Rochester, N.Y. (WGR 550) – It seemed like the Buffalo Sabres didn’t have much interest in keeping Arttu Ruotsalainen, but I wonder if that was true, did the last month-and-a-half change their minds?
There was a report that he was going to sign to play in Switzerland next year that he has denied, and then the Sabres gave his No. 25 to Owen Power.
Ruotsalainen scored his second overtime goal of this year’s Calder Cup Playoffs on Sunday to give the Rochester Americans a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five series with the Utica Comets.
Rochester got a gift late in regulation, as Comets defenseman Robbie Russo took a stupid penalty with a head shot to Amerks captain Michael Mersch with 14.8 seconds left in regulation time. Mersch did not return to the game.
Just as the third period was ending, Brett Murray fed Ruotsalainen all alone in the slot, but he shot it over the net.
“I had a pretty good chance to score, but I wasn’t sure how much time I had there," said Ruotsalainen following the win. "But I’m happy I scored in the OT.”
Rochester started overtime with a 1:46 power play, and the red-hot JJ Peterka found himself all alone just staring at goalie Akira Schmid. Schmid performed highway robbery with the glove.
“I tried to outwait him and he dropped down," said Peterka following the game. "I felt like shooting up was the play, but he got a piece of it.”
Peterka ended up finishing the night with two assists in the game.
In Game 2 of the series on Saturday, Peterka scored in overtime to cap off a three-goal night for the Amerks. He now has four goals and four assists for eight points in five playoff games.
The Amerks had more to give before the overtime power play was over.
Peyton Krebs has been absolutely unbelievable in these playoffs. He had the puck in the left circle, and slid a perfect pass into the right circle for Ruotsalainen to rip a one-timer, giving him two goals and an assist just in overtime during these playoffs.
Overall, Ruotsalainen has six goals and three assists for nine points in five games. Krebs has eight points, with all of them being assists.
Following Sunday's game, Ruotsalainen said Krebs' vision is unbelievable.
“He’s an incredible player," he said. "He sees passing lanes that others can’t see, and you just have to be always ready.
“'Krebsy' made an incredible pass through the PK players, so I just closed my eyes and made a shot and it went in.”
Rochester is 4-1 in the playoffs, with all four wins coming in overtime. Peterka and Murray have the other two overtime-winning goals for the Amerks.
In this game, Aaron Dell made 30 saves, including two wide-open point blank stops on Chase De Leo.
On the first goal of the game, the Amerks weren’t as lucky, as A.J. Greer was left all alone and he netted his fourth goal in three games.
I was impressed with how the Amerks were driving the play, and they never acted like they were in trouble. The first three goals they scored in this game were all a result of hard work and paying the price.
On the goal that tied the game at 1-1, Amerks defenseman Jimmy Schuldt came out of the penalty box and took a pass from Mark Alt. Schuldt's shot was stopped by Schmid, but he couldn't handle the rebound and Sean Malone put the loose puck in.
Just 2:09 later, Ryan MacInnis found Peterka in front, who executed a backhand pass through his legs to Lukas Rousek, and that gave him half an open net.
Late in the second period, Peterka was able to bank a puck off of Brandon Biro streaking to the net and in.
However, during a scramble in the Rochester crease, Jack Quinn didn't see the puck and accidently kicked the tying goal into the net for Utica.
Quinn’s only point in this series was on Peterka’s Game 2 overtime winner.
So here are the fifth place Amerks, one game away from eliminating the first place Comets in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
A sellout crowd of 10,741 was loud, and gave the Amerks a lot of energy in this game. The last time I saw that many fans in that arena was when I was doing some play-by-play for the Amerks back in the late 1990s.
Game 4 is in Rochester on Tuesday night, and Game 5 - if necessary - will be back in Utica on Thursday.
***Photo: Micheline Michaelina (@MiMiV4682)
