AHL Rochester Americans

Four-Goal First Period Sends Amerks into Holiday Break with 4-1 Win over Devils

Published on December 19, 2015 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... The Rochester Americans erupted for four goals in the first period and never looked back on their way to a dominating 4-1 win over the visiting Albany Devils Saturday at The Blue Cross Arena. The win caps a perfect two-win weekend for the Amerks, who improve to 14-12-1-1 on the season and head into the annual Christmas break having won four of their last five.

Tim Schaller, Patrick Kaleta, Nick Baptiste and Colby Robak all scored in the first 17:51 of the first period while Andrey Makarov supported the Rochester victory with 30 saves on 31 shots. Coming off their 7-1 win over Hartford last night, the Amerks have now had 11 different goal-scorers find the back of the net over their previous two wins.

Brandon Burlon scored the lone Albany goal while the goaltending tandem of Yann Danis and Scott Wedgewood combined for 20 saves for the Devils, who are now winless in four straight.

On the heels of its most offensive showing this season, Rochester picked up it where it left off the night before, tying a season-high with four goals in the first period and establishing a lead it would never relinquish.

Schaller set the tone early, snapping home his fifth of the season through the legs of Danis on a partial breakaway to give the Amerks a 1-0 advantage just 3:35 into the contest. Akeson earned the lone assist after providing the pass that ultimately allowed Schaller to zip by Albany defenseman Vojtech Mozik, who despite his best efforts to impede Schaller, couldn't prevent the Amerks forward from getting the shot off. The goal marks Schaller's fourth in as many appearances, which also extends his point streak to a season-long four games.

The Amerks quickly seized control of the game from there, adding three more in a span of 6:45. Kaleta upped Rochester's lead to a pair midway through frame after turning a near-broken play into his first of the season. An initial offering from Catenacci never made its way to the Albany net, but instead pinballed around the low slot before glancing off the skate of Devils forward Blake Pietila. Kaleta, who came into the contest with 99 games as an Amerk, corralled the loose puck and put the rebound past Danis, giving the rugged forward his first AHL goal since Nov. 11, 2013.

Minutes later, an unfortunate misplay by Danis and the Albany defense proved costly and the Amerks would capitalize at 15:44 with Baptiste finding himself on the receiving end from Carrier. The Devils veteran netminder settled the puck behind his own net and attempted to leave it for one of his nearby teammates. Carrier, however, swooped in at the last second to retrieve the puck, circled around the cage and fed a wide-open Baptiste, who tapped into the empty net before Danis could get back into position.

Robak capped a dominant four-goal first period a short time later when he sniped the upper right corner off a highlight reel pass from O'Reilly to make it a 4-0 game. O'Reilly forced a turnover in the offensive and sent a no-look, backhanded pass across the blueline to Robak, who was streaking in from the left wing boards. Robak then skated into the near circle and delivered an absolute blast under the crossbar that would chase Danis, who entered the contest with the AHL's fourth-best goals-against average among goaltenders.

After a scoreless second period, Burlon put the Devils on the board at 2:04 of the third. Ryan Kujawinski and Reid Boucher both had attempts on goal and Burlon was atop the crease for the put-back attempt as Makarov had his shutout bid denied for the second straight night.

The Amerks resume their season-long five-game homestand following the Christmas break on Saturday, Dec. 26 when the North Division rival Utica Comets arrive back in Rochester for a 7:05 p.m. matchup at The Blue Cross Arena. Game time is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start and will be carried live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester.

Goal Scorers

RCH: Schaller (5), Kaleta (1), Baptiste (5), Robak (5)

ALB: Burlon (3)

Shots

RCH: 24

ALB: 31

Goaltenders

RCH: Makarov - W (30/31)

ALB: Danis/Wedgewood - L (20/24)

Special Teams

Amerks Power Play: 0-3

Amerks Penalty Kill: 2-2

Check out the Rochester Americans Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from December 19, 2015


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