisakov (1), J. Davies (1), J. Kulich (1)
TOR: B. McMann (1, 2), B. McMann (1, 2)
Goaltenders
ROC: R. Houser - 39/43 (W)
TOR: K. Petruzzelli - 27/32 (OTL)
Shots
ROC: 32
TOR: 43
Special Teams
ROC: PP (2/3) | PK (3/5)
TOR: PP (2/5) | PK (1/3)
Three Stars:
1. TOR - L. Shaw
2. ROC - I. Rosen
3. ROC - A. Kisakov
--@AmerksHockey--
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from October 14, 2023
- Roadrunners Win Game Two 2-1 Over The Texas Stars At The Heb Center In Cedar Park, Texas - Tucson Roadrunners
- Sens Start The New Season With Road Shutout Of Defending Calder Cup Champions - Belleville Senators
- Silver Knights Defeat Iowa in Back-To-Back Games, Drop Seven on Wild - Henderson Silver Knights
- Brodzinski Pots Two as Wolf Pack Edge Thunderbirds 3-1 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Griffins Sweep Weekend Against Colorado Eagles - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Stars' Late Surge Falls Short Against Roadrunners - Texas Stars
- Phantoms Open 10th Season in Lehigh Valley - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Admirals Earn OT Win in Season Opener - Milwaukee Admirals
- Bears Blanked by Senators 3-0 on Opening Night - Hershey Bears
- Crunch Top Islanders, 4-2 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolves Fall to Admirals 2-1 in OT in Season Opener - Chicago Wolves
- Crunch Top Islanders, 4-2, in Home Opener - Syracuse Crunch
- T-Birds Tripped Up on Opening Night by Wolf Pack, 3-1 - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Monsters Start The Season With 5-2 Win Over Phantoms - Cleveland Monsters
- Henderson Outlasts Iowa, Takes 7-3 Win at Wells Fargo Arena - Iowa Wild
- Colorado Comes Up Empty In 5-2 Loss To Griffins - Colorado Eagles
- Barracuda Explode for Seven Goals Behind Bailey's Big Night - San Jose Barracuda
- Mack Guzda, Patrick Khodorenko Lead Checkers To First Win Of Season Against Penguins - Charlotte Checkers
- Amerks Rally in Third, Top Marlies in Overtime - Rochester Americans
- Gust's Two Goals, Anderson's Three Assists, Commesso's 34 Saves Lead to 7-2 Win - Rockford IceHogs
- Late San Diego Flurry Spoils Season Opener - Ontario Reign
- Bears Partner with Baron© to Create 2023 Calder Cup Championship Ring - Hershey Bears
- Tristen Nielsen Grabs Hat Trick to Help Canucks Defeat Laval 4-3 - Abbotsford Canucks
- San Diego Gulls Release Scott Harrington from Professional Tryout - San Diego Gulls
- Barracuda's Wiesblatt Suspended for Three Games - AHL
- Zach Aston-Reese Recalled by Detroit - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Morning Skate Report: October 14, 2023 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Game #2: Tucson Roadrunners at Texas Stars - Tucson Roadrunners
- Preview: Hogs Ready for Second Game of Opening Weekend in California - Rockford IceHogs
- Gravel Named Admirals Captain - Milwaukee Admirals
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild vs. Henderson Silver Knights - Iowa Wild
- Wolf Pack Visit Thunderbirds to Kick off 'I-91 Rivalry' - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Bears vs. Senators, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Wranglers Start Season with a 'W' - Calgary Wranglers
- Bridgeport Islanders Visit Syracuse Crunch Tonight - Bridgeport Islanders
- Roadrunners Top Stars, 3-2 - Tucson Roadrunners
- Mukhamadullin Scores Late But the Barracuda Fall Big to IceHogs, 7-2, in Season Opener - San Jose Barracuda
- Gust's Two Goals, Anderson's Three Assists, Commesso's 34 Saves Lead to 7-2 Win - Rockford IceHogs
- Gulls Start Regular Season With Win Over Reign - San Diego Gulls
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
