Victor Olofsson scores the hat trick in the 7-1 win over Springfield.
By CRAIG POTTER / C&C Worldwide Sports Director
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It was a good night/bad night for Rochester Americans Hall of Fame inductee Doug Janik as the Springfield Thunderbirds assistant coach was on the losing end of a 7-1 game Friday night before 5,623 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
The Springfield, MA., native spent 5 seasons in Rochester (2001-06). Janik recorded 91 points (18+73) over his five seasons with the club, ranking 31st all-time among Rochester blueliners, while also leading the Amerks to four straight playoff appearances. His 376 career games are the third-most of any defenseman and rank 14th all-time.
Victor Olofsson paced the Amerks with a hat trick and an assist for 4 points. It was the first hat trick scored by an Amerk at home since Nick Baptiste recorded 3 goals on Dec. 14, 2016.
“This was my first pro hat trick and it feels really good,” said Olofsson. “Danny (O’Regan) won the 50/50 battle and he hit me with an amazing pass from behind the net. To cap off the night with a shorthanded goal, it feels good, too.”
Rasmus Asplund registered a 3-point night for Rochester with 1 goal and 2 assists.
Asplund’s tally came on a 5-on-3 shorthanded situation in the third period. He was passing to O’Regan on a two-on-one break, but the puck hit the shins of defenseman Jacob MacDonald and ricocheted past goalie Chris Driedger.
“That’s what I needed right now,” he said. “Scoring a goal gives you a lot of confidence, no matter how ugly it was.”
Olofsson followed up with his third goal of the game less than a minute later while the Amerks were still down man.
When asked if he had seen 2 shorthanded goals scored so closely together, Amerks head coach Chris Taylor said, “Not on a 5-on-3. That’s really good. That just shows we’re on our toes, that we’re going for attack every time we could. Nice plays.
“The second one was speed and strength, getting underneath the guy and just talent in scoring it. It’s fun to watch. As a fan, it was a great crowd tonight and great to see our young guys play really well.”
Olofsson’s first goal came at even strength while his second marker was on a power play.
“That’s what he can do, he’s a game-breaker,” said Taylor. “He loves to score goals and that’s hard to find nowadays; guys want to pass the puck.”
After a scoreless first period, Scott Wilson and Olofsson scored in the second.
“I thought our response to Wednesday’s game and defensive play was awesome,” said Taylor. “The first two periods, we only gave up four scoring chances and two of those were while we were on the penalty kill.
“The defensive zone play was really good for us.”
“We started out the game the right way,” Olofsson added. “The solid defensive play led to good offensive opportunities. Scoring a lot of goals is always a lot of fun, but the credit should go to our defensive play.”
The Amerks erupted for 5 goals in the third stanza as Wayne Simpson and Taylor Randall accounted for the other 2 markers.
“We talked during the second intermission about keeping our foot on the gas,” said goalie Scott Wedgewood. “We wanted to come out in the third and put the game out of reach. During the third, the goals just started going in and the guys rallied behind it.”
Wedgewood lost his shutout bid late in the third on a rebound shot. He finished with 19 saves.
“I hadn’t played hockey in about 10 minutes,” he said with a smile, referring to the Rochester’s dominance in the period. “I’ll take that over having too much work or being down.”
Janik and Steve Langdon were the 63rd and 64th Hall of Fame inductees in pregame ceremonies.
Langdon spent 5 of his 6 pro seasons in Rochester from 1974 to 1979, and much like Janik, helped the team to four straight playoff appearances, including a trip to the Calder Cup Finals in 1977. In 313 career games with the Amerks, Langdon scored 97 goals, ranking him 20th all-time, and added 87 assists for 184 points. He also recorded 14 points (3+11) in 35 postseason appearances.
The Amerks wore their Stars and Stripes jerseys, which is what they wore when the team won the 1996 Calder Cup.
*NOTES — The Buffalo Sabres on Friday announced the team has assigned defenseman Casey Nelson to the Rochester Americans on a conditioning loan. On his first shift, he was sent neck-first into the boards by Dryden Hunt. “I hit my throat on the dasher,” said Nelson, whose neck still had a mark from impact. “Not how you want to start off but it woke me up, that’s for sure.”. He left the ice but returned and finished the game a few minutes later…The Amerks travel to Utica Saturday for a night game against the Comets…The Amerks are encouraging fans to take advantage of the “Early Bird” offer for the 2019-20 American Hockey League season before the first deadline expires on Friday, March 22. Fans who put down a deposit of $50 per seat by Rochester’s home game on Friday, March 22 can lock in their seat and take advantage of special benefits for next season. In doing so, fans will receive a choice of a 2019-20 Season Ticket Member gift, 2019 Calder Cup Playoff amenities, their name on NEW season ticket member wall of fame and more exclusive benefits.
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The Rochester Americans forward Rasmus Asplund (26) scores a 5-on-3 shorthanded goal in the third period on Friday night (2/8/19) against the Springfield Thunderbirds before 5,623 fans at the Blue Cross Arena. The Amerks won 7-1.
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Brought to you by C&C Worldwide, supporting greecenylive.com, irondequoitlive.com, penfieldlive.com, websterlive.com and rochesternylive.com. Video by Craig Potter.
The Rochester Americans rookie forward Victor Olofsson (12) scores the second, of his 3 goals, on a power play in the third period Friday night (2/8/19) against the Springfield Thunderbirds before 5,623 fans at the Blue Cross Arena. The Amerks won 7-1.
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