By Sharvani Regmi
ROCHESTER, NY. --- The Rochester Americans started their 69th season in the American Hockey League (AHL) against Belleville Senators in a thrilling clash at home in the Blue Cross Arena. The Senators secured a 3-2 victory on the road.
Rochester, led by newly appointed head coach Michael Leone managed to score the first goal of the season.
The goal came in the 12th minute of the first period as center Josh Dunne registered his first goal as an Amerk. He was assisted by left winger Viktor Neuchev and defenseman Ryan Johnson. Belleville center Xavier Bourgeault scored an equalizer on the powerplay with just over two minutes left in the first period. Bourgeault was assisted by left winger Cole Reinhardt and defenseman Maxence Guenette.
“Ever since camp, it’s been great to get acclimated,” Dunne said. “The group is a great group of guys, great coaching staff, so it’s been really easy for me to step in and be myself.”
The Senators were able to take the lead in the second period as Reinhardt added a goal to his name as he shot the puck right through Rochester’s goaltender Felix Sandstrom’s glove with almost two minutes remaining in the period. Left winger Jan Jenik and defenseman Donovan Sebrango assisted the goal.
“I think the second period wasn’t great, especially with the long change,” Leone said. “We didn’t do a really good job managing the puck. It cost us on the second goal.”
Both teams were able to add a goal into their accounts in the third period. Rochester defenseman Nikita Novikov was given a double-minor for high sticking three minutes into the last period. The Senators were able to capitalize on the powerplay as Phillipe Daoust was able to score a goal off a rebound from his initial attempt. He was assisted by Bourgeault. In an attempt to press with seven minutes left in the game Rochester's center Tyson Kozak scored a goal assisted by right winger Lukas Rousek and defenseman Zach Metsa.
At age 36, Leone is the second youngest active head coach in the AHL behind Cleaveland’s Trent Vogelhuber. Leone previously served as the head coach and manager of Green Bay Gamblers with a record of 66-41-10-7 in two seasons.
“I think we were missing that quite a few chances, scene passes,” Leone said. “And I think sometimes you just gotta when we deliver pucks, and then we gotta have bodies there. Sometimes it’s a lot of powerplay goals are off of broken plays, and when you get teams hemmed in and I thought we had good looks and ozone time. But I think to take it to the next level we gotta be a little bit harder in the blue paint."
Rochester Americans will be on the road Saturday to face Utica Comets at 7:00 p.m. Rochester has won eight of the previous nine games on the road against the Comets.
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