Cam Johnson, BDevils Fall Short to Amerks 6-4

Once again the effort was there but the bounces went Rochester’s way as the Americans peppered 47 shots in their 6-4 win over the Binghamton Devils on Saturday. Binghamton held a slim one-goal lead headed into the final twenty minutes but the Amerks managed four goals in the period that ended the Devils two-game winning streak in front of a big crowd at The Floyd.

Blake Pietila opened up the scoring in the first period on the powerplay for his 18th of the season. But the Amerks would answer back after a bad give away by Colton White behind his own cage. His breakout pass was intercepted by Tage Thompson in front as he was able to capture his own rebound past netminder Cam Johnson, who was rather busy in net when all said and done.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

Binghamton reached the back of the net for the next two goals with a Nick Lappin poke of the puck in front on another powerplay tally after taking a pass from John Quenneville. That would be Lappin’s team-leading 19th. With less than a minute left rookie Ludvig Larsson, playing in his second pro game, scored on a backhand shot that got the best of goaltender Scott Wedgewood for his first professional goal as the Devils were outshot 21-9 in the period.

C.J. Smith would make it a 3-2 game in the second period on a sneaky wrister outside the circle as the puck found a way to the back of the net under Johnson’s pads, one he would want back.

It was then all tied up at three apiece when Smith scored his second after twirling outside the cage and letting loose a phantom shot that Johnson never saw. Less than a minute later Rochester took their only lead on a snipe by Remi Elie that clipped the crossbar and in. Prior to that JQ rang one off the iron but the Devils would get revenge.

JQ stormed the net but was denied by Wedgewood however Ryan Schmelzer was there for the rebound during a goal-mouth scramble for his 13th of the season that gave the big crowd a boost with 6:42 remaining in the third.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

But the home fan’s chants and cheers weren’t enough to push this one to overtime for a second straight night as the Amerks broke the tie at 1:36. Eric Cornel deflected a shot from Kyle Criscuolo from his blueline that broke by Johnson. That was then followed by an empty netter from Nathan Paetsch for the final nail in the coffin as the Amerks earned a playoff spot with the win.

Shots ended up in favor of the visiting team by a whopping 47-20 margin.

Line-Up, Game #70

Forwards: Quenneville - Pietila - Schmelzer, Tangradi - Seney - Lappin, Gignac - Sharangovich - Studenic, Baddock - Larsson - Dudek

Defensemen: White/Ramage, Hammond/Murphy, Jacobs/Gryba

In Goal: Cam Johnson, Evan Cormier

Scratches: Brian Strait, Eddie Lack, Blake Speers, Alex Krushelnyski, Colby Sissons, Nick Saracino and Nikita Popugaev

Post Game Notes

• Rochester had two busloads in attendance as it gave it an old-time atmosphere between the longtime city rivals that dates back to the early ‘80s.
• Game was physical and chippy throughout with the highlight coming in the middle frame. Playing in his first pro game, J.D. Dudek was caught with his head down and was leveled to the ice near the center circle by Taylor Leier. White jumped at Leier as the two locked arms but was about to be joined by Arvin Atwal before Brett Seney got involved by jumping up and twirling him down with his body on top. Atwal then grabbed Seney as the two were engaged in a short fight with Atwal landing some rights.
• Johnson played great while flashing the leather but was on the shortend of a couple of unfortunate ones that otherwise could have gone the other way.
• JQ ended up with three assists and three shots and some good fore-checking as he seeks to round-out his overall game both offensively, and defensively.
• Pietila broke his stick on the faceoff deep in the offensive zone with Johnson pulled for the extra attacker late in the third. The puck found it’s way to Paetsch as his shot went the length of the ice and into the empty net. Sorta the way the Devils have gone this season and not getting the breaks when needed.
• Ceremonies took place prior to the start as Ryan Keller, Chris Kelly, and Grady Whittenburg was inducted into the Binghamton HoF.

Three Stars

#1. Eric Cornel (1g, 1a), #2. C.J. Smith (2g), #3. John Quenneville (3a)

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An off week coming up followed by a three-game weekend that kicks off on Friday against the Penguins in Wilkes/Barre-Scranton.