The Hartford Wolf Pack score twice in the third for a 4-2 win over Rochester
By CRAIG POTTER
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Americans lost their second straight home game to a team with a losing record on Friday night before 4,290 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
The Hartford Wolf Pack netted 2 goals in the third period to pull out a 4-2 victory.
“We started off the game well and I thought we played a good game,” said Amerks head coach Chris Taylor. “It wasn’t until a couple turnovers cost us and another power-play goal. That hurt us, and our penalty kill has to step it up.”
Turnovers proved costly to the Amerks as the contest was evenly played as both teams took 30 shots on goal.
“I think the message is that every team in this league is good and you can’t really look at their record,” said forward Wayne Simpson, who is the AHL current leader in consecutive games played with 216.
“Maybe if they’re struggling they’ll bring in new guys who are willing to work. These teams who have below .500 records have been really good so we’ve just got to keep doing what we’ve been doing, playing tough in our division and treat them like any other team.”
After a scoreless first period, the Wolf Pack grabbed the lead with a power play goal midway through the second stanza.
Wayne Simpson tied the game about 4 minutes later as C.J. Smith and Kyle Criscuolo assisted on the play. Criscuolo returned to the lineup after missing nearly the past 2 months with an injury.
I like how he was physical,” Taylor said. “He was first on the forecheck. He was talking on the bench. I’liked a lot of his play. He’s one of those guys who works hit butt off. Guys respect him so it’s great to have him back.”
Thirty-two seconds later Smith netted a power play tally, off an assist from Danny O’Regan, to give Rochester a 2-1 lead. It was his 11th of the season for last year’s Amerks’ Rookie of the Year.
“I feel pretty good with my game lately as the pucks seem to be going into the net,” Smith said. “I’ve had a good run and I’m just trying to stay consistent. I’m trying to continue to get better. It was nice to have ‘Crisco’ (Kyle Criscuolo) back in the lineup, but too bad we weren’t able to pull it out with the win tonight.”
However, a turnover late in the period led to a breakaway by Hartford’s Vinni Lettien, who beat Scott Wedgewood to even the count at 2 all while the teams were playing 4-on-4.
“After we grabbed the lead, we allowed a quick goal afterwards,” Simpson said. “I didn’t think we got going after that. It was unfortunate as we started to lose the one-on-one battles and sort of got undisciplined.”
The Wolf Pack won the match in the third period with 2 even-strength goals.
*NOTES — Amerks defenseman Matt Tennyson tied a career-best with 3 assists Wednesday. He was re-assigned to the Amerks earlier in the week by the Buffalo Sabres…The Amerks and Wolf Pack conclude the back-to-back series with a game at 5 pm Saturday…Former Buffalo Sabres captain and Greece native Brian Gionta, who is the only local to ever score for the hometown Amerks in his first game played with the team, was on hand to sign autographs. Gionta played for Rochester last year in his final warmup before the Olympics and scored in a 4-2 defeat…Former Amerk and Buffalo native Cole Schneider leads the Wolf Pack with 9 goals. He picked up an assist on the Wolf Pack’s first goal…Hartford assistant coach Joey Mormina also is a former Amerks defenseman, having ended a 12-year playing career with a 20-game stint in Rochester during the 2015-16 season.
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Rochester Americans forward Chris Criscuolo (51) returned to the lineup on Friday night (12/19/21) after being sidelined with an injury for nearly 2 months, takes a shot on goal before 4,290 fans at the Blue Cross Arena against the Hartford Wolf Pack. The Amerks lost their second straight game, 4-2, to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
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Rochester Americans forward C.J. Smith (19) scores on a power play in the second period for a 2-1 lead against the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday night (12/21/18) before 4,290 fans at the Blue Cross Arena. The Amerks lost their second straight home game, 4-2.
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