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Reinhart Posts Two Points as Amerks Fall to Comets in Regular Season Home Finale

April 17, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Despite a two-point effort from Sam Reinhart in his American Hockey League debut, the Rochester Americans fell in their regular season home finale to the Utica Comets 3-2 in front of a season-high crowd of 10,641 Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena. With the loss, the Amerks close out their home schedule with a 17-19-2-0 record and drop to 28-40-5-1 overall with two games remaining.

Reinhart, who appeared in nine games for the Buffalo Sabres early this season before being returned to the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League, notched two assists in his first game for the Amerks. Johan Larsson and Phil Varone, who returned to the Amerks after 21 and 16-game absences due to recalls with the Sabres, each notched their 15th goals of the season. Matt Hackett occupied the net for Rochester and made 20 saves.

Frank Corrado scored the eventual game-winning goal for the Comets in the third period, while Cory Conacher and Nicklas Jensen also added goals. Former Amerk Jacob Markstrom made 27 saves to earn the win.

Conacher opened the scoring for the Comets with a blast from the slot on the power-play 9:30 into the first period after receiving a slick pass from behind the net from Alexander Grenier.

The Amerks evened the score with a power-play conversion of their own, with Larsson on the finishing end for his 15th goal of the year. As the Amerks were moving the puck around Utica's zone, Mikhail Grigorenko had the puck in the slot before sliding it over to Larsson, who delayed for a moment before squeezing a shot through Markstrom's five-hole to even the score at 1-1.

A turnover in the Amerks zone led to Utica's second goal 2:53 into the second period when Hackett's attempt to play the puck went right to Jensen. Catching Hackett out of the net, Jensen fired into the open side.

Varone responded at the 13:41 mark of the middle frame, after a pass from Reinhart sent Varone down the left side of the Utica zone. From a sharp angle, Varone picked the top corner to even the score 2-2.

In the third period shortly after Utica killed off a minor penalty, Corrado skated into heavy traffic in the Rochester zone before firing the puck off of the post and in to give the Comets a 3-2 lead with 7:37 left in regulation.

Looking to tie the score, the Amerks pulled Hackett for the extra man with 1:45 left and nearly tied the score in the final moments after some chaos in front of the Utica net, but Markstrom managed to keep the puck out to secure the 3-2 win for the Comets.

The Amerks close out the regular season with back-to-back matchups on the road, starting on Saturday, April 18 when they travel to the southern tier to take on the intrastate rival Binghamton Senators at Floyd L. Maines Memorial Arena. The 7:05 p.m. contest will be the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season and will be carried live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester.

2014-15 Amerks Year-End Award Winners

Most Valuable Player - Chad Ruhwedel

Most Improved Player - Dan Catenacci

Most Popular Player - Zac Dalpe

Fairand/O'Neil Sportsmanship Award - Phil Varone

Rob Zabelny Unsung Hero - Jerome Leduc

Rookie of the Year - Jake McCabe and Andrey Makarov

McCulloch Trophy for Community Service/AHL Man of the Year - Nick Petrecki

Game-Winning Goal Award - Chad Ruhwedel (3) and Dan Catenacci (3)

Scoring Champion - Phil Varone

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