(Rochester, NY) – The Providence Bruins scored twice in the second and added two more in the third to complete the season sweep of the Rochester Americans with a 4-1 win Sunday at The Blue Cross Arena. After winning four straight to start the month, the Amerks have now dropped three of their last four and fall to 31-29-2-1 on the season.
Rookie forward Justin Bailey scored for the third straight game to bring Rochester within a goal and Linus Ullmark made 30 saves on 33 attempts while earning his 14th start in 19 games.
Alexander Khokhlachev led the Bruins with a goal and an assist while Austin Czarnik notched two assists to lead Providence to its third straight win. Brandon DeFazio, Anton Blidh and leading AHL goal-scorer Frank Vatrano rounded out the scoring for the Bruins behind a 36-save effort from veteran goaltender Jeremy Smith.
It was a goaltending duel through the first 17 minutes of play between Ullmark and Smith, but the Bruins would eventually break through with Khokhlachev on the receiving end of a back-door pass from Colin Miller at the 7:35 mark. Providence, which entered the contest with the AHL’s top power-play unit, needed just eight seconds into the man-advantage for Khokhlachev to push home his 19th goal of the season after hitting the left post just minutes earlier.
An exciting end to the second period saw the teams trade goals in the final minute, but not before the Bruins were able to double their lead with 29 seconds remaining. A Chris Breen blast from the center point never made its way past Ullmark and the rebound kicked out to the right of the crease. DeFazio was quick to make a play on the puck, diving to his right to sweep it past the outstretched leg of the Rochester netminder.
Bailey cut the deficit in half just 10 seconds later as the rookie forward again found himself the beneficiary of a generous bounce for the second straight game. Providence defenseman Chris Casto attempted to a play a puck off the end boards to Breen, but it instead took an awkward bounce out to the slot to a wide-open Bailey, who fired it past Smith for a 2-1 score.
The Bruins restored their two-goal advantage 2:44 into the third period when Connor Cave caused a turnover in the neutral zone before setting up Blidh off the ensuing 2-on-1 rush. Vatrano then sealed the 4-1 win into the empty-net for Providence with 1:28 remaining.
The Amerks remain home on Wednesday, March 23 and Friday, March 25 as the St. John’s IceCaps visit Rochester for a two-game set at The Blue Cross Arena. Both games against the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens this week begin at 7:05 p.m. and can be heard live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester.
Goal Scorers
RCH: Bailey (16)
PRO: Khokhlachev (19), DeFazio (18), Blidh (10), Vatrano (33)
Shots
RCH: 37
PRO: 34
Goaltenders
RCH: Ullmark – L (30/33)
PRO: Smith – W (36/37)
Special Teams
Amerks Power Play: 0-3
Amerks Penalty Kill: 2-3
