ROCHESTER, NY – The Rochester Americans and Utica Comets carried a 3-3 tie all the way through the third period and overtime, but it was the Comets scoring on both of their shootout attempts to come away with a 4-3 victory over the Amerks Wednesday night at The Blue Cross Arena. The Amerks, who fall to 10-11-1-1 on the season, have now gone to overtime in five of their last six home contests dating back to Nov. 18.
Matt Donovan scored his first as an Amerk with Dan Catenacci and Evan Rodrigues each chipping in their third goals of the season in regulation. Colby Robak finished with 
a team-high two points (0+2), while Matt Ellis, Bobby Sanguinetti and Chad Ruhwedel each picked up assists in the loss for Rochester, which is winless in its last three games. Andrey Makarov turned in yet another solid effort between the pipes, stopping 37 of 40 shots, including all 15 he faced during the third period.
Linden Vey, Andrey Pedan and Alex Friesen were the goal-scorers for the visiting Comets, while Joe Cannata made 31 saves in the victory for Utica.
A quick strike by the Comets just 3:22 into the contest staked the visitors to an early 1-0 lead with Vey converting on the power-play off a nifty setup from Brendan Gaunce for his second of the season. Taylor Fedun fired the initial offering from the point that was steered aside by Makarov. As traffic cleared in front, Gaunce was able to gain possession and slipped a pass across the low slot to a wide-open Vey, who one-timed it home to put Utica in front.
A back and forth second period saw the North Division rivals combine for five goals, including consecutive power-play tallies from the Amerks just 4:09 in. A late penalty to Fedun would carry over into the middle frame and the Amerks needed just 61 seconds to capitalize with a power-play goal of their own. As Rochester worked the puck around the offensive zone, Sanguinetti moved it across the blueline to Donovan. While Ellis was providing a screen in front, Donovan fired a shot from the left circle that skipped off Utica defenseman John Negrin and past an unsuspecting Cannata for the equalizer. The goal, Donovan’s first as an Amerk and first since March 27, 2014 while a member of the New York Islanders, marked the fourth time in the last six games Rochester scored on the man-advantage.
More penalty trouble followed for the Comets and the Amerks again took advantage just 3:08 later on a goal from Catenacci. Robak unleashed a shot from the point that was knocked down by Cannata, but Catenacci was there to chip the rebound over the netminder’s right shoulder to quickly make it a 2-1 game.
Pedan knotted the score at two apiece off a long blast that eluded Makarov on the short-side, but Amerks answered right back less than a minute later when Rodrigues snapped a wrist shot off the cross bar and in to restore Rochester’s one-goal lead.
A string of five consecutive penalties to Utica, including a pair of high-sticking double minors gave the Amerks more than 14 minutes of continual power-play time, but were unable to get another one by Cannata. Just as the teams returned to even strength, the Comets clawed their way back on a late goal from Friesen as he roofed a rebound off a 3-on-2 fast break with 1:21 left in the second period.
Following a scoreless third period, the Amerks and Comets went to a thrilling end-to-end overtime that featured numerous chances for both sides. The Amerks relied on several big saves from Makarov, who denied back-to-back chances from Pedan to keep the game tied, while Cannata returned the favor for the Comets with under a minute to play, breaking up a 2-on-0 rush against Ruhwedel and Justin Bailey. Friesen then nearly ended the game for the Comets on the ensuing rush, but his shot grazed squarely off the post with 15 seconds remaining and Jason Akeson shot wide at the other end as Rochester ended the extra session with a 5-4 advantage in shots.
In the shootout, Vey and Nicklas Jensen scored on both of their attempts for the Comets, while Cannata was able to stop Phil Varone and Akeson to give Utica the 4-3 win.
With Amerks game report
