ROCHESTER, NY – Dan Catenacci broke a 4-4 tie 51 seconds into third period and the Rochester Americans stood resolute for the final 19:09 of regulation as the Amerks celebrated their historic 60th anniversary season with a 5-4 win over the Hershey Bears in front of a season-high 9,536 fans and nearly three dozen Alumni at The Blue Cross Arena. The win snaps a two-game skid for Rochester, which improves to 16-15-2-1 on the season.
Phil Varone led the way offensively with a season-high four-point night (1+3), while Evan Rodrigues added three points (1+2) and Cal O’Reilly finished with a goal and an assist. Nick Baptiste rounded out the scoring with his seventh goal of the season and Robin Lehner earned the win in his first game back in the American Hockey League since the 2012-13 campaign. He and defenseman Mark Pysyk joined the Amerks on Thursday for the beginning of a conditioning assignment from the parent Buffalo Sabres. 
Duztin Gazley, Connor Carrick, Nathan Walker and Garrett Mitchell provided the scoring for the Bears, while veteran netminder Dan Ellis made 18 saves in the loss for Hershey.
O’Reilly opened up the scoring for the night, netting his fourth goal of the season and giving the Amerks an early 1-0 lead. With Rochester on the power-play, O’Reilly received a pass from Varone and let one fly toward the upper right of the net to beat Ellis for the score.
The Amerks’ lead would not last long however, as Hershey’s offense came to life late in the period, scoring three times in less than five minutes to take a 3-1 advantage. Hershey’s first goal came on a fluke, with the puck bouncing off the skate of Walker before finding Gazley, who snuck it through Lehner’s five-hole for the tally.
Carrick scored his ninth goal of the season on a slap-shot from the circle to give the Bears the 2-1 lead at 17:29. Only seconds later, Walker capitalized on the breakaway, leaving Hershey with a two-goal cushion.
The momentum would soon swing back in Rochester’s favor as Baptiste brought the Amerks to within a goal after a nifty backhander that bounced off the left post for the score, his seventh of the season.
Shortly after, Varone added to his impressive night with a goal of his own. After hitting the crossbar on one of his earlier shots, Varone’s persistence eventually paid off only moments later when he connected on a one-timer from the high slot to knot the contest at 3-3. William Carrier and Jason Akeson were awarded assists on Varone’s team-leading 10th goal of the season.
Rochester retook the lead after Rodrigues redirected an offering from Bobby Sanguinetti, but Hershey answered minutes later on a point shot from Mitchell that slipped past a screened Lehner.
After a five-goal second period, the Amerks reclaimed the lead for good with Catenacci beating Ellis less than a minute into the final frame to put Rochester ahead 5-4. Catenacci found himself with an open lane and a loose puck that he blasted to the upper left corner of the net. Despite allowing three goals early in the game, Lehner remained perfect throughout the third period as the Amerks were able to hold off the Bears.
With Amerks game report
