ROCHESTER, N.Y. --- On their first game in front of the home crowd, the Amerks were dominated by the Utica Comets. A 5-1 game that Rochester will have to quickly forget before their regular season opener on Friday.
It was a tough one from the start for the Rochester Americans, as the Utica Comets quickly went up 2-0 within five minutes of the 1st period. Nolan Foote and Reilly Walsh scored just over a minute within each other. The Comets added another tally before the end of the period and thoroughly beat down the Amerks. Outshooting them 15 to 0 on the period, holding them shotless through the first 20 minutes of the contest.
After going down 4-0 the Amerks finally got their first powerplay chance at 17:39 into the 2nd. It was defenseman Ethan Prow just 5 seconds into the powerplay that scored off a slap shot from the point.
It would end up being the lone score for the Amerks, as despite some more life in the later periods. They could not find the strength to get success against the Comets. As Graeme Clarke's late 3rd period goal put the game out of reach for Rochester.
Now looking toward the regular season, the Amerks find question marks heading into the home opener. Goalie Malcolm Subban started in net for the Amerks put skated off the ice with an injury late in the 2nd period. Head Coach Seth Appert said, “We don’t think it’s dramatically serious, per the initial report”, but no full diagnosis from the medical staff yet.
The Rochester Americans finish up at 0-2 in their short pre-season. Their regular season opener will be this Friday at home against the Toronto Marlies
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