By CRAIG POTTER
Taylor Fedun nets the game-winner after Mat Bodie ties the game on a 5-on-3 power play.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. –The Rochester Americans snapped a 3-game losing streak with a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday night before 5,477 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
The victory was the first for Rochester in the fourth and final meeting against Bridgeport this season.
Though the Amerks dominated the contest, outshooting the Sound Tigers in all three periods and 44-16 for the game, they found themselves trailing by a goal after the first (2-1) and second (3-2) periods.
“By our count we out-chanced them 28 to 9,” said Amerks coach Dan Lambert. “That’s the first time this year we had that many chances and the first time this year we’ve given them very little.
“We had a really strong effort tonight. We competed and I thought our guys bought into the game plan which does involve competing and out-working the opposing team. Bridgeport is a good hockey team but I think we did a lot of things well to come out on top.”
Bridgeport grabbed a 1-0 on a power play goal by Joshua Winquist in the first period, but defenseman Mat Bodie, playing in just his second game for the Amerks, evened the count less than 3 minutes later.
However, the Sound Tigers regained the lead on a redirected shot past Amerks netminder Linus Ullmark.
Rochester tied the game once again in the second stanza as the fourth line of Kyle Bonis, Eric Cornel, and Justin Vaive showed that hard work pays off with Bonis netting the equalizer.
Former Sound Tiger Vaive picked up a loose puck at the center faceoff circle and used an outlet pass that Bonis tracked down behind the Bridgeport defender. The forward fired a shot that Jaroslav Halak initially stopped, but the puck trickled across the goal line to even the score with 13:44 to play in the second.
But once again the Sound Tigers proved opportunistic as they scored in the final minute of the period to take a 3-2 advantage into the break.
The Amerks did not get frustrated and stuck to the game plan, according to Lambert, as they kept up the pressure which resulted in a 5-on-3 power play. Bodie scored with 5:57 left in regulation to send the game into overtime.
“Tonight on the power-play we had good puck movement,” said Bodie. “We caught a break when one of the defensemen broke a stick, and that helped open a lane and Cal (O’Reilly) was able to find me at the top of the point.”
In the overtime, the visitors from Connecticut gained control off the faceoff. However, the Amerks were able to force a turnover as Cole Schneider sent the puck to Fedun. He ripped a shot from the left side past Halak for the game-winner.
*NOTES – Amerks team captain Cal O’Reilly played in his 750th professional game tonight…The Amerks are midway through their 4-game homestand as they play host to the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday night and the St. John’s IceCaps next Friday night…The 1-goal game was the 6th in the last 7 games for Rochester as the Amerks are 3-3 in those 1-goal games…Team captain Cal O’Reilly played in his 700th pro game, and picked up his team-leading 33rd assist got his 42nd point in his 47th game this season.
Links
Rochester Americans – amerks.com
Videos
Taylor Fedun OT goal – https://youtu.be/3Ap4_RfOZlM
Linus Ullmark breakaway save – https://youtu.be/XQ-MHGoFIh0
Kyle Bonis goal – https://youtu.be/WXCcMRVnIso
Mat Bodie pp tying goal – https://youtu.be/dCd6ytu785k
Linus Ullmark OT save – https://youtu.be/c_BwhbzlN34
Mat Bodie interview – https://youtu.be/d5d5Xc-HNq4
Taylor Fedun interview – https://youtu.be/P73XF6zxOKc
Dan Lambert interview – https://youtu.be/UeVXTk9WEO8