ROCHESTER, NY – The Rochester Americans allowed goals in the opening minute of both the second and third periods on their way to a 3-1 loss to the Toronto Marlies Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena. The Amerks fall to 28-38-5-1 on the season with just four games left to play on the season.
Dan Catenacci scored the lone goal for the Amerks, and has now found the back of the night in five of his past eight games to extend his career-best to 15 this season. Jerome Leduc and Jake McCabe added assists for Rochester, while Andrey Makarov started in net and made 28 saves. 
Sam Carrick, Brendan Leipsic and Connor Brown all scored for Toronto, with former Amerk T.J. Brennan adding two assists. Goaltender Christopher Gibson stopped 21 shots in the win.
Despite an opening period that featured just 13 shots on goal total from both teams, Makarov made two of his best saves of the night to hold a scoreless tie. The first came minutes into the contest after a cross-ice pass led to an open chance for Ryan Rupert, but Makarov slid across the crease and denied him with the right pad. Makarov’s biggest save of the period victimized Brennan, who found some open ice in the high slot and ripped a wrist-shot aimed at the top corner. Makarov, however, was equal to the task and flashed the glove to keep Toronto off the board.
Carrick opened the scoring for Toronto just 35 seconds into the middle frame after the puck bounced right to his stick in front, allowing for a tap-in goal to put the Marlies ahead 1-0.
Just 50 seconds into the third period, Leipsic took a pass from Matt Frattin and snapped a shot past Makarov on the power-play to put the Marlies in front 2-0.
The Amerks pulled Makarov for the extra attacker with just over four minutes remaining in regulation, and the gamble paid off. With 1:17 left on the clock, Catenacci sped through the neutral zone and accepted a pass from Leduc. Catenacci made a move at the blueline and snapped a shot past Gibson to ruin the shutout bid and bring the Amerks within one goal. 
With sustained pressure for most of the final minute, the Amerks nearly evened the score when newcomer Matt Garbowsky found some open ice beside the net and found the puck on his stick. His shot, however, rang off the post and bounced to the corner.
Brown was hauled down on a breakaway with an empty net with 12 seconds left, and was automatically awarded a goal to put Toronto in front by the eventual final of 3-1.
With Amerks game report