The rookie defenseman nets his 2nd career pro goal in 2 straight games.
By CRAIG POTTER / C&C Worldwide Sports Director
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Jacob Bryson was in the right place at the right time to score on a backhand shot to lift the Rochester Americans to a 3-2 victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday night before 6,196 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
“It was all about getting to the net tonight,” said Bryson. “Mittsy (Casey Mittelstadt) made a great play getting there and I was kind of in the right spot at the right time for the goal. I just drove to the net and was able to find the puck.”
The goal was the rookie’s second career pro goal in 2 games, and it turned out to be the game-winner. He also assisted on the go-ahead tally by Sean Malone in the final minute of regulation, but the Phantoms netted the equalizer just 20 seconds later to send the game into overtime.
“I grabbed that puck and I felt I could beat those guys wide,” Bryson said. “I’m trying to use my speed to the best of my ability.”
“He is getting more and more confidence,” added Amerks head coach Chris Taylor of Bryson. “Any time you get rewarded with goals it can sort of give you the lift off. You see that with Jacob and now you can see him jumping up into the play. He is quick enough and smart enough that he can recover and get back into the play, if needed.”
The Amerks grabbed the lead in the first period on a power play goal by CJ Smith. Jean-Sebastien Dea and Rasmus Asplund assisted on the play.
The Phantoms knotted the count early in the third when former Amerk Kyle Criscuolo found Kurtis Gabriel open in the slot as he beat Andrew Hammond to tie the game.
Hammond was brilliant between the pipes as he finished with 29 saves, including several key stops while the Amerks killed off a 5-on-3 by the Phantoms.
“It’s one of those things where you could feel them gaining some energy,” said Hammond. “As a goaltender, you feel if you can help bail your team out then maybe we could go the other way. It’s my job to make the saves, and sometimes it’s maybe harder than others, but you just try to do what you can do to bail the team out.
Malone ripped home a shot in the final minute of regulation, off a mishit by Andrew Oglevie, after Bryson set up the play with his speed to get around the Lehigh Valley defense.
“I saw the puck go through our defenseman and forward’s legs and decided to step up,” said Malone. “I knew I had an opportunity to shoot the puck and fortunately it went into the net.”
However, just as in Wednesday’s game against Belleville, the visitors score again in the final minute to send the contest into overtime.
“It was an emotional roller coaster. I was very amped up (after scoring) and (20) seconds later it’s in our net,” said Malone.
“I thought we were doing all the right things and I go to block a pass and it goes to the backdoor,” Hammond said.
Taylor added, “Hammond made some big saves for us. I thought our ‘D’ played really well tonight and they contained Lehigh Valley. It was a strange play as Hammond tried to slide across the crease, but the puck bounced off the stick and right to their guy.”
But unlike Wednesday, the Amerks netted the game-winner as Bryson followed the play to the net and put home a backhander in the slot after Mittelstadt made a pass. Asplund received his second assist of the night on the play as well.
The Amerks continue their homestand Saturday night at 7 pm against the Cleveland Monsters on First Responders Appreciation Night.
*NOTES — Rochester Americans General Manager Randy Sexton announced today that goaltender Michael Houser has been reassigned to the Cincinnati Cyclones…The Buffalo Sabres announced that the 16th Annual Scotty Bowman Showcase will take place on Wednesday, March 18 at KeyBank Center. The 2020 Scotty Bowman Showcase consists of three all-star hockey games between players from Buffalo and their rivals from Rochester. Each game will consist of two 22-minute halves. Admission for the games is $5…Rochester’s homestand closes out the weekend on Saturday, Feb. 22 when they welcome the North Division rival Cleveland Monsters back to the Blue Cross Arena. Game time is slated for a 7:05 pm…The Amerks need just one more win to reach the 30-win mark for the fourth consecutive season and third straight under head coach Chris Taylor. With the team’s next win, Taylor will become the first Amerks head coach since Randy Cunneyworth, the all-time winningest coach in franchise history, to lead his team to 30 or more wins in each of his first three seasons behind the bench…Lehigh Valley’s roster includes 4 former Amerks in forwards Kyle Criscuolo and Cal O’Reilly and defensemen T.J. Brennan and Eric Knodel…Last season, the Buffalo Sabres acquired Taylor Leier from the Philadelphia Flyers organization. The Saskatchewan native made his Amerks debut against his former team in the first meeting last season after posting 136 points (56+80) in 226 games with the Phantoms to begin his professional career.