GA Gameday Report: Rochester Americans 3, Fredericton Canadiens 1

Continuing their road trip in the Canadian Maritime, the Rochester
Americans hockey club scored first and converted that lead to a victory over
the Baby Habs. Darren VanOene opened the scoring at 10:08 of the first
period. Assisting on the goal were Mike Harder and Dean Sylvester. Both
teams were held scoreless in the middle period, however the Baby Habs tied the
game at 2:31 of the third period. Scoring for the Habs was Jean-Francois
Houle. The tie game continued until 12:16 of the period, when Mike Hurlbut
scored the game-winner, a power-play goal with assists by Greg Walters and
Domenic Pittis. Matt Davidson scored at 14:13 of the final period to end the
scoring, assisted by Pittis and Craig Fisher. Tom Draper, the Amerks masked-
man since Martin Biron was recalled by the parent Sabres, stopped 27 of 28
Fredericton shots on goal. He was also awarded the game's third star. Mike
Hurlbut was the game's first star.
Two days earlier, the Americans were in Harbour Station, New Brunswick to
take on the Saint John Flames. Rochester took an early 3-1 lead, but then
found themselves clinging to life after a flurry of goals by Saint John. In
addition, the Americans were outshot by 17, with the Flames compiling 45 shots
compared to Rochester's 28.
Mike Harder opened the scoring at 5:39, assisted by Darren VanOene and
Dean Sylvester. Matt Davidson increased the Amerks lead at 6:28 of the
period, assisted by Craig Fisher and Domenic Pittis. St. John's Varlamov put
the Flames on the scoreboard at 10:28 by converting a power-play opportunity.
Varlamov was assisted by Martin St. Louis and Travis Brigley. Fisher then
converted a power-play opportunity at 12:52 of the period, assisted by Pittis
and Mike Hurlbut. The period ended with the Americans leading 3-1.
St. Louis scored 3:33 into the second period to put another dent in the
Rochester lead. Cooper and Brigley assisted on the goal. He then added his
second goal and third point of the night with a power-play conversion at 8:48,
assited by Petrovicy and Brigley. The game was now tied at 3 all going into
the final period of play.
St. Louis completed his hat-trick to give St. John the lead at 3:41 of
the final period, scoring a short-handed goal, assisted by Brigley. Facing a
loss to open their road trip, the Amerks were in a crunch to salvage their
game. Mike Hurlbut delivered, scoring at 19:54 to force overtime, assisted by
Craig Fisher and Domenic Pittis. Neither team scored in the overtime period,
and the game ended in a tie. Tom Draper stopped 41 shots on goal.
The Americans are back in St. John tonight (Thursday), and a game report
will be issued as soon as I can get to a computer to send it (my Internet
service is currently unavailable at my home; I am working off of friends' and
school computers right now.) Soon to follow is more information regarding the
Rochester Americans, including the most recent transaction news. That's all
for now!

Go AMERKS!!

Jon D. LeRoy,
List Moderator,
Sr. GA Correspondent.