2/10/2021
Rochester N.Y. -- The Rochester Americans took down the Syracuse Crunch 4-3 in overtime. This is the Americans' first game against the Crunch in their COVID shortened season. This is also their first win of the season.
Rochester got off to a hot start in the first period taking an early 2-0 lead. Remi Elie and Brett Murray netted the goals for the Amerks. This was Elie's first game back in Rochester after only recently resigning with the team last week and having to quarantine after arriving in Rochester, missing the team's first game against Utica. As for Murray, this is his second season with the team after going undrafted and getting an invite to Buffalo Sabres training camp last year. He has proved himself through the season last year and picked up right where he left off.
In the second period, The Amerks got going quick, as Remi Elie got his second of the night after deflecting a point shot from defenseman Oskai Laaksonen. Laaksonen would end the game with 3 points get assists on both Elie's goals and the game-winner. However, the Crunch got a little bit of life after Boris Katchouk a goal to cut the Amerks' lead to 2. The period would end 3-1
The third period was a down period for the Amerks, as Syracuse really controlled play. Ross Colton and Taylor Raddysh would both score to tie the game at 3, but Amerks' goaltender Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen would hold the Crunch there as he was able to make some great saves late in the game. Crunch defenseman Riley Stillman would eventually be called for a tripping penalty with only 17 seconds to go in regulation giving the Amerks a powerplay opportunity to start overtime.
The powerplay would be just what the Amerks need to secure themselves a victory as just a little over a minute and a half into the overtime period. Oskari Laaksonen would set up Jean-Sebastien Dea or a one-time opportunity. Dea shot would go off Sean Fogarty and in the net to end game is a 4-3 victory for the Amerks.
UPL would end the game with 20 saves on 23 shots on goal and gets his first win of the season after not playing a game in nearly 2 months.
The Amerks will be traveling out to Cleveland for their next game which is scheduled for Friday with a 7 pm
faceoff.