Andrew Oglevie nets the game-winner to move Rochester into first place.
By CRAIG POTTER / C&C Worldwide Sports Director
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Andrew Oglevie’s rebound shot 56 seconds into overtime propelled the Rochester Americans to a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters on Military Appreciation Night before 5,446 fans at the Blue Cross Arena Friday night.
“Larry (Pilut) made a heads-up play as they made a line change and I saw J.S breaking for the net,” said Oglevie. “I thought I would trail a little to see if there was a rebound and it popped out and I was able to put it home.”
The victory, combined with a loss by Laval, moved the Amerks into sole possession of first place in the North Division.
Two second period goals, about 3 minutes apart, saw the Amerks grab a 2-1 lead over the Monsters. Rochester maintained its advantage until 1:05 left in regulation when Cleveland’s Ryan MacInnis ripped a shot past Amerks goalie Jonas Johansson to send the game into overtime.
Johansson finished with 25 saves. It marked the first time this season that the Amerks were outshot (27-23) by the opposition.
Rochester entered the game averaging 34.93 shots per game, the most only behind the Iowa Wild.
Amerks interim coach Gord Dineen was forced to play 2 defensemen (Nate Paetsch and Brandon Hickey) at forward positions as 5 of the 6 injured players are forwards. Dineen said that Hickey had played forward earlier in his career and offered to move up front for the game.
Injuries to C.J. Smith, Scott Wilson, Remi Elie, Taylor Leier, and Jarrett Burton, plus the recall of Rasmus Asplund and Curtis Lazar, left Rochester with only 10 healthy forwards.
The lone healthy scratch was forward Shaw Boomhewer, who was just called up from Cincinnati on Friday.
“As a former defenseman myself, you know they will be responsive on the defensive side,” said Dineen. “The IQ level on the bench rose tonight but they were really structured on the way they played. They put a lot of heart and soul into tonight’s game and they really added to the group.
“It was a great team win in a crunch situation.”
Dineen said he expects to get some more personnel in Saturday for their game Saturday night in Utica against the Comets.
Cleveland opened the scoring in the first period with a shorthanded goal by Zac Dalpe.
The Amerks evened the score on a blast from the slot by defenseman Lawrence Pilut.
“It was a good pass by ‘Ports’ (Kevin Porter),” Pilut said. “Everyone was doing their job and I saw an opportunity to jump up on the play as the other team was changing. I was able to find a hole and just tried to get the puck on the net.”
Less than 3 minutes later Rochester went on a power play. It took just 8 seconds when Jean-Sebastien Dea ripped a shot from the right point to put the Amerks in front, 2-1.
“It’s a little nerve-racking after giving up the lead,” said Dea. “It’s a great bounce-back to win the game. Everyone worked extremely hard, so to get the extra point, everyone is happy with the result, especially tonight as we had a weird lineup.”
*NOTES — The Buffalo Sabres announced on Friday that the team has recalled forward Rasmus Asplund from the Amerks. In a corresponding move, Amerks General Manager Randy Sexton announced that the team recalled forward Shaw Boomhower from the Cincinnati Cyclones. Asplund, 21, earns his first recall of season to Buffalo after beginning the 2019-20 campaign with 1 goal and 7 assists in 13 games for the Amerks. In 88 career contests with the Amerks, Asplund has posted 11 goals and 38 assists while also skating in 3 Calder Cup Playoff games. During the 2018-19 campaign, the Filipstad, Sweden native led all Amerk rookies with 31 assists in a career-high 75 games in his first season with the club. Additionally, his 41 points and 10 goals also topped all first-year skaters while being honored as the Amerks Rookie of the Year. Boomhower, 21, earns his first recall to Rochester after starting the 2019-20 campaign with two points (1+1) in 11 games in his second season with Cincinnati. In 37 career games with the Cyclones, Boomhower accounted for 4 goals and 5 assists along with 124 penalty minutes. Additionally, he has registered 12 penalty minutes in 4 Kelly Cup Playoff games…One of the biggest factors attributed to Rochester’s early season success is the fact that the Amerks have outshot their opponents in every game, prior to tonight, including a season-high 50 shots in Springfield back on Oct. 27. The Amerks came into the contest ranked third in the AHL in total shots (489) and were averaging 34.93 shots per game, the most behind only the Iowa Wild. Rochester owns one of the top two shooters in the league in Tage Thompson (59)…The Amerks came into the week owning two of the AHL’s top point-producing defensemen in Zach Redmond and Casey Nelson. The start of the season is just a different chapter in the same story for the 31-year-old Redmond, who is averaged nearly a point-per-game through his first 11 games of the season…Tonight was just the 10th meeting between the Amerks and Monsters since the 2015-16 season. Rochester holds a record of 26-7-3-3 over Cleveland since the start of the 2011-12 campaign.