AHL Rochester Americans

York Leads 'Americans' To 4-3 Overtime Win

February 28, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, February 28)... Rochester hockey fans got to watch to overtime games at The Blue Cross Arena today. The only difference was that in the nightcap it was the "Americans" that earned the win in the extra session. Former Team USA forward Mike York set up all four Rochester Americans goals, including the game-winner, in a 4-3 win over the Binghamton Senators.

Rochester (34-26-2-0, 70 points) has now won three of its last four contests and moved into a second-place tie in the North Division with the Abbotsford Heat. The Amerks received a three-point effort from Jeff Taffe (2+1) and a two-point night (1+1) from Jamie Johnson. Taffe netted the game-winning goal at 3:40 of overtime to help the Amerks grab four of a possible six points this weekend. The Senators forced overtime with a goal by Jonathan Cheechoo with just 42 seconds to play.

"We found a way to win tonight," said Amerks Head Coach Benoit Groulx.

Binghamton was led by a two-point performance from Derek Smith. Goalie Chris Holt turned aside 23 shots, including two in overtime. Rochester's goalie Alexander Salak outdueled Holt in a 29-save victory.

The game started less than an hour after Canada beat Team USA 3-2 in overtime in the gold-medal game of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The proximity to the start of the American Hockey League game did not affect the Amerks as they struck first. Rochester made it 1-0 when defenseman Jordan Henry scored at 8:51 of the opening period. Johnson, who now has eight points (3+5) in his last 10 games, and Mike York earned assists on the goal.

Binghamton responded with two straight shorthanded goals. The Sens tied the contest at one off a nifty pass from Erik Condra to Derek Smith for a goal into an empty net, as Salak slid to his left to block a possible shot. The goal at 11:39 was also assisted on by Cody Bass.

In the second, Josh Hennessy made it 2-1 at 5:45 with the assist going to Zack Smith. Rochester got things even off a goal-mouth tap in by Taffe at 10:07. Wilson and York, a 2002 Olympic silver medalist, earned the assists. It was York's second assist of the night. Johnson scored the go-ahead goal at 12:08 of the third period, as he backhanded the puck past Sens goalie Chris Holt. York earned his third assist of the game and Taffe picked up his second point.

"It was a really nice pass," said Johnson. "It surprised me. I almost didn't know what to do with it but I went 5-hole."

Cheechoo knotted the game at three, scoring off a goal-mouth scramble in the final minute of the game to force OT.

The Amerks won it in overtime as Taffe converted a Jason Garrison pass for the winner. York started the play with great work along the near boards to slide the puck to Garrison.

Rochester opens its March slate on Friday, March 5th as it travels to the Glens Falls Civic Center to face the Adirondack Phantoms. The 7:30 p.m. matchup will be the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season and will be carried live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk.

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