Rochester doubles up the Springfield Thunderbirds, 4-2, to qualify for the playoffs since 2014.
By CRAIG POTTER
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The inevitable finally happened on Saturday night as the Rochester Americans clinched a Calder Cup playoff berth for the first time since 2014.
The Amerks (31-20-10-6 for 78 points) tallied twice within 58 seconds in the third period for a 4-2 victory over the Springfield Thunderbirds before 5,655 fans at the Blue Cross Arena. The win snapped a 4-game losing streak and secured a playoff spot in the North Division standings.
“It was a relief to make the playoffs,” said Amerks head coach Chris Taylor. “It’s an unbelievable feeling for this community and I am proud of the group in the locker room and everyone involved in the organization. It is a great feeling and now we need to start building and getting better and better.
“It’s big, it’s big for people that work in this building, for people that have been a part of this organization for a long time.”
Taylor added, “I just checked my phone and I’ve got like 10 texts from neighbors; they’re excited. The playoffs are the best. It’s about bringing the community together.”
The top 4 teams qualify for the playoffs. The Utica Comets (74 points), Laval Rochet (57), and Binghamton Devils (55) are vying for the fourth and final spot in the North Division.
Seth Griffith put the Amerks on the scoreboard first with a power play tally in the first period.
The Thunderbirds knotted the count 12 seconds into the second period against Rochester netminder Adam Wilcox.
The Amerks regained the lead on rookie Colin Blackwell’s rebound shot for his 8th goal of the season.
However, the lead lasted just 35 seconds as the Birds evened the count once again.
Wilcox came up with the save of the game while the Amerks were killing a penalty in the second period with the scored tied 2-2. He stopped one shot, then kicked out his left leg and made a pad save on a rebound attempt, taking away a sure goal from Anthony Greco.
“The guys fed off that,” Taylor said.
Wilcox finished the contest with 20 saves to end his personal 3-game losing streak.
Midway through the third period, Blackwell banged home another rebound shot for what proved to be the game-winner, and playoff clincher.
“It was a big win,” said Blackwell, who was the game’s first star. “We have been struggling the last four or five games or so to finish the weekend with a victory like we did. It’s a big win for us. I was not around in the past when the team made the playoffs, but the fans have been very supportive all year, so to see the place start rocking, it’s going to be an awesome atmosphere in the playoffs.
“You want to be playing after April 15, that’s when the best players in the league are playing.”
Taylor said of the rookie, who earned an AHL contract after signing an ATO back in October, “He creates energy, he’s a sparkplug. He’s great on faceoffs, he’s really good in the corners. I just like his tenacity. He hates to lose.”
Danny O’Regan tacked on an insurance tally 62 seconds later for the final 4-2 count.
The Amerks have missed the playoffs the last 3 years.
“This is what we’ve been working for all year,” said team captain Kevin Porter. “Now the work starts.”
“We can’t let our foot off the gas,” added forward Seth Griffith, who returned from the Sabres earlier this week. “We have to play playoff hockey the last 9 games.”
*NOTES — Amerks rookie, and the team’s leading point scorer, C.J. Smith, sustained a lower body injury in Friday night’s game and is sidelined once again. He is week-to-week, according to coach Chris Taylor…Springfield assistant coaches Doug Janik and Michael Ryan each have ties to Rochester having spent time in the Flower City as players, including teammates from 2003 to 2006. Janik, a Springfield native, appeared in 376 career games in Rochester, thr third-most among any blueliner in franchise history, and his 93 points (18+73) still ranks 30th among all-time defensemen. Ryan played parts of 5 seasons with the Amerks during which he amassed 126 points (57+69) in 218 career games…The Amerks have 9 games remaining in the regular season, 6 at the BCA and 3 on the road…6 players currently with the Buffalo Sabres are eligible to return to the Amerks for the Calder Cup playoffs following the conclusion of Buffalo’s season. They include: goalie Linus Ullmark; defensmen Casey Nelson and Brandon Guhle; and forwards Justin Bailey, Nikc Baptiste, and Kyle Criscuolo.
Links
Rochester Americans – amerks.com
Videos
Matt Tennyson trip – https://youtu.be/nEQ55daaojE
Final minute – https://youtu.be/JTNNu7rxF-M