Evan Rodrigues paces Rochester with 2 goals and 1 assist in the 6-3 triumph over the Comets.
UTICA, N.Y. — The Rochester Americans finished 2016 with another strong performance as they won their second consecutive game with a 6-3 triumph over the Utica Comets on Saturday evening.
The Amerks were led by Cole Schneider’s team-best 12th multi-point effort as he lit the lamp for the 13th and 14th times of the season, and picked up an assist.
Joining him with a three-point performance, which equaled a career-best, was Evan Rodrigues (2+1) as he extended his point-streak (3+3) to a career-long four games.
Defenseman Taylor Fedun collected a two-point effort as he recorded a pair of assists for the Amerks while Linus Ullmark, making his sixth straight start, stopped 26 shots to up his record to 13-12-1 on the slate. The Swedish netminder is just one win shy of tying Alex Lyon for most wins of any goaltender in the AHL with 13 wins this season.
Trailing 1-0 in the opening period, Rochester second-year pro Rodrigues found the back of the net twice in the wanning moments of the stanza. The Amerks strong forechecking resulted in the go-ahead goal with .4 seconds left in the period.
The Comets knotted the count 5 minutes into the second period, but the Amerks scored twice within 25 seconds midway through to establish a 4-2 margin heading into the third period.
Nick Baptiste netted his 15th goal of the season on a power play as Cal O’Reilly and Fedun drew assists.
Rookie Daniel Muzito-Bagenda tallied his third goal as Eric Cornal and Paul Geiger received assists.
Kennedy tacked on an insurance goal midway through the final period as Rodrigues drew an assist on the play as he was named the No. 1 Star of the Game with Schneider the No. 2 star.
The Comets answered with a power play goal, but Schneider secured the victory with an empty net tally.
Rochester netminder Linus Ullmark made 26 saves in gaining the win.
The Amerks are off until Friday night when they play host to the Syracuse Crunch at 7:05 pm at the Blue Cross Arena.