By: Victor Menendez
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Rochester Americans came into their 50th game of the season on Friday night in sole possession of first place in the AHL, with 66 points. With a dominant 6-3 win over the Belleville Senators, featuring five Rochester power play goals, the Amerks remain on top of the AHL.
"[The power play] was awesome tonight," Amerks head coach Michael Leone said. "The last 10 or 15 games they're really moving the puck, supporting each other, finishing their routes. Great execution, great job."
The Amerks took the first penalty of the game less than three minutes into the contest. Sabres 2024 first round pick Konsta Helenius was called for too many men on the ice. Just over a minute later, Belleville defenseman Maxence Guenette got a four-minute double minor for high-sticking on Rochester defenseman Zachary Metsa. Metsa went back to the locker room holding his face after the play.
The Amerks wasted no time capitalizing on the man-advantage, with Rochester center Mason Jobst beating Senators goaltender Malcolm Subban blocker-side for his 12th goal of the year.
Video credit: @AmerksHockey on X.
Senators winger Angus Crookshank tied the game at one with a bit over 10 minutes remaining in the frame. Crookshank picked up his team-leading 18th goal of the season.
Rochester once again went on the power play about two minutes later. Amerks winger Brett Murray found a pass from fellow winger Isak Rosén in front of the net to cash in on his 23rd goal of the year.
The Amerks power play unit came into the game ranked 20th in the AHL in converting on chances. It would be impossible to tell from this game. Following another penalty from Belleville, Amerks center Josh Dunne tipped a pass from Helenius past the glove of Subban for his eighth goal of the season to put Rochester up by two.
Dunne would then drop the gloves with Senators defenseman Jorian Donovan, taking him to the ground before being sent to the penalty box for five minutes.
Video credit: @AmerksHockey on X.
At the end of 20 minutes of play, Rochester led Belleville 3-1 and was outshooting them 9-4.
After a mostly uneventful nine minutes of play to begin the second frame, Belleville took yet another penalty on a boarding call. The Amerks would again convert on the man-advantage, scoring their fourth power-play goal of the game. Metsa scored his fifth goal of the year on a wrist-shot to the top-left corner. At the time, this was just the second game all season where the Amerks scored four power play goals (Nov. 1 at Utica).
Helenius took another penalty with 7:02 left in the frame, this time on a tripping call. The Senators again couldn't convert on the opportunity, putting just one shot on goal during the power play.
Despite outshooting the Amerks 14-8 in the second period, Belleville went back to the locker room scoreless in the frame. Amerks goalie Michael Houser, filling in for usual starter Devon Levi increased his number of saves on the game to 17, preserving the Amerks 4-1 lead.
Not even a minute into the final frame, Amerks defenseman Ryan Johnson scored his first career goal for the Amerks after 77 games across the last two seasons. Rosén picked up his third assist of the game and his 48th point on the year with the goal, moving just one point behind San Jose Barracudas forward Andrew Poturalski for the AHL lead. Johnson could hardly keep the smile off his face. His teammates mobbed him in the corner to congratulate him.
Video credit: @AmerksHockey on X.
"That was wild, I've never seen a reaction like that before," Johnson said. "It was way better than I thought. Seeing the support from the guys, knowing guys are playing so selflessly, it's definitely a credit to the group."
Just over eight minutes into the period, Rochester went on the power play for a sixth time. You guessed it, they scored again. This time it was Helenius getting in on the action as his eighth goal on the year went through the five-hole of Subban. This was the first game in over seven years where the Amerks scored five or more power play goals. The last time was on Feb. 16, 2018 when Rochester scored six as they defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 12-3.
Two late goals from Belleville made the score 6-3 but it was far too little too late.
With the win, the Amerks improve to 32-14-3-1 on the season and stay in first place in the AHL. Belleville falls to 21-18-3-4 with the loss, sixth in the North Division.
"We know we're a good team," Rosén said. "I think in both of these games we played this week we've been playing good defense, and that's what makes us a good team. We're a good offensive group, we know that, but we've got to play good defense to be that number one team and that what we've done this week."
The Amerks will be in action again tomorrow as they take on the Toronto Marlies. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.
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