Amerks Carve Up Albany
By: Thad Brown
Updated: November 23, 2012
Rookie
forward Brian Flynn's first
career hat trick helped give the Rochester Americans a 5-2 victory over
the Albany Devils on Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena in front of
8,781 fans.
Defenseman
T.J. Brennan added two goals and an assist while Flynn also recorded an
assist for a four-point night as the
pair combined for seven points and all five Amerk goals. Goaltender
David Leggio stopped 33 of 35 saves, including a shorthanded breakaway
chance by Albany's Adam Henrique, to pick up the win in goal. The Amerks
leading goal scorer, Brennan buried two short-handed
goals within a span of 6:35.
The
Amerks struck first when Flynn scored his sixth goal of the season at
6:14 of the first period. Mark Pysyk was credited
with the assist after his shot from the point rebounded off Devils
goalie Jeff Frazee near the right circle. Flynn capitalized by flipping
the puck over Frazee's shoulder.
Flynn's
second goal of the night put the Amerks up 2-0 at 15:23 of the first
period on a power-play. Marcus Foligno found
a loose puck in front of the net and slid it over to Flynn, who was
stationed near the left post for an easy tap-in goal. Brennan was also
credited with an assist.
The
Devils cut the deficit in half at 14:44 in the second period as Steve
Zalewski banged home a loose puck for his first
goal of the season to make it a 2-1 game. Mattias Tedenby attempted a
centering pass from behind the net, but his bid caromed off Leggio's
left foot and came to rest in the crease, allowing Zalweski to poke it
over the goal-line for the tally. Tim Sestito was
also credited with an assist on the goal.
Rochester
regained its two-goal lead with 24 seconds remaining in the second
period on a short-handed goal by Brennan.
Mark Mancari fed captain Kevin Porter, who had Brennan trailing for a
2-on-1. Porter moved it over to Brennan on the right side, and the
defenseman deposited the pass past Frazee.
The
Amerks took a 4-1 lead in the third period when Brennan scored his
second short-handed goal of the game. Last year's
point leader, Phil Varone, stole the puck and found Flynn charging
toward the net up the right wing wall. Varone made a pass to Brennan,
who collected the puck and shot a wrister into the back of the net.
The Devils scored at 7:57 to make the score 4-2 when Raman Hraberenka scored his first goal of the season.
The Amerks put the game out of reach with 1:10 left in the game when Flynn completed his first professional hat trick
on a empty net to make the score 5-2.
Rochester
remains at home on Wednesday, Nov. 28 as the San Antonio Rampage make
their only trip of the season to Western
New York. The 7:05 p.m. contest at The Blue Cross Arena will be the
first of just two meetings between the interconference rivals this
season.
