By CRAIG POTTER
Defenseman Taylor Fedun has a career night with 4 points on a goal and 3 assists.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Americans defenseman Taylor Fedun recorded a career night with 4 points in leading the team to a 5-2 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack before 6,046 fans on Military Appreciation Night at the Blue Cross Arena.
Fedun assisted on the first, third, and fourth goals as scored the second goal, which knotted the game at 2-2 in the opening period. Eric Cornel and Brady Vail each got credit with the assists.
“During the goal, I knew I had time with the Wolf Pack collapsing towards the net,” Fedun said. “With room on the blueline, I was able to capitalize on the open space with the goal.”
Fedun received the No. 1 Star of the Game for his efforts.
“We are starting to learn as a team on how to handle some adversity, like giving up the pair of quick goals and losing the lead,” said Fedun. “The message during the intermission was to stay the course and just continue to play our game. We were playing a strong game and we were not getting outplayed, but they answered.”
Forward Justin Kea tallied his first two goals of the season. He scored in the first period to give Rochester a 1-0advantage, then redirected a shot from the right point by Fedun on a power play for what proved to be the game-winner in the second stanza.
“It felt good to get the monkey off my back,” said Kea. “The goals helped calm a lot of self-pressure I had on myself. I kind of forgot what the goal horn sounded like, so to get a pair of goals, it was big for me and the team.”
The two-goal game was Kea’s first in the AHL, and the second of his professional career. The last time he picked up a pair of goals in a game came back on Dec. 16, 2015 as a member of the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL.
“Guys stepped up,” said Lambert. “The penalty kill was really good and the power play stepped up as well.”
Alex Nylander netted a power play goal late in period two for a 4-2 advantage.
Rookie Daniel Muzito-Bagenda scored his first goal of the season in the third period for insurance.
Once again the Amerks were outshot (31-19) but came up with the victory.
“I’ll tell you what, if we get outshot all year and come out with a victory, that will be fine with me,” Lambert said with a smile.
*NOTES — The Buffalo Sabres recalled defenseman Justin Falk from the Rochester Americans on Friday. Falk (28, 6-foot-5, 222 lbs.) joins the Sabres for his first recall of the season after signing with the team as an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2016. The Snowflake, Manitoba native has a plus-3 rating in nine games for Rochester this season. In 171 career NHL games, Falk recorded 23 points (2+21) and 151 penalty minutes…The Amerks travel to Syracuse for games against the Crunch on Saturday and Sunday as Rochester started 4 games in 6 days, and 6 games in 9 days with the victory over Hartford.
Links
Rochester Americans – amerks.com
Videos
Taylor Fedun interview – https://youtu.be/pp_NaJRWpig
Justin Kea interview – https://youtu.be/vWgXo_IWAqo
Dan Lambert interview – https://youtu.be/63oqFKl4tII