A 3-goal 2nd period propels Rochester to a 5-1 win over Hershey.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A three-goal second period and five different goal-scorers propelled the Rochester Americans (4-2-0-1) to a decisive 5-1 win over the Hershey Bears (4-3-1-0) in a battle between the American Hockey League’s cornerstone franchises Wednesday at the Blue Cross Arena. The matchup was the 459th all-time meeting between the league’s two oldest teams.
With their first two-point outings of the season, C.J. Smith (1+1) and Andrew Oglevie (0+2) helped the Amerks push their home point streak to three games as they improved to 2-0-0-1 at the BCA. Kevin Porter and Scott Wilson both tallied a goal while rookie forward Brett Murray added his first professional marker to close out the scoring. Netminder Jonas Johansson (1-1-0) nearly had his first AHL shutout, stopping 19 of the 20 shots he faced on the night to earn his first victory of the campaign.
Axel Jonsson-Fjallby scored the lone Hershey goal during the third period to extend his point streak to four games while goaltender Pheonix Copley (2-2-1) suffered the loss despite making 24 saves.
During the second period of a scoreless game, Tage Thompson drew Rochester’s third power-play of the night at the 7:58 mark. The Amerks kept the puck inside the Bears zone for the first half of the infraction before Smith fired a shot towards the Hershey net from the left point. As the puck was nearing Copley, Porter, stationed atop the crease, redirected it under the crossbar to give Rochester the 1-0 lead.
Exactly five minutes later, Thompson stripped a Hershey skater of the puck near the center-ice dot before sending Rasmus Asplund and Malone into the offensive zone on an odd-man rush. After Asplund dished a cross-ice pass in behind the Bears defense, Malone’s backhanded attempt was eventually knocked in by Hershey’s Connor Hobbs, whose momentum following a last-ditch slide carried the puck across his own goal-line for a 2-0 Amerks advantage.
Less than three minutes following Malone’s goal, Curtis Lazar attempted to blast a shot from just inside the Hershey zone, but the puck caromed off a skate and towards the high slot. In one swift motion, Wilson whipped a spinning shot just past the left leg of the Copley to give Rochester a 3-0 cushion going into the final 20 minutes of play
Zach Redmond, who has recorded seven points (1+6) in his last 11 games dating back to last season, collected the secondary assist on Wilson’s second goal of the campaign.
“Tonight we were not one and done,” said interim head coach Gord Dineen. “That has been one of our problems so far this season in getting one shot or opportunity but I thought tonight even when we missed the net, we retrieved the puck and found a way to have a lot of puck possession.”
The Amerks made it a four-goal game during the final period as Smith neatly tucked a shot past the glove midway through stanza from Oglevie and Lawrence Pilut.
“We had a really strong start,” Oglevie said. “Yes, we did not capitalize on our chances, but I think if we keep coming out with the same effort, the goals will come eventually during the season.”
As the clock was ever so slowly ticking down for Johansson, the Bears spoiled his first potential AHL shutout as Jonsson-Fjallby picked the corner for a shorthanded tally with 4:56 left in regulation
“It was a tough one for us to give up towards the end of the game,” said Smith when talking about the lone Hershey goal. “J.J. played a really good game for us and it was still nice to see him play well and get the win.”
Rochester closed out the scoring in the final minute of play to regain the four-goal lead as Murray recorded his first professional goal from Oglevie and Casey Nelson.
“It feels great,” said Johansson of his first win of the slate. “It was a huge comeback win after last weekend’s game and it was a great effort by all the guys in the room to get the two points.”
The Amerks hit the road again as they square off against the Syracuse Crunch in a North Division showdown at The War Memorial Arena on Saturday, Oct. 26. After the 7 pm tilt with the Crunch, Rochester closes out the weekend with a 5:05 pm clash with the Springfield Thunderbirds on Sunday.
Military Appreciation Night
The Rochester Americans and Veterans Outreach Center have once again partnered to host Military Appreciation Night on Friday, Nov. 15 when the Amerks face the Cleveland Monsters at 7:05 pm at the Blue Cross Arena.
“We are truly appreciative for great community partners like the Rochester Americans,” said Veterans Outreach Center Executive Director Laura Stradley. “Veterans Outreach Center engages daily with soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen and coast guardsmen who have made great sacrifices in serving our nation. It is a testament to the Americans organization that they want to recognize those sacrifices and honor these courageous men and women by hosting an event like Military Appreciation Night. The entire staff and players alike take an interest in getting involved in our community and engage with both VOC and the veterans we serve directly. It is truly wonderful that the organization makes themselves so accessible.”
“It is truly an honor for the Rochester Americans to once again partner with Veterans Outreach Center to host Military Appreciation Night,” said Amerks Vice President of Business Operations Rob Minter. “This is an event we take great pride in hosting each year as it gives us another opportunity to show our immense gratitude for the brave men and women in our community and in the U.S. Armed Forces who have served or are currently serving our country.”
*NOTES — Amerks forward Eric Cornel marked his 100th consecutive regular season appearance tonight with Rochester. The streak began on Mar. 9, 2018 versus Providence…Rochester entered tonight’s matchup leading the Eastern Conference with 36.7 shots per game while Hershey was allowing the fewest in the Conference with an average of 27.1 shots per game. The Amerks outshot the Bears, 29-20…Tonight’s matchup marked the 459th all-time meeting between the AHL’s two senior-most franchises with Rochester holding a 192-213-54 lifetime record against Hershey…For more information on the Military Appreciation Night, go to: amerks.com