Lawrence Pilut nets game-winner to advance Rochester to the North Division Finals.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — For the second straight year, the Rochester Americans are moving onto the third round of the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup Playoffs, where they will meet the Toronto Marlies in the North Division Finals.
The Amerks stormed back from a 2-0 series deficit to defeat the Syracuse Crunch three games to two with a 5-4 overtime win in Game 5 of the North Division Semifinals earlier tonight at Upstate Medical University Arena. It was just the third time in franchise history Rochester came back to win a playoff series aft, ir trailing 2-0.
Rochester built a 4-1 advantage on goals by Tyson Kozak, Pilut, Jiri Kulich, and Michael Mersch.
The Crunch battled back and tied the game 4-4 in the final minute of regulation before Pilut scored a power play to win the game for the Amerks.
Rochester goalie Malcolm Subban had a busy night making 44 saves, 18 in the third period where Syracuse outshot the Amerks, 20-2, in earning the victory.
The third-round series will mark the fourth meeting in the postseason between the Rochester and Toronto, and the first since the opening round of the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs.
The best-of-five series is set to get underway with Game 1 in Toronto on Thursday, May 11 at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Rochester will host Game 3 on Wednesday, May 17, and if necessary, Game 4 on Friday, May 19 at The Blue Cross Arena.
Below is the full third-round schedule for the best-of-five North Division Finals between the third-place Amerks and first-place Marlies.
Game 1 | Thursday, May 11 – Rochester at Toronto | 7:00 p.m. at Coca-Cola Coliseum
Game 2 | Saturday, May 13 – Rochester at Toronto| 4:00 p.m. at Coca-Cola Coliseum
Game 3 | Wednesday, May 17 – Toronto at Rochester | 7:05 p.m. at Blue Cross Arena
*Game 4 | Friday, May 19 – Toronto at Rochester | 7:05 p.m. at Blue Cross Arena
*Game 5 | Sunday, May 21 – Rochester at Toronto | 4:00 p.m. at Coca-Cola Coliseum
*if necessary
Tickets for Game 3 are scheduled to go on sale to the general public beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 9, but a special presale online-only offer will be available to select fans at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 8. Fans are encouraged to sign up for presale access at www.amerks.com/playoffs.