Rochester increases its lead to 3 points over the Comets for 2nd place in the North.
By CRAIG POTTER / C&C Worldwide Sports Director
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rookie goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made a spectacular save on a rebound shot with 30 seconds left in regulation to preserve a 3-2 Rochester Americans victory over the Utica Comets on Sunday afternoon before 6,769 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
The Comets pulled goalie Michael DiPietro in the final minute for the extra attacker in an effort to score the tying goal and send the game into overtime.
However, UPL made a left leg save on the initial shot by Comets sniper Reid Boucher. It appeared to the crowd that Utica would score on the rebound to tie the game and send it into overtime.
“I’m sure it went through everybody’s mind,” said Amerks coach Chris Taylor.
Luukkonen, however, shifted quickly across his crease and somehow got his left leg and/or catching glove in front of Kole Lind’s shot off the rebound.
The crowd roared its approval.
“It was one of those where you try to get something in front of the puck,” Luukkonen said. “It feels good; you want to help your team as much as you can.”
“It just felt like he owned that crease,” said Taylor, “and nothing was getting by him.”
The regulation victory was key as the Amerks entered the contest with a 1-point lead over the Comets for second place, as well as having a game-in-hand on Utica.
“He kept them from getting a point,” Taylor said. “That’s a big-time save. He’s maturing right before us.”
Luukkonen was playing just his seventh game of the season for Rochester as it was his second straight contest in less than 24 hours. UPL played Saturday night in the win in Syracuse.
“He said ‘I want the game,’ and for me that told me everything,” Taylor said.
Luukkonen was an ECHL All-Star with Cincinnati before a January one-week looks-see with the Amerks. He came back up to Rochester after Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark suffered a lower body injury late last month.
“It’s a big step up from the East Coast and junior and for sure I’ve been adjusting to that game more and more here,” said Luukkonen.
With the win, Rochester improved to 29-17-2-4 for 64 points while Utica dropped to 28-20-3-2 for 61 points.
The Belleville Senators lead the North Division with 69 points as the Sens come to the BCA for a Wednesday night tilt at 7:05 pm.
The Amerks took the lead in the first period when Casey Mittelstadt sent a pass to defenseman Will Borgen, who was set to blast the puck on goal. However, he didn’t get all of the shot as Remi Elie garnered in the puck and shot it past DiPietro for a 1-0 lead.
Eric Cornel put Rochester ahead 2-0 when he fired in a rebound off a Scott Wilson shot. Sean Malone also received an assist on the play. The goal was Cornel’s 10th of the season, a career-high for the 6-year veteran forward.
The hosts forged ahead 3-0 early in the second stanza when Taylor Leier, who recently returned to the lineup following an injury, scored. Jean-Sebastien Dea and Zach Redmond picked up assists on the play.
The Comets finally beat UPL when John Stevens backhanded a shot past the netminder.
Luukkonen stopped a breakaway late in the period to keep the 2-goal advantage at intermission.
Utica pulled to within 1 goal midway through the third period but the Comets were thwarted by UPL the rest of the way as the rookie goalie finished with 27 saves.
*NOTES — A total of 14 of the last 25 games between the Amerks and Comets have been decided by one goal…The Amerks continue their season-long 6-game homestand on Wednesday, Feb. 19 when they play host to the first-place Belleville Senators at 7 pm at the Blue Cross Arena…After producing just 1 point through his first 5 games with the Amerks, following his midseason reassignment from the Sabres back in December, Casey Mittelstadt quickly has evolved into one of Rochester’s most consistent point-getters. The second-year pro has piled up 18 points (7+11) in 25 games for Rochester, including 16 points (7+9) since the turn of the New Year…Jean-Sebastien Dea, who remains the only Amerk this season to reach the 30-point plateau, continues to pace the team in goals (14) and points (33) through 47 games…Jacob Bryson is tied for 10th among all first-year defensemen with a plus-9 rating while being tied for 13th among all rookies with 18 assists in 50 games…The Sabres assigned Zach Bogosian to the Amerks, after the veteran defenseman cleared waivers Sunday, but as of today’s game, he had not yet reported.