Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
Combine excitement, exhaustion, relief and urgency to sum up the 48 hours the Americans in Rochester just went through.
A 3-in-3 weekend, as messy as it was, put them in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Six months of work before that led to getting there.
The Utica Comets, 18 points out of the playoff spot at the All-Star break, square off against the Amerks on the final day of the regular season on Sunday. But Rochester had the final advantage – a game in hand over the Comets. While Utica watched and waited, the Amerks had a date with the Hershey Bears at the Giant Center on Sunday afternoon.
Getting that last point was frustrating for the Americans. Utica swept the season-ending home-and-home series with the league-leading Providence Bruins. The Americans had lost four games in a row going into their regular season finale.
“They just kept winning and winning,” forward Carson Meyer he said of the Comets, “and we couldn’t get a point.”
The Americans dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the visiting Cleveland Monsters on Friday. Then they were thrashed, 8-0, by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday. That set up Sunday when Rochester needed at least a point to extend their season.
“These are meaningful games that you dream about as a child,” the goalkeeper said Devon Levy said. “This was the final game. This was the seventh game of our season.”
It was by no means perfect, but it was a completely determined effort. Rochester allowed 23 shots on Hershey in the first half. Only Clay Stevensonexcellent work in net kept the game scoreless. Finally, the Americans broke through 1:36 into the second half, using Trevor KuntarA power play goal to put them ahead. But Hershey countered with a pair of goals at 4:02 without the Americans down.
Answer from Konsta Helenius followed by a Jake Leschyshyn the goal restored Rochester’s lead. Then two more quick Amerks scored and put the goal down.
In the final minutes of their season, Rochester kept pushing. Then on the power play again, Meyer sent a long shot inside the blue line beyond Stevenson with 7:15 to go in regulation.
4-4.
From there, Amerks is the head coach Michael Leone a decision had to be made. Remember, they only needed one point to seal that playoff spot that had eluded them so far. Should they play it safe in those final minutes, take the game to overtime, get their point, and send themselves to the Calder Cup Playoffs?
“It’s a strange place,” Meyer agreed.
They split the difference. They avoided anything too good with the puck, they certainly didn’t force chances. But they also shied away from anything too cautious that would have allowed Hershey to dominate the play. As it turned out, the Bears managed just two shots in regulation, which Levi handled with ease.
The Americans had their point and a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Like their season, their finale had a surprising twist of emotions, responses, and ultimately success.
“Finally,” Meyer said. “We felt like our backs were against the wall and we really raised our game as a team.”
Ivan MiroshnichenkoAn overtime goal gave Hershey a 5-4 victory. It was a result that meant plenty for the Bears – especially avoiding a trip to Charlotte in the first round for a game against Bridgeport. For the Amerks, they happily took their one point and looked to something bigger – the Calder Cup Playoffs.
After a nonstop weekend, Rochester got back on the bus, headed home for a quick rest, and then back on the road to Toronto for tonight’s Game 1 North Division series with the Marlies.
Getting here has been an achievement for the Americans, who have been hit by waves of moves and injuries. AHL All-Star sniper Isak Rosén referred to the Winnipeg Jets at the NHL trade deadline. Captain Zach Metsa He spent a lot of time in Buffalo, playing only 19 games for the Americans. Riley Fiddler-Schultz he missed 10 games before returning to the lineup Sunday. Forward Viktor Neuchev went to the Carolina Hurricanes in a deal. The protector Nikita Novikov it has Ontario Honey now. Another blueliner, Vsevolod Komarovyou are off the latest list.
“It was crazy,” Leone said arguing that last point. “I’m proud of this team. Was it perfect? No. But we fought until the end, and I’m proud of this team for coming in. This league is tough. We faced a lot of adversity.”
As the Americans celebrated after the game, Levi couldn’t stop smiling.
“I mean that was the most exciting thing we’ve ever been, I’ve ever been, after losing and after giving up five goals,” said Levi. “We got the job done.”
Stress and pressure comes with pro sports, especially with a playoff berth on the line. Levi embraces many of the game’s emotions, however. He tied for the AHL lead in goals, and his 3,029 minutes led the league. But if he was tired after another hard weekend, it wasn’t obvious.
“That,” Levi said, “was probably the best game I’ve ever played.”
In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league’s top scorer in 2016.
