By CRAIG POTTER
Rochester falls 6-3 in Game 3 as the Crunch eliminates the Amerks.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Americans have not advanced beyond the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs since 2005.
For the sixth time in the ensuing years, the Amerks were bounced in the opening round, this time by the Syracuse Crunch with a 6-3 victory on Wednesday night before 6,143 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
“We made a lot of young mistakes,” said Amerks head coach Chris Taylor. “Syracuse is a team who makes you pay for those mistakes. It seemed every time we did make one, the puck ended in the back of our net.”
The Amerks opened the scoring in the first period on a power play goal by Zach Redmond. Kevin Porter and Colin Blackwell assisted on the play.
“We played hard down to the last second of the series,” said Porter, who led the club with 5 points (1+4) in 3 games. “It was not the results we wanted or had hoped, but I was a pleasure playing with all these guys and wearing the jersey.”
However, the Crunch tied the game late in the period as Matthew Peca redirected a shot past Rochester goalie Linus Ullmark.
Rochester regained the advantage in the second stanza on a marker by Justin Bailey. Buffalo native Sean Malone received an assist on the play.
But the lead lasted for just 29 seconds before the Crunch netted the equalizer. Just 19 seconds later, Syracuse took the lead for good. The visitors from the Salt City made it 4-2 less than 3 minutes later.
In the third period, the Crunch added a power play goal before Danny O’Regan tallied the final Amerks goal of the season.
Syracuse secured the victory with an empty net tally in the final minute of play.
“I am so proud of the group of guys in this room,” said Amerks assistant captain Nathan Paetsch. “It was a pleasure playing with them. The excitement they brought back to the City of Rochester and the way they came to work every day was something special. There is a lot of character in the room and a really good group of guys.”
“It was a great atmosphere,” said Taylor od the crowd of 6,145. “As an organization, we cannot thank the fans effort for coming out on a Wednesday night and providing the support like they did tonight. They were loud throughout the game despite us not getting the results we wanted.”
*NOTES – The Amerks had a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:19 in the first period but were unable to score….Justin Bailey collided with a Crunch player late in the third period and left with an apparent left shoulder injury…The Amerks will hold locker clean out day on Thursday…Buffalo Sabres and Rochester Americans owners, Terry and Kim Pegula, along with Sabres GM Jason Botterill, were in attendance at the game…The Rochester Red Wings, who won earlier in the day against the Gwinnett Stripers, were in attendance at the game…The Amerks will have their exit meetings and locker cleanouts over Thursday and Friday.
Links
Rochester Americans – amerks.com
Videos
Zach Redmond pp goal – https://youtu.be/1uOKBWlx1rw