By CRAIG POTTER
Hudson Fasching scores twice but Rochester yields 2 late goals in 5-4 loss to the Crunch.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Americans battled the North Division leading Syracuse Crunch pretty much even on the scoreboard, but the visitors from the Salt City desire proved to be greater with a 5-4 victory on Friday night before 6,236 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
“We have to look at the fact that we were with Syracuse on the scoreboard and played with them,” Amerks head coach Dan Lambert said. “We just have to compete harder and have the will throughout the course of the game.”
The contest was tied 4 times and had 3 lead changes, with the last one coming with 5 seconds left in regulation.
“The Amerks have been in a situation before when they needed to battle back and tie a game,” said Derek Grant. “They have shown they can take over games during certain times of a period but we must learn how to close out the games as well.”
Rochester grabbed a 1-0 lead on defenseman Brady Austin’s power play goal with a shot from the left point midway in the first period.
However, Matthew Peca knotted the count in the final minute of the stanza.
The Amerks forged ahead again early in the second period when Cole Schneider ripped home his 19th goal of the campaign. Cal O’Reilly picked up his team-leading 32nd assist as Taylor Fedun also drew an assist on the goal.
But the lead lasted for only 27 seconds as the Crunch netted the equalizer once again.
Syracuse took its first lead in the contest late in the period.
Rochester rookie Hudson Fasching found himself unguarded in the slot as a rebound off Eric Burgdoerfer’s shot came right to him and he ripped it past Syracuse goalie Kristers Gudlevskis to tie the game for the third time at 3-3. Grant, who was playing in his first game of the season for Rochester, also received an assist on the play.
About 11 minutes later, Fasching received a great pass from Patrick Mullen and blasted the puck past Gudlevskis to put the Amerks in front, 4-3, with 7:11 remaining in the third period.
“Derek (Grant) and I played together on a line in with the Sabres in the past,” said Fasching. “That helped our chemistry tonight and he and Patrick Mullen made great plays to help set up both of my goals.”
However, a tripping penalty on Tim Kennedy with 2:13 left gave the Crunch a power play. The visitors also pulled the goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage and made it pay off with the tying goal with 1:11 left in regulation.
Syracuse kept up the pressure as the Amerks were unable to clear the zone. Yanni Gourde got a rebound shot off from a tough angle to Linus Ullmark’s left. The puck caught the far side of the net for the game-winner with 5 seconds to play.
Ullmark finished the game with 28 saves as Gudlevskis had 19 saves.
The two teams go at it again on Saturday night in Syracuse in their final regular season meeting.
*NOTES – The Buffalo Sabres on Friday announced the team has recalled forwards Justin Bailey and Evan Rodrigues from the Rochester Americans. Bailey (21, 6-foot-3, 214 lbs.) joins the team for his fourth recall of the season. In his second professional campaign, the Buffalo native is tied for ninth in the AHL with 19 goals in 40 games and has totaled three points (2+1) in 19 NHL games. Rodrigues (23, 5-10, 183 lbs.), who has recorded two assists in eight games with the Sabres this season, joins the team for his third recall of 2016-17. He ranks third among Rochester skaters with 18 assists and fifth with 27 total points. In a corresponding move, the Sabres assigned forward Derek Grant to Rochester…Grant tallied 2 assists in his first game with Rochester this season…Rookie Hudson Fasching netted his 2nd and 3rd goals in his last 2 games for the Amerks as he now has 7 points in 19 games since coming off of an injury.
Super Hero Night returns on March 4
The Rochester Americans will host Super Hero Night presented by Coca-Cola on Saturday, March 4 when the Amerks play the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7:05 pm. at The Blue Cross Arena.
Fans will be treated to a special meet-and-greet with various characters from the Super Hero Alliance of WNY, who will be in attendance to pose for photos and greet fans throughout the game. Special prizes will be given away to the fans dressed in the best Super Hero-themed costumes.
The Amerks are again offering a special Super Hero Figure/Bobblehead and Ticket package. For just $25, fans can purchase a best-available ticket and one of four different POP! Vinyl super hero figures or Bobblehead while supplies last with the additional tickets available for as low as just $12. Available figures include Superman, Batman, Spider-Man and Iron Man (specific characters cannot be requested when ordering). The special packages can be purchased at www.amerks.com/superhero or by calling 1-855-GO-AMERKS. A portion of the proceeds from the Bobblehead and Ticket package will be donated to Gilda’s Club of Rochester.
Tickets for kids ages 12 and under can be purchased for just $10 apiece, with tickets for adults available for $12.
The game will also feature the annual chicken wing-eating contest sponsored by The Distillery, which will take place in the tunnel located between sections 114 and 116 during the first intermission. New for this season, fans can vote on their favorite wing sauce on the Amerks social media channels between now and Wednesday, March 1 in exchange for five complimentary chicken wings. Fans who vote will receive an e-mail with a coupon for the five free wings that they can redeem at any of The Distillery’s four locations. The offer is limited to one per person and valid through Saturday, March 4. The contestant that eats the most chicken wings soaked in the sauce voted most popular by the fans on social media will win a prize pack courtesy of The Distillery and the Amerks.
*More to come
Links
Rochester Americans – amerks.com
Videos
Brady Austin pp goal – https://youtu.be/9R4ZSb2FkFo
Cole Schneider pp goal – https://youtu.be/o_5ShpXOmXQ
Hudson Fasching pp goal – https://youtu.be/D_tsU-Fx1ZI
Hudson Fasching interview – https://youtu.be/DTuj937xrkI
Derek Grant interview – https://youtu.be/EURZ5lc0SxA
Dan Lambert interview – https://youtu.be/cjKbeEQEZ5s