By CRAIG POTTER
Goalie Linus Ullmark makes 51 saves in a 5-2 victory over the Utica Comets.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Rochester Americans goalie Linus Ullmark stopped 51 of 53 shots in leading the Amerks to a 5-2 victory on Friday night before 4,569 fans at the Blue Cross Arena. The win also was the Amerks season-long fourth straight.
“It was a fun game,” Ullmark said. “It did not feel like 50-plus saves until the last period. We were doing a good job of blocking shots and keeping them to the outside, so before the third period it was a pretty calm game for me.”
The former Swedish Goalie of the Year made numerous spectacular saves through two periods to keep the Amerks in the game.
“Linus was outstanding tonight as he made 50-plus saves,” said Nick Baptiste. “He played great but we know we have to play better as we sort of let them back into the game in the third. We had a good 40 minutes and tomorrow we have to have a full 60-minute game.”
The Amerks penalty killing finished the night bei g successful on all four penalties and ended the month of March going 18-of-19 (94.7%) on home ice in their last seven games.
“I believe typically your goaltender is your best penalty killer,” said Amerks head coach Dan Lambert. “Certainly, that is the truth for us, but I also think we have done a good job on not giving the opposition grade A chances.”
After a scoreless first period, defenseman Casey Nelson scored from the slot to give Rochester a 1-0 2:47 into the stanza. Nelson later blasted a shot from the right point that Baptiste redirected for a 2-0 margin.
The Comets, who are battling for a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference, fired 26 shots on Ullmark in the third period and managed a a pair of goals, but it wasn’t enough.
The Amerks tallied twice in less than a minute for a 4-0 margin midway through the period. Bpatiste netted a power play goal, then Justin Bailey tallied his 20th goal of the season.
Utica went on a power play with 4:40 left in regulation. They pulled backup goalie Michael Garteig, who had replaced starter Thatcher Demko following Rochester’s 4th goal, in an attempt to get back into the game.
However, Amerks defenseman Brady Austin got hold of the puck and fired it down the ice and into the empty net fir a 5-1 lead.
The Comets scored again with 15 seconds to play.
Message apparently received throughout the Sabres organization
Following Tuesday’s one-game suspension of Buffalo forward Sam Reinhart against the Blue Jackets in Columbus for being late to a team function, and last Sunday in Rochester second-year pro Justin Bailey was a healthy scratch for the first time this season, then if a message were intended to the players, apparently has been received.
Bailey DID play and started against Utica on Friday night, and responded with his 20th goal of the season.
“I don’t know that the Reinhart situation had anything to do with the Bailey situation,” said Lambert. “Justin is a good hockey player and when he plays the way he can, he’s one of the most effective players at this level. The fact that he’s got 20 goals shows that.
“But at the end of the day we need him to play and to skate and to work and to compete. Tonight he was much better that way.”
Bailey, who was re-assigned by the Sabres to Rochester on March 23 following a recent callup, was third on the Americans last Sunday in scoring with 19 goals. Rochester won its third straight game with a 2-0 victory over the Springfield Thunderbirds, without Bailey in the lineup.
Buffalo has reached its limit in recalls, and only can recall someone, for the remainder of the season, on an emergency basis.
While with the Sabres, Bailey was injured while blocking a shot against the San Jose Sharks on March 14, and did not play for Buffalo in the game on March 16 in Los Angeles. He returned to the lineup on March 20 in Detroit and played at home against Pittsburgh on March 21. He was a -1 in both of those games.
When asked for his thoughts about a possible message being sent, Baptiste said, “Buffalo is a pretty good organization and they do things the right way. Discipline is something from the top down.”
With the Amerks out of the playoff picture, Baptiste did say that guys are playing for contracts and for next season. What’s it going to take to make the Sabres next year?
“Everyone on our team wants to play in the National Hockey League full-time,” Baptiste said. “You have to do everything it takes to get there, and that starts working hard and following instructions here.”
*NOTES – Tim Kennedy played in his 600th pro game while Tyson Strachan played in his 400th AHL game on Friday night…Justin Bailey became the first Amerk to net back-to-back 20-goal seasons since Mark Mancari did it in 2006-07 and 2007-08. The Amerks reigning Rookie of the Year owns the longest goal-scoring streak in the AHL this season at 7 games and has recorded 15 points (12+3) over his last 17 games, dating back to Dec. 16…Cole Schneider picked up his team-leading 55th point with his team-leading 35th assist…Justin Bailey’s 20th goal was his 30th point of the season…The 51 saves by Linus Ullmark is the most in one game by an AHL goalie this season. The game also was Ullmark’s 53rd of the campaign. He is the only AHL netminder to appear in 50 or more games this season, and the first Rochester goalie to do so since MVP David Leggio achieved it in 2013 while playing in 64 games…Despite being outshot 26-7 in the third period, the Amerks outscored the Comets, 2-1…The owner of the Syracuse Crunch reportedly has threatened to move the team if improvements are not made to the arena there. Should he decide to move it, Albany could be a possible location as the New Jersey Devils are pulling out their AHL franchise from there following this season…The Amerks continue their 3-in-3 weekend with a game Saturday night in Utica and Sunday afternoon in Albany.
Links
Rochester Americans – amerks.com
Videos
Casey Nelson goal – https://youtu.be/cPbpTre7Nfw
Linus Ullmark 2 saves – https://youtu.be/clJpKWydzHk
Linus Ullmark interview – https://youtu.be/J6HvucspRzg
Nick Baptiste interview – https://youtu.be/gQkr0nHafew
Dan Lambert interview – https://youtu.be/1z4nTr6mCdQ