Rochester Americans break 2-2 tie to defeat Hamilton

Matt Davidson's fourteenth goal of the season helped the Rochester Americans
defeat the Hamilton Bulldogs when the teams met for the seventh time this
season this past Tuesday evening. Assisting on Davidson's goal at 8:39 of the
final period were Randy Cunneyworth and Scott Nichol. His sixth game-winning
goal this season, Davidson is now tied with Hamilton's Chris Ferraro for the
lead in the American Hockey League in that category.
Davidson's goal was not the only saving grace in the game as once again
netminder Martin Biron stepped up and played like a future-NHLer and a
starting All-Star should, stopping 40 of the Bulldogs' 42 shots in the game.
The Rochester win put them in first place in the Empire Division with 50
points, followed by the Albany River Rats with 49. The outcome dropped
Hamilton into third in the division. Biron also made several acrobatic saves
during the game, including a kick-save of Chris Ferraro's shot in the second
period that seemed to be a sure goal while Hamilton broke down the ice with a
2-on-1 rush.
Mike Harder broke out of a seemingly endless rut by netting the team's first
two scores of the game, once in the first period and the other in the second.
Assisting on Harder's first, which was on the power-play, were Dean Sylvester
and Mike Hurlbut. Sylvester and flashy youngster Cory Sarich helped Harder on
his second of the evening.
The Americans are idle until this coming Saturday evening, when they face
another Empire Division rival, the Syracuse Crunch, in Syracuse. The Crunch
are also an I-90 (New York State Thruway) rival, and since their inauguration
into the league several years ago as the farm team of the Vancouver Canucks,
have made the Rochester/Syracuse a great hockey rivalry for New York State.
It will be the fourth time the teams meet this season and the first of a home
and home series this coming weekend.
The Amerks hold a 2-1 series lead over the Crunch, winning games on November
7 and November 15 by scores of 6-3 in each. In the first one, Steffon Walby
scored 2 goals and Domenic Pittis added 3 assists to lead Rochester. In the
second win, Craig Fisher scored two power-play goals and the power-play unit
converted on five opportunities in the game. When Syracuse defeated Rochester
4-3 on November 14, Craig Fisher scored two goals to lead the Amerks.
Syracuse is currently fourth in the Empire Division standings with a 12-22-6
record, but their victory over Albany this past Sunday helped the Amerks
secure the top of the division once again. Although thankful for the help,
the club will not be as friendly to the Crunch when they meet Saturday night.
Look for more information to come soon!

Until then.......GO AMERKS!

Jon D. LeRoy,
List Moderator