ROCHESTER, NY – Luke Adam and Matt Ellis each scored two goals as the Rochester Americans ended a five-game losing streak with a dominating 6-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Marlies Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena. The win brings the Amerks season record to 7-7-0-0 and gives them the advantage over Toronto in the season-series 2-1-0-0.
Phil Varone finished with three assists for the Amerks, including the primary helper on Adam’s eventual game-winner, while Johan Larsson recorded a goal and an assist and William Carrier potted his second of the season to round out the scoring. Rookie defenseman Brady Austin recorded an assist on Ellis’ second goal, the first point of his professional career, and Andrey Makarov made a steady 23 saves to earn his fourth win of the season.
For Adam, who also added an assist on the night, the points continue to come in bunches. Over his past three games, the Amerks’ All-Star forward has totaled seven points, including five goals. Adam has been particularly strong against the Marlies, recording five points in three games against Rochester’s neighbors from the north this season, and 14 points in 11 games played dating back to last season.
Greg McKegg scored the lone goal for the Marlies, while Antoine Bibeau was credited with 24 saves.
Toronto got off to a quick start, scoring exactly five minutes into the first period when McKegg walked out from the corner to the front of the net and put the puck upstairs on Makarov.
It took a power-play opportunity late in the opening session for Rochester’s offense to get on the board, when Varone fired a cross-ice pass to Larsson at the top of the right circle. All in one motion, Larsson shot high over Bibeau’s shoulder tying the score 1-1 with 3:24 left in the first period.
The second period saw Adam score his two goals to put the Amerks ahead. The first score was an individual effort from Adam, who fought off a Toronto check, spun and whipped a low shot through Bibeau’s legs.
Adam’s second goal game on the power-play came from a nifty pass from Larsson, who saw Adam cutting through the slot and delivered a strike. Adam reached out his stick and poked the puck into Toronto’s net to put the Amerks ahead 3-1 with 4:54 remaining in the middle frame.
The Amerks added some insurance midway through the third period when Tim Schaller jumped on a turnover and attacked the Toronto defense down the middle. Schaller then had the puck knocked off of his stick right to Ellis, who went high-glove past Bibeau to provide the Amerks a 4-1 advantage.
Ellis potted his second of the night off a deflection from Austin’s shot with 2:39 remaining and Carrier scored on a similar tip-in from Matt MacKenzie’s shot with just 51.8 seconds left to put the Amerks up 6-1.
