Rochester edges the defending Calder Cup champion Toronto Marlies on Wayne Simpson’s SO goal.
By CRAIG POTTER
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Americans won their 5th straight game, 5-4, in a shootout over the defending Calder Cup champion Toronto Marlies on Friday night before 4,438 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
“It was a good test and getting the win was good, but I don’t think we played our best game,” said Rochester defenseman Zach Redmond. “We have to close out those types of games and we were lucky to get the win tonight.”
All 3 Rochester shootout shooters scored. Swedish rookie Victor Olofsson scored, but Toronto’s Sam Gagner tied it 1-1. C.J. Smith gave the Amerks a 2-1 lead as Scott Wedgewood stopped the Marlies’ shot by Pierre Engvall. Wayne Simpson then clinched the 5-4 win as he scored for the Amerks.
“It was a good game,” said Amerks head coach Chris Taylor. “I am happy to get two points against a good team, but I wasn’t exactly happy with how we started or finished the game. Saying that, I am glad to come away with the win, though.”
The loss was the Marlies fifth in a row in 6 games. Despite outshooting the hosts, 16-8, in the first period, Toronto trailed 2-1 at the end of the stanza.
The Amerks grabbed the lead after Swedish rookie Victor Olofsson broke in alone on Marlies goalie Jeff Glass, but the Toronto netminder turned aside the shot. However, Rochester controlled the rebound as Zach Redmond sent the puck to the right point where Danny O’Regan blasted a shot past Glass for the 1-0 lead.
The Marlies evened the count less than 3 minutes later on Engvall’s shot that eluded Wedgewood. The Rochester netminder had a busy period as he recorded 15 saves in the stanza to keep the Amerks in the game against the buzzing Marlies. The defending Calder Cup champions entered the contest with a 1-4 record.
Rochester regained the advantage in the final minute of play when Alex Nylander knocked home a rebound shot for the 2-1 lead.“Toronto is a fast team,” said Amerks defenseman Brendan Guhle. “We knew they were going to come in the first period and we were forced to change some things during the intermission. It was a big goal by ‘Nyls’ to give us a lead despite how we played in the first.”
In the second period, O’Regan garnered his own rebound and put a backhander past Glass for a 3-1 advantage.
The Marlies scored a power play goal about 5 minutes later to draw within one goal again.
Guhle scored on a backhander for a 4-2 margin midway through the period, but the Marlies netted another power play to cut the deficit to one goal once again.
Toronto finally got the equalizer with 10 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.
“It was good to get the win after a late goal by them,” said O’Regan. “It’s always good to get a win against a good team like them, but we still have areas we can improve on.”
*NOTES — Swedish rookie Lawrence Pilut extended his point streak to 4 games as he added 3 assists while Zach Redmond, who recorded a pair of first-period power-play goals, pushed his point streak to 4 games as well. Pilut was a late scratch as he sustained an upper body injury in Wednesday’s win in Utica as coach Chris Taylor decided to hold him out of the game, saying that he’d rather have him miss a couple of games now that risk losing him for a longer period with a more serious injury…Alex Nylander added his 6th and 7th points in the last 5 games (2+5) while Danny O’Regan rounded out the scoring with his second goal of the campaign…Goaltender Scott Wedgewood made 24 saves to even his record at 2-2-0 on the year as he also was credited with his first point as an Amerk with an assist, his 4th in the last 5 seasons as an AHL goalie…With 10 combined power-play goals in the last 4 games, Rochester boasts the top-ranked power play unit in the AHL with a 40.7% conversion rate…The Amerks make their first road trip of October, and first of the season across the border, Saturday to oppose the Belleville Senators at 7 pm.
Videos
Wayne Simpson scores the shootout game-winner
Brought to you by C&C Worldwide, supporting greecenylive.com, irondequoitlive.com, penfieldlive.com, websterlive.com and rochesternylive.com. Video by Craig Potter.
Rochester Americans forward Wayne Simpson (10) scores the game-winning shootout goal against the Toronto Marlies Friday night at the Blue Cross Arena before 4,438 fans. The Amerks won the game 5-4 for their 5th straight victory.
Discover the Healthy Living Mall where you will find the Healthy Living Resources for you to attain your health goals. Check it out at: http://digijunction.com/health/potter10
Scott Wedgewood makes the save on a Toronto penalty kill
Brought to you by C&C Worldwide, supporting greecenylive.com, irondequoitlive.com, penfieldlive.com, websterlive.com and rochesternylive.com. Video by Craig Potter.
Rochester Americans goalie Scott Wedgewood makes the save against the Toronto Marlies, who are playing shsorthanded, Friday night at the Blue Cross Arena before 4,438 fans. The Amerks won the game 5-4 in a shootout for their 5th straight victory.
Discover the Healthy Living Mall where you will find the Healthy Living Resources for you to attain your health goals. Check it out at: http://digijunction.com/health/potter10