The first game of the Terry Pegula owned Rochester Americans is in the books, now it’s time to figure out how to erase it from the history books. Â The Bulldogs easily defeated the Amerks by the final score of 5-2.
If you look at the stat sheet it shows Amerks had 32 shots on goal but very few of them I would have considered quality scoring chances. Â They rarely had the puck for extended periods of time in the Bulldogs zone really making them work to defend the puck.
Corey Tropp had a couple of great chances with an open net but wasn’t able to put his stick on the puck.
David Leggio made 22 saves in the game and even though he allowed five goals, two of them were on the power play (one was a five on three) and the others he wasn’t given much help on defense. Â Whether it was turn overs or giving the shooter the advantage I’d hardly put much blame on him.
Rookies Brayden McNabb and Phil Varone made some poor passes throughout the game and probably quickly learned that the American Hockey League is a whole different level than what they’re used to.
The only defenseman that stuck out as looking like he belonged was Shaone Morrisonn. Â He likely won’t be around much longer which will really hurt this young defense. Â Drew Schiestel left the game in the third period with a knee injury, more will be known in the coming days.
Even with all fo that this isn’t hitting the panic button, just pointing out what occurred. Â The team needs some work. Â The offense needs to work on generating plays. Â The defense needs to control the puck better. Â There’s 75 games left in the season and four days of practice before Thursdays home opener, plenty of time to make adjustments.
Here’s the statsheet:
Rochester Americans 2 at Hamilton Bulldogs 5 – Status: Final
Saturday, October 8, 2011 – Copps Coliseum
Rochester 0 1 1 – 2
Hamilton 1 3 1 – 5
1st Period-1, Hamilton, St. Denis 1 (Palushaj, Trotter), 10:16. Penalties-Stuart Rch (hooking), 3:29; FitzGerald Ham (holding), 6:39.
2nd Period-2, Hamilton, St. Denis 2 (Trotter, Willsie), 3:40 (PP). 3, Hamilton, Trotter 1 (Blunden, Palushaj), 4:55 (PP). 4, Rochester, Parker 1 (Kassian, Whitmore), 10:59 (PP). 5, Hamilton, Schultz 1 (Berger), 13:44. Penalties-Varone Rch (slashing), 1:59; Voakes Rch (unsportsmanlike conduct), 2:35; served by Schiestel Rch (bench minor – too many men), 3:27; Dumont Ham (tripping), 5:04; Masse Ham (tripping), 9:48; Tropp Rch (fighting), 20:00; Schultz Ham (fighting), 20:00.
3rd Period-6, Hamilton, Trotter 2 Â 5:24 (TXT_PS). 7, Rochester, Stuart 1 (Tropp, Brennan), 17:52 (PP). Penalties-Brennan Rch (slashing), 4:37; Dumont Ham (roughing), 4:37; FitzGerald Ham (interference), 14:29; Avtsin Ham (holding the stick), 17:01.
Shots on Goal-Rochester 7-12-13-32. Hamilton 7-14-6-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Rochester 2 / 5; Hamilton 2 / 4.
Goalies-Rochester, Leggio 0-1-0 (27 shots-22 saves). Hamilton, Lawson 1-0-0 (32 shots-30 saves); Mayer 0-0-0 (0 shots-0 saves).
A-6,123
Referees-Darcy Burchell (42).
Linesmen-Kevin Hastings (61), Jesse Wilmot (19).
