(Cleveland, OH) – A pair of second-period goals from two of the newest additions and a 30-save shutout from goaltender Andrey Makarov was all that was needed for the Rochester Americans to claim a 2-0 victory over the Lake Erie Monsters Sunday at Quicken Loans Arena. The Amerks and Monsters, who took last night’s get-together in Rochester, earn a split of the weekend set, as well as the four-game season series.
The win snaps a three-game skid for the Amerks and improves them to 34-35-3-1 on the season heading into their final three games of the year.
It was truly a night of firsts for the Amerks with Stu Wilson and Giorgio Estephan, both of whom joined the team earlier this week on Amateur Tryouts, scoring their first professional goals while Makarov stopped all 30 shots he faced to pick up his first shutout of the year. The goals from Wilson and Estephan came within exactly 5:30 of one another against a solid Lake Erie netminder in Joonas Korpisalo, who rejoined the Monsters this morning after playing in 31 games for the parent Columbus Blue Jackets this season.
Eric Cornel, Alex Guptill, Matt Donovan and Cole Schneider, back from a two-game stint with the Buffalo Sabres, also recorded assists in the win for Rochester, which closed out the weekend with points in two straight. Makarov has now won two of his last three starts, which includes a season-high 42 saves at Syracuse on Apr. 2, and owns a 1.67 goals-against average with a .955 save percentage over that span.
Newcomer Zach Werenski, the overtime hero for the Monsters in last night’s win in Rochester, finished with a team-high five shots for Lake Erie while Korpisalo made 13 saves while holding the Amerks to their second-fewest shot total all season (15).
Following a scoreless opening period in which the Amerks were held to just three shots on goal, Wilson provided the spark Rochester needed when he weaved his way through the Lake Erie zone before picking the upper corner for his first professional goal at 9:27 of the middle frame. The Rochester native jumped on a loose puck at center ice and entered the offensive zone along the right wing boards intending to force a pass through traffic. With no options available, Wilson cut toward the slot electing to shoot, handcuffing Korpisalo with a wrist shot over the netminder’s right shoulder for the eventual game-winner.
Korpisalo was tested again minutes later after a goal-mouth scramble led to a barrage of attempts from the Amerks, but the Monsters goaltender reeled off an impressive series of saves to keep it a one-goal game. After stopping Estephan on a partial breakaway opportunity, he then denied a point-blank chance on Schneider before finally diving across his crease to shut the door on a last attempt from Joey Mormina.
Despite Korpisalo’s best efforts, Rochester’s persistence would eventually payoff with the Amerks needing just 21 seconds into the man-advantage to go up by a pair. Donovan’s initial bid from the right circle never made its way through, but Schneider gathered the rebound and slid a back-door pass through the crease to Estephan, who fired it home at 14:57.
Rochester was held to just four shots during the third period by Lake Erie, but Makarov stood tall the rest of the way with 11 more saves, including two key stops during the final 90 seconds with the Monsters skating 6-on-5.
The Amerks embark on their final weekend of the 2015-16 regular season on Friday, Apr. 15 when they take on the North Division rival Albany Devils in the final home contest of the year at The Blue Cross Arena. Game time is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start and can be heard live on 107.3 FM The Bull. All tickets to the game are available for just $14 as part of Fan Appreciation Night, which begins with the presentation of the 2015-16 Team Awards just prior to the game.
As a way of thanking Amerks fans for the tremendous support they have once again shown the team this season, the Amerks will be giving away great prizes during the game, with select Season Ticket Members receiving the 60th Anniversary jerseys “off the backs” of the players following the game. The first 7,500 fans in attendance will receive a 2015-16 Amerks Team Photo courtesy of Tops Friendly Markets. In addition, the Amerks Team Store presented by ADPRO Sports will be offering a store-wide 30% discount on entire purchases during the game (not valid with other offers).
Other prizes to be given away to select fans during the game will include a variety of Buffalo Sabres and Amerks autographed merchandise, as well as gift cards and coupons from various Amerks partners such as The Distillery, Salvatore’s, Segar and Sciortino, SMG, Taco Bell, Tops Friendly Markets and more. Special-edition Fan Appreciation Night Mystery Pucks will be available during the game as well, with each one signed by an Amerks player.
Goal Scorers
RCH: Wilson (1), Estephan (1)
LE: None
Shots
RCH: 15
LE: 30
Goaltenders
RCH: Makarov – W (30/30)
LE: Korpisalo – L (13/15)
Special Teams
Amerks Power Play: 1-2
Amerks Penalty Kill: 2-2
