By CRAIG POTTER
Cal O’Reilly scores the lone goal in the shootout to give Rochester a 4-3 win over the Crunch.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Americans squandered 2-0 and 3-1 leads over the North Division-leading Syracuse Crunch on Friday night, but were able to pull out a 4-3 shootout victory before 6,034 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
Amerks team captain Cal O’Reilly scored first in the shootout, and it proved to be the only goal that would be scored. Netminder Linus Ullmark stopped all 3 of the Crunch shooters after he recorded 36 saves in regulation and the 5-minute overtime period to keep his teammates in the contest.
Fourth line players Kyle Bonis and Daniel Muzito-Bagenda accounted for Rochester’s first two goals. Bonis scored on the Amerks first shot on Syracuse netminder Kristers Gudlevskis, 8 minutes into the contest after the Crunch already had taken 10 shots on Ullmark.
“Syracuse came out strong to begin the game,” said Amerks head coach Dan Lambert. “They were the better team, but luckily for us, we were very fortunate with our shots and Linus was the reason we were still in the game after the first period.”
The Amerks scored on their first shot of the game by Kyle Bonis to take a 1-0 lead midway through the opening period, despite being outshot 10-1 at the time. Vaclav Karabacek picked up an assist on the play.
“I was grateful that Vinny was in at a perfect spot on the forecheck,” Bonis said. “I got a stick on it and He’s a big goalie so it’s kind of nice to get one by him.”
Rochester converted on its third shot of the period Daniel Muzito-Bagenda scored off an assisted from Karabacek, his second of the night.
Syracuse netted a power play goal with 3 minutes remaining in the opening stanza.
The Amerks upped the count to 3-1 on a power play goal by Nick Baptiste, his team-leading 16th of the season. Evan Rodrigues and Cole Schneider assisted on the play.
“Evan is playing with a lot of confidence right now,” said Lambert. “He is also playing with a lot of grit as well and the other teams don’t like playing against him right now. Personally, I think that is when he is at his best, especially when he is under the opposition’s skin.”
However, Rochester defenseman Casey Nelson turned the puck over in his own end in the second period that resulted in the Crunch’s second goal.
The visitors from the Salt City tallied the equalizer while playing short-handed 3-on-4. Ullmark came out of his net sliding towards the loose puck. Erik Condra flipped over him, but got his stick on the puck as it and Condra slid into the Rochester net for the tying goal.
“I slide because I was a little bit too late out there,” Ullmark said. “Unfortunately I didn’t flip him enough because he got a stick on it.”
The Amerks outshot the Crunch, 3-1, in the overtime period but neither team was able to score.
Rochester shot first in the shootout with O’Reilly starting it off. He beat Gudlevskis for what proved to be the game-winning goal.
*NOTES — The Americans announced on Friday that defenseman Brycen Martin has been reassigned to the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL…The Amerks travel to Toronto for games against the Marlies on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon…AHL All-Star Cole Schneider picked up his 21st assist, on Nick Baptiste’s power play goal, of the season as he leads the Amerks in points with 35…All-Star goalie Linus Ullmark earned his 14th win of the season with the victory…Second-year pro Evan Rodrigues extended his point streak to 5 games…The win was the Amerks 4th in their last 5 games.
Links
Rochester Americans – amerks.com
Videos
Cal O’Reilly SO goal – https://youtu.be/QTUlnymDrw0
Nick Baptiste power play goal – https://youtu.be/Wd65d1bkF6A
Syracuse short-handed goal – https://youtu.be/seJ_eYPzRvw
Syracuse final SO shot – https://youtu.be/4fLhSR8raxE
Kyle Bonis interview – https://youtu.be/HF_-9nRaeeI
Linus Ullmark interview – https://youtu.be/0izFiy5PQWA
Coach Dan Lambert interview – https://youtu.be/AGPBh4jPqvw