The Rochester forward scores with 2 seconds left to key a 4-3 win over the Senators.
By CRAIG POTTER / C&C Worldwide Sports Director
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Sometimes being in the right place at the right time can pay huge dividends.
That was the case for Rochester Americans forward Taylor Leier as a shot by Lawrence Pilut hit Leier on his left shoulder and deflected past Belleville goalie Filip Gustavsson for a power play goal with 2 seconds left in regulation for a 4-3 victory before 8,053 fans at the Blue Cross Arena Friday night.
“I first got hit first (by one of their skaters) and then my hair was in my eyes,” Leier said when talking about his game-winning goal. “My helmet was kind of out of whack as I went into the slot. As a defenseman pushed on my back, my stick broke and all I saw was the puck coming towards my face.
“I ducked out of the way and I just felt the puck hit my left shoulder and I wasn’t sure if it went into the net and I then heard the horn. Sometimes luck happens like that, but it was a big goal for our team.”
Forward Casey Mittelstadt earned his first point as an Amerk in his fourth game since being sent down by the Buffalo Sabres, to end his scoring slump between Buffalo and Rochester. Mittelstadt had only 1 assist in his last 5 games with the Sabres, and recorded just 4 goals and 5 assists in 31 games with Buffalo this season.
“Casey played well tonight,” said Amerks coach Chris Taylor. “He had a lot of good looks and he drew us the power-play at the end of the game. Casey had a couple shots that he just missed the net, but overall he had a good night.”
The contest against Ottawa’s farm club was a seesaw as it was tied 3 times and had 3 lead changes. The pace was fast though the B-Sens outshot the Amerks, 28-18, through the first two periods.
Amerks goalie Jonas Johansson finished with 33 saves on 36 shots to improve his record to 10-2-2-2.
Rochester dominated the third stanza as the Amerks fired 13 shots, while scoring on 2. Belleville finished with a 36-31 shot advantage but fell short on the scoreboard.
The B-Sens opened the scoring with a power play goal in the first period, but defenseman Zach Redmond answered about 2 minutes later with a power play tally of his own.
Rochester took the lead in the second stanza on a give-and-go with Eric Cornel scoring off assists from Scott Wilson and Sean Malone. Wilson was playing in his first game since coming off the injured list.
“Wilson played awesome tonight,” said Taylor. “His forechecking, his penalty-killing. He did a lot of great things and I believe it was his best game as an Amerk. He drove pucks wide and it was good to have him back in the lineup as he brought a lot to the Cornel and Malone line.”
Belleville accounted for a pair of goals before the period ended to take a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
The Amerks came out fired up in the third period and finally notched the tying goal by defenseman Lawrence Pilut on a blast from the left point that found its way into the back of the net. Teammates Dalton Smith and Brett Murray provided screens in front of the Senators net.
“A lot of guys competed in the third period and I was pleased with that,” Taylor said. “Seeing Pilut get a little gritty in the back-end of the ice was good for our team and I think it is something that he enjoys when he gets under the opponent’s skin.”
The B-Sens were whistled for a penalty with 36.1 seconds remaining in regulation as Mittelstadt drew the call.
Pilut set up Mittelstadt in the right-wing circle with under 10 seconds to play. Mittelstadt’s shot was blocked as Pilut tracked it down near the right point with 6.2 seconds remaining. In unison, the 8,053 fans fanatically were yelling for him to shoot. He did as the shot deflected off Leier for the game-winner with 2 ticks remaining.
*NOTES — The Buffalo Sabres recalled Curtis Lazar on Friday…The 8,053 crowd is the largest for an Amerks home game since Sept. 25, 2018 when 8,061 were in attendance at the BCA…The Amerks hit the road for the final two games of the calendar year beginning on Saturday with their third trip of the season to the southern tier for a North Division showdown with the Binghamton Devils at Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. After the 7:05 pm contest, Rochester will visit the Adirondack Bank Center to finish off 2019 as they face off with the Utica Comets at 5 pm on Wednesday, Dec. 31…Rookie forward Brett Murray has recorded 2 goals, 7 assists, and had a pair of multi-point efforts over his last 15 games. He ranks 15th in scoring among all AHL rookies with 16 points (4+12) in 24 games…The game was the 200th AHL contest for Amerks forward Jarrett Burton.
Videos
Taylor Leier g-w goal – https://youtu.be/e3LdnJecV9s