By CRAIG POTTER
Danny O’Regan scores the lone goal in the shootout as Rochester wins 5-4 over the Crunch.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Americans squandered a chance to pick up 2 points on the Syracuse Crunch for second place in the North Division Sunday afternoon, but the Amerks did prevail, 5-4, with a shootout victory over the visitors from the Salt City before 4,244 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
Danny O’Regan, who was called up to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, was sent back for Sunday’s game, along with Justin Bailey. O’Regan tallied the lone goal in the shootout as goalie Linus Ullmark turned aside the shots from all 3 Crunch players. Ullmark made 28 saves in the game.
Defenseman Zach Redmond, and forwards Eric Cornel and Colin Blackwell each contributed 3-point games on 1 goal and 2 assists.
Syracuse (36-19-3-4) has 79 points as Rochester (30-16-10-6) has 76 points. Both teams have played 62 games. The win was the first for the Amerks over the Crunch this season.
Though the Crunch opened the scoring just 15 seconds into the game, the Amerks tallied twice in the stanza to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
“I really liked the first two and a half periods,” said Amerks head coach Chris Taylor. “A couple of our mistakes led us going to overtime, but I thought we played well. It was a little disappointing that we gave them a point tonight, but I am pleased we got the win.”
Blackwell tied the score 1-1, and rookie Justin Danforth gave Rochester the lead with 8.5 seconds left in the period.
The Crunch knotted the count early in the second stanza, but Cornel redirected a shot by Redmond for a 3-2 lead. Redmond blasted a shot from the right point to put the hosts up 4-2.
“Other than the first five minutes, I thought we went back to playing the way we did towards the beginning of the season,” said Redmond. “The forwards and the defensemen were working well with getting the puck out of the zone and it’s something we need to continue to do with more consistency.”
However, a couple of lapses in the final 6 minutes of regulation allowed the Crunch to even the count once again and force overtime.
Cornel getting his chance
Now with players injured or on recall, Cornel is getting top-six minutes and responsibilities.
“He’s been really good. From his year last year to this year, it’s been unbelievable,” said Taylor. “He’s working hard, doing the little things after practdice and he’s getting rewarded for them.
“It was a tough shoulder injury that he came back from. I thought it was going to take a couple of games to get back, but he was in full stride. He fits in perfect(ly) and he’s playing hard.I just want to keep playing him.”
He responded with his first multiple-point game in his pro career with the 1 goal and 2 assists.
“I just try to have the mindset whatever role they put me in, I’m going to do the best I can in that role,” Cornel said.
Powell’s 1st pro game
Myles Powell, 23, who signed an ATO with the Amerks last week after completing his college playing career at RIT, played forward in his first pro game Sunday against Syracuse.
“It’s a great honor to play here and I’m glad I got the opportunity,” said Powell. Several ECHL teams had contacted him about playing so he was thrilled when his agent informed him that the Amerks wanted to sign him to an ATO.
“He’s playing really well,” Taylor said of Powell. “It’s great to see his game at home here too, especially playing for RIT.
“He brings some speed and he was hitting a lot tonight.”
When asked the difference between the college and pro game, Powell said, “A little faster pace. Guys get on you quicker. Just a little less time out there.”
A few of his RIT teammates were in the stands to watch his first game, but his family resides on the West Coast and were unable to be in Rochester for his debut.
*NOTES –The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team has assigned forwards Justin Bailey and Danny O’Regan to the Rochester Americans…Rochester Americans General Manage Randy Sexton announced on Sunday that the team has re-assigned forwards Alex Kile, Vaclav Karabacek, and Daniel Muzito-Bagenda to the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL)…The Amerks travel to New England next weekend for games against Providence (Friday), Bridgeport (Saturday), and Hartford (Sunday).
Links
Rochester Americans – amerks.com
Videos
Danny O’Regan SO goal – https://youtu.be/uXEfnwCPfVc
Linus Ullmark 3rd SO save – https://youtu.be/ctLXtCnLEkQ
Myles Powell 1st pro shift – https://youtu.be/QzaAYwYyJzI