By CRAIG POTTER
Justin Bailey scores twice in the 3-1 victory over the Crunch.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Americans opened their 62nd American Hockey League season with a 3-1 victory over the Syracuse Crunch on Friday before 5,009 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
“It was good to get the two points,” said Chris Taylor, after winning his first game as Amerks head coach. “I also thought (goalie) Linus (Ullmark) played really well and made some big-time saves. I thought at times the puck actually went into the net during the second period, but he was outstanding.”
Justin Bailey tallied two goals to pace the offense as Ullmark recorded 27 saves in earning the victory.
“I haven’t scored in a long time, so starting off with a few goals in the first game was good,” said Bailey. “It has been a couple of months and a long summer, so it felt really good to score.”
Bailey opened the scoring with 1:29 to play in the opening period with a shot from inside the blue line at the top of the slot. Zach Redmond fed him the puck.
Early in the second period, Steve Moses converted on a power play with a shot from the right point. Kyle Criscuolo and C.J. Smith received assists on the play.
However, the Amerks went 0-4 in their other power play opportunities and did not generate many scoring chances. The Crunch went 0-for-6 on their power play.
In the third stanza, Bailey broke down the right wing on a 2-on-1. He fired the puck past Syracuse netminder Michael Leighton, a former Amerk, for a 3-0 lead. Bailey hit the pipe in the final minute of play after Syracuse pulled Leighton.
“As a team, we started off very well and it continued throughout the game,” said Bailey. “All four lines contributed in their own way and it was awesome hockey to be a part of.”
The Crunch finally beat Ullmark with 2:16 to play to avert the shutout.
*NOTES – Amerks head coach Chris Taylor has named forward Kevin Porter team captain while defensemen Nathan Paetsch and Taylor Fedun were named assistant captains. No stranger to wearing the Amerks ‘C’, Porter, 31, was a two-time Amerks captain during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons. Between then and now, Porter won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins and spent time with their AHL club, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, where Taylor served as an assistant coach last season. Paetsch also is familiar with wearing the ‘C’, winning hardware and being mentored by Taylor. Last season Paetsch, 34, won the Calder Cup with the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he was captain. As the only lettered player who was with the Sabres organization last season, Fedun will be wearing the ‘A’ for the second year in a row. Fedun, 29, began his pro career after graduating from Princeton with a degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering.
Links
Rochester Americans – amerks.com
Videos
Justin Bailey hits pipe – https://youtu.be/06HjKS3yqAQ