The Rochester Americans stopped the Utica Comets from making an overtime comeback, winning 5-4 on Wednesday. Young forwards Brett Murray, Lukas Rousek, Brandon Biro posted multi-point outings, Murray won a fight as well. Filip Cederqvist connected with Chase Priskie for the Overtime winner. Malcolm Subban Started in goal, posting 27 saves on 31 shots. The Amerks were without Rookie forwards Isak Rosen and Jiri Kulich, both playing for their respective national teams at the world juniors. This was also the first home appearance of trade acquisition Joseph Cecconi for Rochester, playing in a pair with Priskie.
The Amerks took home the first period split, they came out with an energy to match that of the crowd. they notched their first just past five minutes into the period, a line rush of Rousek, Murray, and Biro flew in and passed it across the whole line from right to left. Biro notched the goal at 5:30 and The Amerks rolled with momentum.
Their second came from Brett Murray as he bounced the puck off the crossbar from way outside just around the ten minute mark. The Amerks would hold the momentum but they couldn't find the back of the net again until the second. Despite being even in shots with 9 each in the period, The Comets couldn't find the back of the net in the first.
Both teams looked even entering the second period, despite the scoreline. Filip Cederqvist took a hard hit with his head down at center ice from Jarrod Gourley. Sean Malone immediately jumped him but Gourley ended the fight quickly, slamming Malone down on the ice after a few punches.
As play continued, Aarne Talvitie was called for hooking directly in front of his own net and Brett Murray shot on an empty net after the whistle was blown. Nick Hutchison jumped Murray and a fight ensued between the two, trading bashes back and forth. It ended as a large scrum and no instigator penalty was given. but a power play was given to Rochester due to the hooking call.
The Amerks seemed to come alive after seeing Murray's passion and converted almost immediately on the power play as captain Michael Mersch scored on the power play. Just over a minute later Lukas Rousek scored his eighth goal of the season to put the score at 4-0 the halfway mark of the period.
As they continued though, momentum started to shift, first was Ryan Schmelzer who scored one on his own just past the 14-minute mark for the Comets. Then it was Graeme Clarke just over a minute later to cut Rochester's lead in half.
In the third, Utica continued their execution for the last minutes of the second period. Bryan Halonen scored a bizarre goal, a play that somehow ended with the puck in the back of the net but the goal came off its moring. it was ruled as a goal and the Amerks clutched onto a one goal lead.
As time started to dwindle in the period, Utica went with an empty net, the man advantage was exactly what they needed, Nolan Foote scored with 54 seconds to go and from there overtime felt inevitable, except an almost three on one break for the comets with 18 seconds left, thwarted by Ethan Prow.
The Amerks started overtime with Jeremy Davies, Brandon Biro and Brett Murray. It took four shifts for the game to be finished, Filip Cederqvist made his way onto the ice and wound up with the puck on the near boards, using his strength with the puck on his stick he weaved around two Utica defenders and found Chase Priskie open in the slot. Priskie slammed it home for the OT win and pushed Rochester to a four game winning streak.
The Amerks gain two points and move to 15-9-1-1 and second in the North Division while Utica falls to 12-9-4-1 and fourth in the North. Rochester will next host The Belleville Senators on Friday December 30th. puck drop @ 7:05 p.m.
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