AHL Rochester Americans

Strong First Period Powers Amerks to 5-2 Win over Lake Erie

Published on January 9, 2015 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... The Rochester Americans came out of the gates with three goals in the opening 6:40 on their way to a 5-2 win over the Lake Erie Monsters Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena. The contest was the second in less than three weeks between the former North Division rivals, with the Amerks defeating the Monsters in both games after a decisive 4-1 win on Dec. 26.

With the win, the Amerks also improved their overall record to 15-21-1-0 and have won three of their past five games.

Dan Catenacci, Mark Pysyk and Jerry D'Amigo all finished with a goal and an assist to pace the Amerks. Zac Dalpe and William Carrier also added scores for Rochester and goaltender Andrey Makarov denied 29 shots for his 11th win of the year. Catenacci, who totaled just three points (3+0) over his first 26 games this season, now has five points over his past six outings.

Joey Hishon tallied a goal and an assist for Lake Erie, with Dennis Everberg adding a goal. Calvin Pickard and Sami Aittokallio combined to make 22 saves in the losing effort.

The Amerks scored their first three goals in a span of 2:14 to storm out to a 3-0 lead. Pysyk began the scoring 4:26 in after collecting the puck and gliding across the blueline before tossing the puck on net through D'Amigo's screen. Pickard failed to pick up the puck, and it bounced off the goaltender's glove and in to put the Amerks in front 1-0.

Carrier converted on his first goal since Nov. 14 with a simple wrist-shot from the left circle just 44 seconds later to chase Pickard to the bench. Rochester's first shot against his replacement, Aittokallio, from Catenacci, was a successful one for the second-year forward's second goal in three games to give the Amerks an early 3-0 edge.

Lake Erie got on the board with 4:39 left in the opening period when Hishon flipped a back-hand pass into the slot for Everberg, who was able to beat Makarov to cut into Rochester's three-goal lead.

Dalpe responded with his seventh goal of the season 3:21 later on another simple wrist-shot that fooled Aittokallio to put the Amerks ahead 4-1. Pickard, the game's starter, returned to the net to relieve Aittokallio after the score.

On Lake Erie's first power-play of the game just over three minutes into the middle frame, Hishon accepted a pass from Stefan Elliott in the right circle and skipped a shot past Makarov, bringing the score to 4-2.

Looking to mount a comeback effort, Lake Erie pulled Pickard for the extra man, but D'Amigo's shot from just outside the blueline was true, giving the Amerks a 5-2 advantage with 21.7 seconds left in regulation.

The Amerks reach the midway point of the season on Saturday, Jan. 10 when they host the first-place Oklahoma City Barons at 7:05 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena. Prior to the game, the team will induct longtime forward and current assistant coach Chris Taylor into the Hall of Fame during an on-ice ceremony. After spending parts of nine seasons with the Amerks between 1999 and 2011, Taylor finished his career ranked among the franchise's all-time leaders in assists (3rd, 339), games played (4th, 519), points (5th, 481) and goals (10th, 142). He also served as team captain during the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons and was an alternate captain during several other campaigns.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 9, 2015


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