ROCHESTER, NY – Bobby Sanguinetti scored a power-play goal 1:07 into overtime as the Utica Comets defeated the Rochester Americans 2-1 at The Blue Cross Arena Friday night. Despite the overtime loss, the Amerks retain a valuable point in the standings and now have secured at least one point in a season-long seven straight games. Rochester is 4-0-3-0 over that same seven-game stretch and is now 22-26-4-0 on the season overall.
Brayden Irwin scored the Amerks’ lone goal early in the third period with Jerry D’Amigo and Johan Larsson picking up the assists. Andrey Makarov got the call between the pipes for Rochester and made 28 saves in the loss.
Sanguinetti and Brendan Gaunce were the scorers for Utica, and former Amerk Jacob Markstrom stopped all but one of the 30 shots he faced in net.
The Amerks nearly scored twice in the opening minutes, first on Brady Austin’s slap-shot from the blueline that rocked the crossbar followed by the post, but stayed out of the net. Minutes later, Jordan Samuels-Thomas took a pass at the right circle and fired a one-timer that also hit the post. The play was reviewed, but no goal was awarded.
After an opening period where scoring chances were hard to come by, Utica’s Gaunce cruised down the right wing 5:09 into the second period and whipped a wrist-shot from the dot past Makarov’s blocker to put the Comets ahead 1-0.
Rochester finally cracked Markstrom 7:01 into the third period on Irwin’s 10th goal of the year. As D’Amigo swung behind Utica’s net, Irwin positioned himself in the soft area in front of the net and tapped in D’Amigo’s pass to even the score at 1-1.
Jake McCabe was assessed a penalty with 32.5 seconds left in regulation, and while the Amerks held off the Comets long enough to secure a point, Sanguinetti’s one-timer 1:07 into the overtime session snuck through Makarov’s five-hole to win the contest for Utica.
Rochester game report
