Late Goal Lifts Amerks to 3-1 Win over St. John's
December 11, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release
(St. John's, NFLD)... The Rochester Americans scored twice in the final 1:02 of regulation and rode a season-high 38 saves from goaltender Nathan Lieuwen as they took the first game of a weekend set against the St. John's IceCaps by way of a 3-1 victory Friday at Mile One Centre. The win snaps a three-game skid for the Amerks (11-11-1-1, 24 points) and evens the season series at two games apiece heading into Saturday's rematch with the IceCaps (12-7-4-2, 30 points).
Rochester scored three straight unanswered goals to erase a 1-0 deficit and Jerry D'Amigo's fourth of the season broke a 1-1 tie with just over a minute remaining. Colby Robak found the empty net from beyond center ice to secure the win for the Amerks, while Phil Varone rounded out the scoring with his team-leading ninth goal on the power-play to spark a three-goal run. Tonight's win was equally special for Amerks head coach Randy Cunneyworth, who surpassed coach Robbie Ftorek for sixth place on the AHL's all-time games coached list with his 744th game behind the bench.
Jacob de la Rose had the lone goal for St. John's and Zach Fucale made 25 saves on 27 shots in the loss for the IceCaps, who suffered their regulation loss at home this season.
Rochester trailed just 1-0 following a rather one-sided first period largely in part to Lieuwen, whose sensational play from the start kept the Amerks within reach despite being outshot 22-4.
St. John's established the momentum early after consecutive penalties to the Amerks afforded the IceCaps a full 1:45 of a two-man advantage opportunity. Lieuwen, however, stood on his head for the duration, including denying a point-blank chance from Michal Bournival for one of his 21 first-period saves. Lieuwen came up big again just minutes later as de la Rose got behind the Rochester defense on a shorthanded breakaway only to have his stuff-in attempt rebuffed by the right pad of the Rochester netminder.
The IceCaps would eventually breakthrough on their 17th shot of the period with de la Rose getting the better of Lieuwen this time around on a back-hander to the top corner of the net for his first of the season and a 1-0 St. John's lead.
Varone evened the score on the power-play midway through the middle frame when his attempted centering feed caromed off the skate of IceCaps defenseman Morgan Ellis and in, making it a 1-1 game.
With the teams appearing to be heading toward overtime for the second straight game, Jason Akeson stripped the puck of Darren Dietz behind the St. John's net and kicked it out front to Dan Catenacci, stationed at the near post. Catenacci then one-touched the offer across the crease to D'Amigo, who buried the go-ahead goal with just 1:02 to play in third period before Robak added an empty-netter 34 seconds later to seal the 3-1 win for Rochester.
The same two teams meet again for the second time in as many nights on Saturday, Dec. 12 as the Amerks and IceCaps square off in the back-end of the two-game set at Mile One Centre. The 6:00 p.m. EST contest will be the fifth of eight meetings between the two teams this season and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester.
Goal Scorers
RCH: Varone (9), D'Amigo (4), Robak (4)
STJ: de la Rose (1)
Shots
RCH: 28
STJ: 39
Goaltenders
RCH: Lieuwen - W (38/39)
STJ: Fucale - L (25/27)
Special Teams
Amerks Power Play: 1-5
Amerks Penalty Kill: 6-6
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