(Grand Rapids, MI) – Rochester Americans goaltender Nathan Lieuwen posted his first shutout in nearly two years, stopping all 42 shots he faced as he and the Amerks completed the weekend sweep of the Grand Rapids Griffins with a 2-0 win Saturday at Van Andel Arena. The win, which comes on the heels of Friday’s 5-3 triumph over the Griffins, closes out a successful four-point weekend for Rochester against one of the top teams in the AHL and improves the team to 20-19-2-1.
Dan Catenacci and Allan McPherson each scored for the Amerks in front of a flawless performance from Lieuwen, who picked up his fourth career AHL shutout and first since Feb. 1, 2014, a 26-save effort against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Lieuwen has now won three of his last four starts while allowing one or fewer goals-against in each of his three wins over that span. Jason Akeson, Jerry D’Amigo, William Carrier and Justin Bailey all recorded assists in the win, which moves the Amerks into sole possession of fifth place in the American Hockey League’s North Division standings.
Mitch Callahan fired a team-high six shots and Griffins goaltender Jared Coreau made 27 saves in the loss for Grand Rapids, which came into the weekend riding an AHL-best 15-game point streak at home. This weekend’s losses also marked the first time the Griffins dropped back-to-back contests since seeing their franchise-long 15-game win streak snapped back in December.
After scoring three of the final four goals in last night’s win over the Griffins, the Amerks picked up right where they left off the night before, needing all of 3:16 to take a 1-0 lead over their hosts. The play began and ended with Catenacci, as he first caused a turnover along the left wing boards before springing Akeson free with a long stretch pass through center ice. Akeson gained the Grand Rapids zone, out-waited a Griffins defenseman and made a quick return pass to an oncoming Catenacci, who steered it past Coreau for his seventh of the season. D’Amigo also added an assist, giving him three points on the weekend following his two-goal effort in Friday’s win.
Lieuwen was perfect in stopping all 12 shots he faced during the opening frame while helping the Amerks kill off three consecutive penalties, two of which came in the final minutes of the period.
Catenacci nearly had his second of the night late in the second period when he caught Coreau out of position behind the Grand Rapids net. The Griffins netminder vacated his cage in an effort to control a fast-moving puck that was making its way around the end boards, but misplayed it, allowing Catenacci to gain possession. The Amerks forward circled in front looking to stuff a shot inside the near post, but Coreau was able to recover and get across his crease in time to deny the wrap-around attempt, keeping it a one-goal game.
Catenacci’s tally stood as the difference until 12:40 of the third period when McPherson converted a centering feed from the top of the crease to put the Amerks up 2-0. Carrier and Bailey earned the assists, with Bailey also finishing the weekend with three helpers to push his point streak to three games.
Lieuwen remained perfect for the final 7:20 of regulation, adding 15 more saves in the third period to help Rochester complete the sweep of Grand Rapids.
The Amerks return home to play the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at The Blue Cross Arena. It will mark the fifth of 10 meetings between the North Division rivals this season and the final matchup in Rochester, as the last five games will all take place in Syracuse. Wednesday’s 7:05 p.m. game can be seen on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel and will also be broadcast on Fox Sports 1280 Rochester.
Goal Scorers
RCH: Catenacci (7), McPherson (1)
GR: None
Shots
RCH: 29
GR: 42
Goaltenders
RCH: Lieuwen – W (42/42)
GR: Coreau – L (27/29)
Special Teams
Amerks Power Play: 0-4
Amerks Penalty Kill: 6-6
