By CRAIG POTTER
Justin Bailey nets the game-winner to defeat the St. John’s IceCaps, 3-2.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Americans sure like playing at the Blue Cross Arena in December. The Amerks won their third straight home game on Saturday night in dramatic fashion before 3,706 fans at the BCA as Justin Bailey scored in overtime to defeat the St. John’s IceCaps, 3-2.
The OT contest was just the second one of the season for Rochester, and both happened at the BCA against the IceCaps. The Amerks lost to St. John’s, 4-3, back on Nov. 18 in a shootout.
Bailey made sure it did not go that far this time around as he took a pass from Erik Burgdoerfer and beat IceCaps goalie Yann Danis for the game-winner.
“There was a ton of space, and Erik gave me a good pass,” said Bailey. “Everytime we play them they’re physical. I like to buzz around and play hard. It’s a hard game to beat them, the score reflects that.”
The Amerks possessed the puck for nearly the entire time prior to scoring the game-winning goal.
“The plan was to keep the puck as much as possible,” Bailey said.
St. John’s grabbed a 1-0 lead in the final minute of the opening period.
Mike Aviani tallied his second goal of the season to tie the game in the second stanza. Later in the period, defenseman Taylor Fedun scored on a power play to put Rochester in front, 2-1.
The IceCaps netted the equalizer on a tipped shot from the right point.
Amerks goalie Linus Ullmark returned to the lineup after missing the third period of Wednesday’s game, following a collision with a teammate after making a save, and Friday’s game in Pennsylvania against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He made 19 saves in gaining the victory.
*NOTES — The Buffalo Sabres announced on Saturday that the team assigned defenseman Taylor Fedun to Rochester…The Amerks have lost all 5 road games in December. They have one left, on New Year’s Eve, Dec 31 at Utica…The Amerks have won all 3 of their home games, thus far, in December. They have 4 remaining this month. The Amerks will go on their Christmas break following Monday’s game against the Binghamton Senators and will not play again until Monday, Dec. 26 vs the Syracuse Crunch…Nick Baptiste leads the Amerks in goals with 14. He also is third in points with 18. He is on pace to become the first Amerk to score 20 goals since Ken Priestlay achieved it in 28 games in the 1988-89 season.
Links
Rochester Americans – amerks.com
Videos
Justin Bailey OT goal – https://youtu.be/cfb4q7g1o9g
Mike Aviani goal – https://youtu.be/3v3syE7pC5A
Taylor Fedun goal – https://youtu.be/qLoPca3iDKw
Justin Bailey interview – https://youtu.be/PPBDPflSMv0
Taylor Fedun interview – https://youtu.be/_4eqfHawgmE
Coach Dan Lambert interview – https://youtu.be/kepwL1qHSeU