Americans Down Pack in Rochester, 5-2
Nov 11, 2016(Photo by Micheline Veluvolu)
Defenseman Taylor Fedun had four points, with a goal and three assists, and Justin Kea scored twice Friday night at the Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester War Memorial, as the Rochester Americans defeated the Wolf Pack, 5-2.
The Wolf Pack, who got goals from Chris Brown and Marek Hrivik, outshot Rochester 31-19, but Linus Ullmark made 29 saves in the Americans’ net.
“We definitely thought we had that one,” Brown said. “It should have been a win, and it was tough. We had too many big mistakes that cost us goals. We’ve got to sharpen up and be ready to play [Saturday].”
The Wolf Pack visit the Utica Comets Saturday, hoping to stop a streak that has seen Hartford go 0-5-1-0 in their last six games.
The Wolf Pack outshot the Americans 10-4 in Friday’s first period, but came out of it tied 2-2.
Rochester struck first at 9:39, as Kea was left open in the slot in the Wolf Pack zone and fired a shot from the right hash mark that went through a screen and past Hartford goaltender Brandon Halverson (14 saves), who was making his first career AHL appearance.
The goal was the first of the season in five games-played for Kea, who had been scratched for the Americans’ previous five games.
The Wolf Pack answered just 19 seconds later, at 9:58, with Brown scoring his second goal of the season. Boo Nieves won a faceoff to Michael Paliotta at the right point, and Ullmark got a piece of Brown’s deflection of a Paliotta shot, but could not keep it out of the net.
Hartford then took the lead at 13:33. After a neutral-zone turnover by the Amerks, Nicklas Jensen passed to Hrivik on the left side, and Hrivik’s shot from the faceoff circle beat Ullmark’s catching glove.
The next four goals of the game would go to the Americans, though, and they would tie the score with 1:35 remaining in the period. The Wolf Pack lost track of Fedun at the right point, and he took a past and moved to the top of the circle before firing a shot past Halverson for a 2-2 deadlock.
The Rochester power play held sway in the second period, scoring on its only two opportunities of the game.
Kea got his second of the night at 7:21, with Philip McRae off for hooking. Fedun let go a snap shot from the top of the slot and Kea, stationed right in front of Halverson, deflected the puck high into the net.
Then, at 18:21, with John Gilmour serving a hooking minor, Alexander Nylander scored on a one-timer from the left faceoff dot, set up by a cross-ice feed from Cal O’Reilly.
The Americans got the only goal of the third period, Daniel Muzito-Bagenda’s first North American pro point. Muzito-Bagenda got a feed from Justin Bailey in the right-wing circle and drove a shot that got by Halverson on the glove side.
The Wolf Pack and Comets face off at 7:30 Saturday night at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. All of the action of that battle can be heard live on News Radio 1410 WPOP, and on-line at www.newsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio. Video streaming is available at www.ahllive.com.
The next home game for the Wolf Pack is this Sunday, November 13 vs. the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, with faceoff at 5:00 PM. Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday home games features the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack”. The Family Value Pack includes two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for just $40.
Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2016-17 home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.
Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2016-17 AHL season can be found on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. To speak with a representative about all of the Wolf Pack’s many attractive ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451.
Hartford Wolf Pack 2 at Rochester Americans 5
Friday, November 11, 2016 - Blue Cross Arena
Hartford 2 0 0 - 2
Rochester 2 2 1 - 5
1st Period-1, Rochester, Kea 1 (Fedun, Vail), 9:39. 2, Hartford, Brown 2 (Paliotta, Nieves), 9:58. 3, Hartford, Hrivik 5 (Jensen), 13:33. 4, Rochester, Fedun 2 (Cornel, Catenacci), 18:25. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-5, Rochester, Kea 2 (Fedun, Nylander), 7:21 (PP). 6, Rochester, Nylander 3 (O'Reilly, Fedun), 18:21 (PP). Penalties-Fogarty Hfd (fighting), 3:30; Vaive Rch (checking to the head, fighting), 3:30; McRae Hfd (hooking), 6:06; Bonis Rch (tripping), 9:21; Gilmour Hfd (holding), 16:34.
3rd Period-7, Rochester, Muzito-Bagenda 1 (Bailey), 8:34. Penalties-Geiger Rch (interference), 11:13; Bodie Hfd (fighting), 14:10; Fedun Rch (fighting), 14:10.
Shots on Goal-Hartford 10-12-9-31. Rochester 4-10-5-19.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 3; Rochester 2 / 2.
Goalies-Hartford, Halverson 0-1-0-0 (19 shots-14 saves). Rochester, Ullmark 5-3-0-0 (31 shots-29 saves).
A-6,046
Referees-Furman South (44), Olivier Gouin (54).
Linesmen-Michael Fusani (72), Tim Kotyra (53).