ROCHESTER, N.Y. --- The Rochester Americans hosted the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday for their third game in four days. In that stretch they went 2-1, losing friday at home to Cleveland. The friday game was close, ending 4-3, the Saturday match smelled like revenge for Rochester. In a tense back and forth first period which saw a line of Peterka, Krebs, and Quinn all on the ice at once it seemed destined for the team to score. Finally, 13 minutes into the first period of play it happened, JJ Peterka scored the first goal of the game for The Americans off an assist from Peyton Krebs, he put it in the top right corner of the net from a decent way out after beating his defender with his handling. The second goal came not long after that from Captain Michael Mersch, scoring a shot with no angle off a won face-off by Brandon Biro.
Rochester came into the second period two goals up against the monsters and continued to show their dominance, the only goal in the second came by way of leading scorer Jack Quinn from long range and almost looked like it was Peyton Krebs' first goal for The Amerks as it deflected off the goalie and went in without being touched by krebs who was read for the rebound shot.
Then the icing on the cake cam 11 minutes into the third period when Brandon Biro passed it from behind the goal to defender Casey Fitzgerald who ripped the shot from long range for the Amerks fourth goal of the night.
The true all star of the night though was Ukka-Pekka Luukkonen, who posted his first career AHL shutout with 32 saves on the night. The last time he posted a shutout was in the ECHL when he was playing for the Cincinnati Cyclones. After the game he highlighted the fact that the team really wanted the win today and it meant a lot to them after such a close defeat the night before.
Rochester wore Air Force inspired Jerseys tonight, the jersey's were auctioned off after the game raising a total of $16,768 to benefit the veteran outreach center in Rochester. The Americans next game will be on Wednesday November 17th at Blue Cross Arena, puck drop is at 7:05.