Austin Shanks racks up 7 goals in leading Rochester past its Thruway rivals.
By CRAIG POTTER / C&C Worldwide Sports Director
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Second-year pro Austin Shanks scored a career-high 7 goals in pacing the Rochester Knighthawks to an 18-13 victory over the Buffalo Bandits on Saturday night before 8,337 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
The victory avenged a 13-4 defeat to the Bandits (4-2) on Jan. 5 at KeyBank Center.
“It was a great effort from everyone from (goalie Angus) Goodleaf to our forwards,” Knighthawks coach Mike Hasen said of the team’s strong offensive performance in the rematch against the Bandits. “This is something that we can build off of moving forward.”
Former Knighthawk goalie Matt Vinc yielded 4 goals in the first quarter as the Knighthawks (2-3) held a 4-2 advantage.
Shanks finished the first half with 4 goals of his own as Rochester held a 9-6 margin after a seesaw second quarter that saw the game tied 3 times with 2 lead changes.
“My shooting just had not been up to par until tonight,” said Shanks. “I shot the ball well tonight, and my teammates really answered the bell.”
The Ohio State product spoke highly of the Knighthawks’ coaching staff, noting how they stuck by him during his early season struggles.
“Since day one of my rookie year the staff here has been confident in me,” he said. “I was on a four-game slump, they could have been on my back, but they were behind me all the way.”
The Scott Campbell finished off a 2-on-1 that put Rochester in front to stay (7-6).
“I think that there has been a change in our whole mindset in the offensive zone,” said Hasen. “Now when we are getting our opportunities, we are making the most of them.”
The Hawks chased Vinc when Shanks netted the 13th goal with 1:35 to play in the third period for a 13-8.
Buffalo native and former Bandit Joe Resetarits gave the Hawks their biggest margin (17-9) in the fourth quarter.
Shanks led the team with 8 points (7g, 1a) followed by Resetarits 7 (3g, 4a), Jamieson 6 (1g, 5a), Kyle Jackson 5 (1g, 4a), Scott Campbell 3 (2g, 1a), Graeme Hossack 3 (1g, 2a), Pat Saunders (1g, 2a), Cory Vitarelli (1g, 2a), Paul Dawson 2 (2a), Mike Burke 2 (2a), Luc Magnan 2 (2a), Cam Milligan 1 (1g), Brad Gillies 1 (1a), and Jake Withers 1 (1a). Withers also won 15 of 20 faceoffs.
Goodleaf recorded 43 saves in earning the victory.
Next Friday the Knighthawks travel to Philadelphia to face the Wings in an effort to get back to .500 before squaring off against the Georgia Swarm at the BCA on Feb. 2 at 7:30 pm.
*NOTES — The game was the first in Rochester for former goalie Matt Vinc, who posted a 13-4 win over his former team in their earlier meeting this season in Buffalo…The Knighthawks lead the all-time series against the Bandits with a 40-28 record…Joe Resetarits’ first goal was his 100th as a Knighthawk for the Buffalo native and former Bandit…The game had 31 penalties called, 18 for roughing. Buffalo totaled 36 minutes for the game while Rochester amassed 32 minutes…Both teams went 3-for-6 on the power play…It was Military Appreciation Night as the Bandits wore jerseys representing the Army while the Knighthawks jerseys represented the Navy.
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Rochester Knighthawks goalie Angus Goodleaf makes the save on a breakaway by the Buffalo Bandits in the second quarter Saturday night (1/26/19) before 8,337 fans at the Blue Cross Arena. The Knighthawks won 18-13.
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Brought to you by C&C Worldwide, supporting greecenylive.com, irondequoitlive.com, penfieldlive.com, websterlive.com and rochesternylive.com. Video by Craig Potter.
Rochester Knighthawks forward Austin Shanks (11) scores a power play goal, against former Knighthawk Matt Vinc, that tied the game 6-6 in the second quarter versus the Buffalo Bandits Saturday night (1/26/19) before 8,337 fans at the Blue Cross Arena. The Knighthawks won 18-13.
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