By: Sharvani Regmi
ROCHESTER, NY-- Rochester Americans beat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 5-2 on Wednesday night at the Blue Cross Arena to close their final homestand of the season. Amerks goaltender Devon Levi made 28 saves to secure a three-win streak.
“I thought the first period, we really dictated the pace of the game, and checked extremely well,” Amerks head coach Michael Leone said. “We were above the pucks, you know. And then we were on our toes, and it was it was a big-time game for the group like, that's as talented as a team as you're going to see offensively, and we did a great job.”
Rochester defender Ryan Johnson opened the scoring 3:14 into the opening frame. Johnson shot the puck over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goaltender’s glove. Center Mason Jobst doubled the team’s lead in the first period during the powerplay. Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Noah Ostlund were credited with assists.
Right-wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel gave a 3-0 lead to the Amerks after registering a goal with just over six minutes left in the first period. Aube-Kubel scored the goal from a partial breakaway where he shot the puck from the left-wing side.
“I was backchecking and when I turned around, there's no one on the ice for in front of me,” Aube-Kubel said. “So, I skated and saw that goalie was maybe a little bit to the to his left. And yeah, it's a great shot. I was surprised by myself too.”
In the second period, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s right-wing Rutger McGroarty opened the scoring with a goal after the puck went through the five-hole of Levi.
“I think this is as talented as a team I've been on,” Levi said. “I think all four lines are able to score and generate offense differently, which is hard to play against. There's no really matching that other teams could do, because it frees somebody else, and everybody on our team feels like they bring a crucial part.”
Ostlund scored 1:23 into the third period to give Rochester a three-goal lead. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored their second goal of the match 1:40 later, making the score 4-2. Right-wing Isak Rosen added a goal, giving his team a three-goal lead after finding an empty net after a turnover at center ice.
Rosen has scored 26 goals so far this season, making him the second highest point scorer in the AHL with 49 points.
The Amerks are currently at the top of the AHL table and will be on the road on Friday to face Utica Comets. The puck drop is scheduled at 7 p.m.
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