ROCHESTER, NY – The Rochester Americans scored twice on the power-play to erase a pair of one-goal deficits, but it was Mike Blunden’s goal just 2:14 into the third period that lifted the visiting Syracuse Crunch to a 3-2 win over the Rochester Americans Wednesday night at The Blue Cross Arena. The loss was the Amerks second in three tries against their intrastate rivals from Syracuse as Rochester’s overall record dips to 10-17-1-0 this season.
Veteran forward Matt Ellis scored his 100th career AHL goal on a first-period power-play for the Amerks, while Chad Ruhwedel scored for the second consecutive game on his sixth goal of the year to round out the scoring for Rochester. Andrey Makarov got the call in between the pipes and denied 15 of Syracuse’s 18 shots on net. Mark Pysyk, Jake McCabe and Brayden Irwin all added assists for Rochester.
Blunden scored the eventual game-winning goal early in the third period for the Crunch, with Philippe Paradis and Yanni Gourde adding goals for the visitors. Kristers Gudlevskis started in goal for Syracuse and made 27 saves for the win.
The first period did not begin ideally for the Amerks after Paradis deflected Joey Mormina’s slap-shot from the point to put Syracuse ahead 1-0 just 1:19 into the contest. Despite allowing the early tally, the Amerks responded with a period mostly played in Syracuse’s ended.
After one of their best scoring opportunities from Irwin led to Luke Witkowski covering the puck with his glove in the crease, the Amerks were awarded a penalty shot. Rochester elected to have Tim Schaller attempt the shot, but Schaller couldn’t convert after his try went high and wide over Gudlevskis’ shoulder.
Rochester would get on the board late in the first, however, when McCabe fired a shot on net that was deflected by Ellis in front for the veteran’s milestone goal.
The Crunch regained a one-goal lead 5:24 into the second period after Makarov appeared to lose sight of the puck, allowing Gourde to sweep in the rebound in front of the net to put Syracuse up 2-1.
Rochester answered with its second power-play tally of the night when Irwin won a face-off in Syracuse’s zone straight to Ruhwedel, who fired a one-timer shot past Gudlevskis from the center point to level the game at 2-2.
Syracuse scored its third goal only 2:14 into the final period when Blunden slid a rebound shot around Makarov for the go-ahead tally.
The Amerks gained a power-play advantage 8:52 left in regulation that was quickly canceled out by a double-minor high-sticking penalty assessed to Irwin. Despite the lengthy penalty kill, the Amerks denied the Crunch of their fourth goal to give themselves a chance to force overtime.
Rochester pulled Makarov for the extra man with just under two minutes left in regulation, and despite a number of quality scoring chances, were unable to overcome their one-goal deficit.
