By: Joey Campbell
ROCHESTER, N.Y. --- The Rochester Americans looked to get going after dropping four out of their last five games. They faced off against a Cleveland Monsters team who was chasing history. Cleveland was looking for a team best ninth straight win. The Americans fell 5-4, while outshooting Cleveland 41-to-25. Friday's loss made it their fourth straight home loss.
"We talk a lot about playing team team hockey and sometimes team hockey requires you to.... it's not about points, it's not about your stats, it's about doing what it takes to win," Rochester Americans head coach Michael Leone said. "We got to do a better job of understanding those situations and realizing what team hockey looks like in those situations."
The Amerks opened the scoring just two minutes into the contest. Entering the Cleveland zone, Graham Slaggert dropped it back for Kale Clague who sent it to the far right circle. A one-timer from Brendan Warren gave the Amerks the early lead.
Five minutes later, the Monsters responded with their own goal. A shot from Rocco Grimaldi was saved by Amerks goaltender Devon Levi, however the puck landed at the feet of Monsters center Luca Del Bel Belluz who snuck it just past Levi to tie it 1-1.
The Monsters responded added on just three minutes later. A slap shot from Denton Mateychuk deflected off of Monsters winger Justin Pearson. Pearson recollected the puck and off of a backhanded shot in front of Levi gave the Monsters a 2-1 lead.
With 4:45 left in the first period, the Amerks struck again. A spin-o-rama pass from Americans defenseman Ryan Johnson found the stick of defenseman Jack Rathbone. Rathbone with a one timer of his own tied it up late in the first period 2-2.
Rathbone's game tying goal on Nov. 27 2024. Video Credit: @AmerksHockey on X
Four seconds remained on the clock as the Rochester Americans found the back of the net for the third time in the first period. Slaggert got a step on Monsters winger Owen Sillinger and was able to sneak it through the five-hole of Monsters goaltender Jet Greaves, giving the Amerks the lead 3-2 at the end of the first period.
Slaggert's shorthanded goal on Nov. 27 2024. Video Credit: @AmerksHockey on X
"I want to be a fast, physical player that brings a lot of energy and just gets to the net, it's hard working and it's always nice to see hard work get rewarded and I think that's kind of the case right now," Slaggert said.
The Americans wasted no time in the second period getting right back on the board just two minutes in. Former Cleveland Monster Josh Dunne who spent four seasons there, was able to get a stick on it in front of the Monsters net, giving the Americans a 4-2 lead early in the second.
With the period waning down, the Monsters got back on the board with just over 30 seconds remaining. A shot from defenseman Madison Bowey was redirected in front of Levi by Del Bel Belluz. With the goal, it gave Belluz his second goal of the night and brought the Monsters within one, as the period ended 4-3 Amerks.
The Cleveland Monsters would tie it up just three and a half minutes into the third period. Sillinger got a piece of the puck off the snapshot from defenseman Samuel Knazko and the puck shot underneath the blocker side of Levi, tying it up for the fourth time at 4-4.
With 10:30 remaining in the third the Monsters broke the tie. Rathbone had a costly turnover in his own zone that was picked up by Monsters center Max McCue. Winger Gavin Brindley off the pass from McCue took it around the net of Levi and buried it with the backhand. This gave Brindley his first career professional goal and the Monsters the 5-4 lead.
The Monsters would be able to hang onto their lead as time expired, giving the Monsters their ninth straight win, a new team record.
With the loss, the Rochester Americans fall to 8-7-3-0 keeping them at fourth in the North division. As for the Monsters, they advance to 13-4-0-1, locking them in at second in the North.
The Rochester Americans return to Blue Cross Arena on Friday to take on the Syracuse Crunch for a two game series. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.
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