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AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Ring in New Year with 4-3 Overtime Loss in Bridgeport

January 2, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Bridgeport, CT) - Ryan Whitney netted his team-leading 13th goal of the season just 38 seconds into overtime as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers came out on top of a back-and-forth 4-3 win over the Rochester Americans Saturday at Webster Bank Arena. The Amerks, who were in Bridgeport for the first time in nearly 14 years, fall to 15-14-2-1 on the season following their first game of the New Year.

Justin Bailey scored twice for the first multi-goal game of his career and Nick Baptiste rounded out the scoring for the Amerks, who despite the loss, have now collected points in 11 of their last 14 games. Nathan Lieuwen earned his third straight start in net, stopping 30 of 34 shots he faced in the losing effort for Rochester.

Mike Halmo, Matt Carkner and Taylor Beck all scored in regulation for the Sound Tigers, while Bracken Kearns contributed two assists and Parker Milner made 34 saves to notch his first win of the season.

Rochester carried the momentum early, attacking the Bridgeport defense and firing off three shots on Milner before the game was even three minutes hold. The first period featured scoring chances for both teams, beginning with a partial breakaway for Sound Tigers forward Sebastian Collberg, who was able to get his shot off despite a last-second hook from Bobby Sanguinetti.

The duration of the opening period saw the Amerks and Sound Tigers exchange multiple power-play opportunities leading up to Jerome Leduc nearly finding the back of the net for the second straight game. Milner, however, was able to shut the door on consecutive attempts from the Rochester defensemen, including a one-timer from the top of the left circle to keep the Amerks off the board.

The teams combined for five goals following a scoreless first period, with Bridgeport needing just 59 seconds into the middle frame to take a 1-0 lead as James Wright and Whitney found Halmo, who was racing in towards Lieuwen and finished for his fifth of the year.

The Amerks answered on their fifth power-play of the night at 11:15 when Bailey crashed the net and stuffed home a Tim Schaller rebound to knot the score at one apiece. Baptiste spotted Rochester to a 2-1 advantage just minutes later after releasing a shot from in-between the circles that eluded Milner and trickled in for the rookie forward's sixth of the season.

The back-and-forth play continued with Bridgeport adding two more in a span of 2:32 take a 3-2 lead into the intermission. Carkner converted a centering feed from Kearns for a shorthanded tally at 17:16 and Beck sniped the upper corner with 12 seconds remaining off another set up from Kearns to put the Sound Tigers in front.

Bridgeport's lead would be short-lived, however, as Bailey struck again 4:50 into the final frame. After making a play on the puck at the Sound Tigers blueline to maintain offensive zone pressure, the rookie forward spun and threw an innocent shot on net that took an awkward bounce in front of Milner and into the top corner over the defenseless netminder.

With the final 15:10 of regulation played to a standstill, the teams headed to overtime, where the Sound Tigers needed less than a minute to capitalize during the 3-on-3 session. Whitney gathered a loose puck along the right wing boards, skated into the near circle and roofed a shot under the crossbar to give Bridgeport the 4-3 win.

The Amerks close out their two-game swing through the Atlantic Division on Sunday, Jan. 3 when they return to Providence for the first time in nearly seven years to face-off against the Bruins at Dunkin' Donuts Center. The 5:00 p.m. contest will be the first of just two meetings between the two teams this season and can be heard live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester. The Amerks and Bruins last met during the 2008-09 campaign when the teams split the season series, each winning on the road.

Goal Scorers

RCH: Bailey (4, 5), Baptiste (6)

BRI: Halmo (5), Carkner (2), Beck (9), Whitney (13)

Shots

RCH: 37

BRI: 34

Goaltenders

RCH: Lieuwen - L (30/34)

BRI: Milner - W (34/37)

Special Teams

Amerks Power Play: 1-7

Amerks Penalty Kill: 3-3

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