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AHL Rochester Americans

Varone Scores Twice as Amerks Get by Pirates, 4-3

October 31, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Portland, ME)... The Rochester Americans scored three times during the second period and rode a stellar 37-save effort from goaltender Nathan Lieuwen as the Amerks came away with a 4-3 win over the Portland Pirates Saturday afternoon at Cross Insurance Arena. It was the first road victory of the season for Rochester, which improved to 4-5-0-0 on the year in its first trip back to Portland in over a decade.

Today's win was equally as special for Amerks head coach Randy Cunneyworth, who surpassed coach Robbie Ftorek for seventh place on the AHL's all-time coaching wins list with his 354th career victory.

Phil Varone continued his torrid pace for the Amerks, scoring for the third straight game and leading the way with a pair of goals, including the game-winning tally exactly 5:00 into the third period for his 200th AHL point. Varone now has five points (4+1) in his last three games, including a team-best four goals over that stretch, and has taken over the team's scoring lead with eight points (5+3) in all through the first nine games of the season. William Carrier recorded a team-high three points (1+2) and Justin Bailey rounded out the scoring with his first professional goal. Rookie forward Jean Dupuy also collected two assists while Nick Baptiste, Bobby Sangunetti, Colby Robak and Brady Austin all notched assists in the win for Rochester.

Mackenzie Weegar, Kyle Rau and Brent Regner all scored goals for the Pirates while Wayne Simpson and Cameron Gaunce each contributed two assists behind a 23 saves from goaltender Mike McKenna.

Weegar put the Pirates in front just 3:58 into the contest on a one-timer from the right circle that snuck through a screened Lieuwen for the rookie defenseman's his first goal of the season. Rob Schremp controlled the puck in the low slot and continued the rush around the Rochester net. As Schremp came out of his turn, he floated a pass up top to an open Weegar, who stepped into a blast to give Portland an early 1-0 lead.

Rochester appeared to tie the game just minutes later on a redirection from Allan McPherson, but the goal was immediately waved off after an apparent high stick.

Portland nearly made it a 2-0 game in the waning minutes of the opening frame on a point-blank chance from Vincent Saponari. Lieuwen, however, thought otherwise and threw up his glove at the last second for one of his seven first-period saves to keep it a one-goal game heading into the first intermission.

The Amerks soon turned their deficit into a two-goal advantage, scoring three times over a span of 9:04 to take a 3-1 lead. Bailey evened the score at the 8:31 mark after Dupuy had the puck knocked off his stick during a rush toward the net and Carrier followed up with his first of the season less than two minutes later when he swept in Austin's rebound from his stomach.

Varone gave Rochester its largest lead of the night when he picked the upper corner on the power-play with 2:25 remaining in the second period, but Portland answered just 28 seconds later with Rau converting his fourth of the season to bring the Pirates within a goal.

Varone again widened the gap exactly 5:00 into the third period with his second of the day and a late response from Regner would cut the deficit in half when his shot somehow pibnalled its way into the net with 2:54 remaining.

Portland pulled McKenna for the extra attacker in an effort to force overtime, but Lieuwen took over for the Amerks and stood tall for the final 1:15 as Rochester held on for the 4-3 win.

Rochester concludes its three-game trek through the Atlantic Division on Sunday, Nov. 1 as the Amerks return to Hartford for the first time in over a decade to take on the Wolf Pack at XL Center. The 5:00 p.m. contest will be the first of four scheduled meetings between the two teams this season and will be carried live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester.

Goal Scorers

RCH: Bailey (1), Carrier (1), Varone (4, 5)

POR: Weegar (1), Rau (4), Regner (1)

Shots

RCH: 27

POR: 40

Goaltenders

RCH: Lieuwen - W (37/40)

POR: McKenna - L (23/27)

Specials Teams

Amerks Power Play: 1-3

Amerks Penalty Kill: 3-3

Check out the Rochester Americans Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from October 31, 2015


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