(Rochester, NY) – The Rochester Americans assembled a 3-0 lead and survived a late game push from the American Hockey League’s top team as the Amerks held on a for a hard-earned 4-2 win over the league-leading Toronto Marlies Saturday at The Blue Cross Arena. The win improves Rochester to 28-26-2-1 on the season and snaps a 12-game losing streak to the Marlies dating back to Dec. 7 of last season.
William Carrier led the way with a pair of goals, including the game-winner, while newcomer Cole Schneider scored his first as an Amerk with Jerry D’Amigo adding an empty-netter to give Rochester its fourth straight win at home.Tim Schaller also chipped in two points (0+2), while Eric O’Dell, Patrick Kaleta, Matt Donovan and Justin Baileyall collected assists behind another solid 40-save effort from goaltender Linus Ullmark.
The game also featured the debut of veteran defenseman Joey Mormina, who was acquired by the Amerks last night via trade from the Syracuse Crunch. Mormina finished the night with three shots and five penalty minutes while becoming the fifth different player over this past week to have been acquired by Rochester.
Connor Brown scored twice for the visiting Marlies and goaltender Alex Stalock posted 34 saves in his debut for Toronto, which saw its winless streak reach two games.
After suffering a 10-5 loss at the hands of the Marlies one week ago, the Amerks were quick to strike back tonight and needed only 70 seconds to take a 1-0 lead over the AHL’s top team. The line of Schneider, O’Dell and Evan Rodrigues, which combined for eight points in last night’s win over Springfield, went right to work on their first shift of the game in getting behind the Toronto defense.
O’Dell attacked the offensive zone with speed and looped around the Marlies net before swinging a pass up high to Donovan. The Amerks defenseman let a shot fly from just inside the blueline and Schneider, stationed in the deep slot, redirected inside the left post for his first as an Amerk and 18th of the season. The assist gave O’Dell three points on the weekend and pushed him to the 40-point mark while Donovan extended his current assist streak to a season-long seven straight games. It marked the first time all season Rochester carried a lead over Toronto.
Rochester cushioned its lead just over six minutes later as the trio of Carrier, Schaller and Bailey connected to give the Amerks a 2-0 advantage. Schaller’s initial offering from the slot hit Stalock square in the chest, forcing the puck to drop to the edge of the crease, where Carrier converted to send the Amerks into the break up by a pair.
Carrier put the game out of reach for good with his second of the night on an unassisted tally at 9:40 of the middle frame. After picking the pocket of former Amerk T.J. Brennan along the left half-wall, Carrier cut toward the net, side-stepped around Toronto’s Rinat Valiev and slid a back-handed shot beyond the reach of Stalock. The second-year pro has now scored six goals and has totaled eight points over his last six games. He has also finished with multiple points in six of his last 12 outings, including four of the last six and each of the last two against Toronto.
Toronto mounted its comeback on the strength of back-to-back goals from Brown, with the first coming just 4:20 into the third period to trim the Amerks lead to 3-1. Mark Arcobello’s slap-shot from the left point struck Ullmark’s pad, but the puck caromed out to an awaiting Brown, who capitalized into the open net. Brown brought the Marlies to within a goal a short time later with his second of the night off a shorthanded odd-man rush.
Josh Leivo nearly completed the comeback for the Marlies later in the frame on a point-blank chance with 4:15remaining, but a spectacular glove save from Ullmark kept it a one-goal for Rochester.
A slashing penalty to Schaller in the closing minutes of the period afforded Toronto one final power-play opportunity. The Amerks, however, were able to hold off the Marlies’ final push and give D’Amigo enough time to ice the win into empty net with 31 seconds remaining.
The Amerks conclude their three-game homestand on Friday, March 11 as they take on defending Western Conference champion Utica Comets in a North Division battle at The Blue Cross Arena. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will be the seventh of eight meetings this season between the intrastate rivals and will be carried live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester.
Goal Scorers
RCH: Schneider (18), Carrier (11, 12), D’Amigo (11)
TOR: Brown (7, 8)
Shots
RCH: 38
TOR: 42
Goaltenders
RCH: Ullmark – W (40/42)
TOR: Stalock – L (34/37)
Special Teams
Amerks Power Play: 0-5
Amerks Penalty Kill: 3-3
