Buffalo Sabres AHL affiliate collapses in the third period of semifinal
By Sion Fawkes
The Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, collapsed in a road loss to the Utica Comets in Game 1 of the North Division Semifinal.
Fans of the Buffalo Sabres have a lot of reasons to tune into the Calder Cup Playoffs given the number of players who will swap out that red for gold this coming October. However, after a thrilling first round in which the Rochester Americans knocked out the Belleville Senators in back-to-back overtime wins, they fell back to Earth in a 6-3 loss to the Utica Comets.
After taking a 2-0 lead by the 6:03 mark in the contest, it looked like Rochester was going to run away with this one. Then the Comets got hot on offense.
From the second period onward, Utica outshot the Amerks 35-13, scoring six goals in the process. It was a night to forget for Rochester unless your name is Arttu Ruotsalainen, who scored twice in the game.
Buffalo Sabres affiliate collapses in playoff loss to Utica
Besides Ruotsalainen’s epic performance, the Amerks also got decent output from J.J. Peterka, who scored a power play goal at the 6:03 mark. Peterka, one of the best players in the AHL this past season, is a shoo-in to join the Sabres main roster in October 2022 following a cameo appearance this season.
It was also a night to forget for the rest of the Sabres NHL talent. Peyton Krebs and Jack Quinn were non-factors, recording a combined two shots. Defenseman Casey Fitzgerald had five shots, but nothing found twine. The three NHL-worthy prospects also combined for zero points.
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The Amerks will get another crack at it on Saturday, May 14th. If Krebs, Fitzgerald, and Quinn can get back on track, look for Rochester to even out the series. If not, it will take a three-game winning streak to overcome the mighty Utica Comets.
(Statistics provided by theAHL.com)