(WGR 550) – The Rochester Americans were able to walk into Syracuse and take the Crunch to overtime in Game 1 of their North Division semifinal series. However, they wound up losing, 3-2, as Syracuse leads the best-of-five series, 1-0.
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It only took 2:20 of the extra frame for Phil Myers to step around Kohen Olischefski and score from the high slot, as Josh Passolt went down to try to block the shot. Before Myers got the puck, Passolt tried to clear the puck down the wall, but turned it over to Myers.
The Amerks got down twice by a goal, but came back to tie it each time.
The power play was the difference in this game, as the Crunch went 2-for-4 and the Amerks were 0-for-3.
In the second period, Declan Carlile ripped a one-timer from the middle point position that Malcolm Subban probably should’ve had to make it 1-0.
Rochester tied it with some really tenacious work. Linus Weissbach turned Syracuse over and got the puck to Tyson Kozak. Weissbach didn’t stand around to admire his work, he went straight to the net and Kozak hit him with a perfect pass for a layup.
Later in the period, Syracuse went back on the power play and Felix Robert got the puck in the right circle. He was open, so he curled towards the net and scored.
Passolt made it four total goals in the period, as he tied the score by going straight to the net, making himself available for a Jeremy Davies pass.
Rochester got outshot in overtime, 4-0. Subban made 37 saves on the game, while in the other net, Max Legace stopped 21 pucks.
Rochester was without their 19-year-old rookie goal scorer Jiri Kulich for the third-straight game. He might be available for Game 2 on Saturday. Kulich had 24 goals in 62 games this season, which led the team.
Brandon Biro had 51 points in 49 games, but he, too, is out with an injury.
Game 2 is in Syracuse on Saturday, with Game 3 slated for Friday in Rochester.
