AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Turn Up The 'Heat' In 8-4 Win

Published on April 20, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Abbotsford, BC)... Despite falling behind early to a 2-0 deficit, the Rochester Americans erupted with eight goals, including four unanswered in the second period, en route to an 8-4 win over the Abbotsford Heat in Game 3 of the North Division semifinals tonight at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. Rochester now takes a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series heading into Game 4 for the second of three straight this week from Abbotsford, British Columbia. The win marked the first time since May 9, 2000 (8-4 win over Hershey in Game 2 of Western Conference Finals) that the Amerks scored eight goals in a playoff game.

Shawn Matthias (2+1), Graham Mink (2+1), Jason Garrison (0+3) and Mike York (0+3) all tallied three-point nights, as Matthias and York each finished with a team-best plus-five on-ice rating. Tyler Plante earned his second straight win in as many games, stopping 32 shots. Defenseman Clay Wilson also scored a pair of goals.

Abbotsford forward Brett Sutter scored two goals, while Mikael Backlund finished with a goal and an assist. Former Amerk netminder Dadid Shantz and Leland Irving combined for just 20 saves in the losing effort.

The Heat got off to a hot start in their home American Hockey League playoff debut with power-play goal from Backlund just 1:44 into the opening frame. Wilson took a tripping penalty at 1:09 and Abbotsford needed just 35 seconds on the man-advantage opportunity to take an early 1-0 lead. Shawn Weller and John Lammers each collected assists on Backlund's first goal of the playoffs as the Heat scored the game's first goal for the third straight game.

Abbotsford doubled its lead to 2-0 in the closing minutes of the first period as Jon Rheault lifted a goal-mouth rebound into the top of the net for his first of the postseason at 17:56. After Matt Pelech's shot from the point was denied by Plante, Rheault picked up the rebound in the near slot and roofed it past the defenseless Amerk goaltender. Heat captain Garth Murray also recorded an assist on the play.

Rochester cut the deficit in half just over a minute later as Wilson beat Shantz for his first of the playoffs to make it a 2-1 game. Chris Taylor scooped up the loose puck in the far corner and fed it to Garrison at the point who then shuffled it to Wilson along the blueline. Wilson's low shot from the high slot alluded Shantz, somehow making its way through the goaltender's legs and into the back of the net.

The Amerks evened things up at two apiece on a nifty passing play that resulted in Matthias scoring his first of the playoffs at 8:03 of the second stanza. Jeff Taffe cycled the puck from the left wing boards behind the net to York who quickly fed a wide-open Matthias in the slot. Matthias wasted no time blasting a one-timer past Shantz to give record his second point in as many nights. York picked up his team-leading sixth point with an assist to extend his point streak to three games.

Jordan Henry gave the Amerks their first lead of the game on the power-play just minutes later and Wilson converted on an odd-man rush to give Rochester a 4-2 lead as he roofed his second of the game into the top corner. Leland Irving finally made his playoff debut, replacing Shantz between the pipes with five minutes left in the period. York assisted on both goals, giving him his second three-point outing in back-to-back games.

Mink made it a 5-2 game with just eight seconds left in the frame on another passing play, this time from the right wing boards. Garrison sent the puck around the net where Jamie Johnson was there to collect it. Mink was able to break away from his defender and beat Irving low blocker-side with a quick one-timer.

The teams would exchange third-period goals in the first six minutes of the final frame before Rochester took an 8-3 lead as Mink and Keaton Ellerby scored back-to-back goals in just a 22-second span. Shantz would return to the game after Irving allowed his fourth goal on just eight shots.

Sutter potted his second of the game to cut Rochester's lead in half at 12:23 on the power-play. Mitch Wahl assisted on the play, in addition to Backlund picking up his second point of the evening with a helper. Despite the tally, the Amerks accounted for eight of the game's final 10 goals, with five coming in a span of 21:03 between the first two periods.

The same two teams will meet again on Wednesday, April 21st for Game 4 of the North Division semifinals at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. The 10:00 p.m. EST contest will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2010


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