(Rochester, NY) – Rochester Americans head coach Randy Cunneyworth inched his way closer to the franchise’s all-time coaching wins record after leading his team to a 3-1 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Wednesday night at The Blue Cross Arena. Rochester improves to 31-27-2-1 on the season and has won eight of its last 11, including five of six to open the month of March.
Tonight’s win was the 337th career coaching victory for Cunneyworth in Rochester, tying him with John Van Boxmeer, who led the Amerks to their fifth Calder Cup in 1987, for the most all-time in franchise history. Cunneyworth can potentially set the record Saturday night when the Amerks visit the Binghamton Senators. Prior to his return as head coach of the Amerks this season, Cunneyworth previously held the position for eight seasons from 2000-2008, the longest of any Rochester bench boss, over which time he compiled a 306-273-61 record while guiding the Amerks to six playoff appearances. He currently ranks sixth all-time in both wins and games by an AHL coach and will own fifth place in games coached by the season’s end.
The Amerks scored once in each period on goals from Cole Schneider, Justin Bailey and Chad Ruhwedel while Linus Ullmark was again outstanding in net for Rochester, stopping 42 of 43 attempts, including a highlight reel glove save, on his way to earning first star honors. The former Swedish Goaltender of the Year has now won a season-long four straight games and has topped the 40-save mark in six of his 19 starts this season. Matt Donovan, William Carrier, Eric O’Dell and newcomer Joey Mormina all contributed assists.
Aaron Palushaj notched the lone goal for the Phantoms and Anthony Stolarz earned 28 saves in the loss.
The teams traded power-play opportunities to start the first period, and while the Amerks were able to successfully hold off the Phantoms on back-to-back chances, it was Rochester scoring on its first man-advantage of the night to take a 1-0 lead at 11:01. Stationed off the left half-wall, O’Dell drifted a pass through the slot for Schneider, who ripped a one-timer past Stolarz from just below the far circle for his 19th goal of the season.
Rochester looked as if it would carry the lead into the intermission, but an unlucky bounce late in the frame would tie things up at 1-1. Palushaj tracked down a loose puck in the right corner and forced a centering feed that banked in off the skate of Ruhwedel with 2:36 remaining.
After narrowly missing on a breakaway opportunity early in the second period, Bailey was quick to make amends later on, sweeping in a rebound for the go-ahead goal at 8:34. Stolarz kicked away a long-range attempt from Mormina seconds before negating a point-blank chance from Carrier with an impressive series of saves. Bailey, however, wouldn’t be denied, as the rookie forward converted on Rochester’s third try with a backhander inside the left post to put the Amerks in front, 2-1.
The Amerks pulled ahead for good midway through the final frame thanks to a serving of poetic justice when Ruhwedel placed an innocent shot on goal that was batted into the net by Lehigh Valley defenseman Samuel Morin. The own-goal gave Rochester its largest lead of the night and the Amerks relied on some more timely saves from Ullmark down the stretch to come away with the 3-1 win.
The Amerks and Binghamton Senators square off for the second time this week as Rochester makes its final trip down to the southern tier on Saturday, Mar. 19 for a North Division showdown at Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. The 7:05 p.m. contest is the ninth of 10 meetings between the intrastate rivals this season and will be carried live on FOX Sports 1280 Rochester.
Goal Scorers
RCH: Schneider (19), Bailey (13), Ruhwedel (8)
LV: Palushaj (11)
Shots
RCH: 31
LV: 43
Goaltenders
RCH: Ullmark – W (42/43)
LV: Stolarz – L (28/31)
Special Teams
Amerks Power Play: 1-4
Amerks Penalty Kill: 5-5
