This Rochester Americans team has become predictable lately. Play a bad game on a Friday night and come back with a strong effort on Saturday, which is exactly what they did on Saturday in a 5-4 win over the Binghamton Senators.
Graham Mink scored at 10:21 of the first period to put the Amerks up 1-0 but Josh Hennessy answered back at 12:44 of the first with a power play goal to tie the game. The first period was an ugly one for the Amerks as they were out shot 22-9 by the Senators. That’s right, 22 shots in one period of play.
Did you know that the Binghamton Senators are in last place in the league?
The biggest highlight of the first period had to be Steve MacIntyre knocking out Jeremy Yablonski (click for video). Yablonski had to be helped up off the ice and did not return to the game.
Alexander Salak was the obvious star of the game for the Amerks as he went on to make 53 saves in the game while only allowing four goals. No, you’re not reading that wrong, the Senators had a total of 57 shots on net.
The second period was when the Amerks finally took over by scoring four goals in the period. Goals by Graham Mink, Jamie Johnson, Clay Wilson, and Mike Duco were all impressive. Zach Smith scored in the second for the Senators and the period ended with the Amerks up 5-2.
Former Rochester American goalie Mike Brodeur was pulled after the Amerks fourth goal in the second period and replaced by Chris Holt.
This is where the story of the game becomes interesting. Heading into the third period the Senators were down by three goals but they did not quit. Even though they were down they had not lost a step in the game, something that does usually happen to the Amerks when they go down in a game.
Kaspars Daugavins scored the third power play goal of the game for the Senators at 6:02 of the third period. The Senators ended the game 3/7 on the power play, the Amerks finished 1/6.
With two minutes left in the game Chris Holt was pulled for the extra skater and Josh Hennessy scored his second of the game at 19:06 of the third period. It was too little too late and the game ended 5-4.
Allowing 57 shots and the other team to go 3/7 on the power play is not pretty, but the Amerks found a way to hold on. After Friday nights game we questioned if the team cared or if they had any answers, which they did not. On Saturday the team scored five goals to win on the road, against the last place team in the league. It’s amazing that a last place team can give this team such a run but there’s nothing to be concerned about.
I’ll take the win and let’s start hoping for an entertaining game like this at home next week.
The next game for the Amerks is on Wednesday on the road against the Adirondack Phantoms. They’ll return home next Friday possibly against former goalie David Shantz and the Abbotsford Heat.
