(Syracuse, NY) – The Rochester Americans fell behind early to the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday night and, despite recording 20 shots on goal in the third period for the third straight game, came up short in a 3-1 road loss at War Memorial Arena. The Amerks are now 32-31-2-1 on the season with one game remaining in the month of March.
Andrey Makarov made his first start in goal for the Amerks since Jan. 3 and was sharp, stopping 29 of 32 shots on the night. Nick Baptiste scored the lone Rochester goal, his 11th of the season, with an assist from former Crunch defenseman Joey Mormina. Baptiste also registered a game-high seven shots on goal.
Syracuse goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis finished with 39 saves on 40 Rochester shots, including stopping all 20 shots he faced in the third period. Ryan Martindale finished with a goal and two assists while Jonathan Drouin and Yanni Gourde rounded out the scoring for the Crunch.
Syracuse got off to a quick start in the first period as it jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Drouin got things going with a power play goal at the 8:11 mark. As the Crunch worked the puck around the Rochester zone, Drouin collected a pass from Matthew Peca and fired a wrist shot through a screen in front and into the top corner of the net for his ninth goal of the season.
Later in the period, Martindale picked off an Amerks clearing attempt just inside the blue line and got the puck to Henri Ikonen, who slid the puck over to Gourde. As he skated into the slot, Gourde lifted a shot past Makarov to stake Syracuse to a 2-0 lead.
Martindale made it a 3-0 game when his shot had just enough on it to trickle over the goal line. Attacking up the right wing side, Martindale snapped a shot on goal that Makarov was able to get a piece of, but the puck skipped over his pad and just barely rolled over the goal line.
Baptiste put Rochester on the board late in the second period with a terrific individual effort. He picked up a loose puck just inside his own zone and sped up the ice, creating a 2-on-1 chance. Baptiste elected to hold onto the puck and shoot it himself, beating Gudlevskis low to the stick side. Mormina collected the lone assist on Baptiste’s 11th goal of the season.
The Amerks came out firing in the third period, out-shooting the Crunch 20-12 over the final frame. It marked the third consecutive game that Rochester had recorded at least 20 shots in the third period. Justin Bailey’s shorthanded, partial breakaway bid was perhaps the team’s best opportunity of the period, but Gudlevskis was equal to the task and stopped every shot he faced in the third to preserve the 3-1 win for Syracuse.
The Amerks are back in action again on Tuesday, March 29 when they visit the North Division rival Utica Comets in one final matchup at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Game time is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start and will be carried live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester.
Goal Scorers
RCH: Baptiste (11)
SYR: Drouin (9), Gourde (13), Martindale (4)
Shots
RCH: 40
SYR: 32
Goaltenders
RCH: Makarov – L (29/32)
SYR: Gudlevskis – W (39/40)
Special Teams
Amerks Power Play: 0-4
Amerks Penalty Kill: 1-2
