By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
Brett Murray picked the perfect time to finally end his personal drought-of-all-droughts and the franchise drought-of-all-droughts.
Murray’s goal 17:39 into overtime on Friday night gave the Rochester Americans another 4-3 OT victory over the Belleville Senators, completing the 2-0 sweep of the Calder Cup North Division mini-round play-in series.
The goal ended his 22-game goal-less streak, which stretched back nearly two full months to March 11.
But more importantly, it gave the Amerks their first playoff series victory in 17 years. The last time the Amerks advanced out of the first round was 2005, the NHL lockout season, when they compiled the AHL’s best regular-season record but lost in the second round.
Until Wednesday, the Amerks hadn’t won a playoff game since 2014, and hadn’t won an overtime playoff game since 2004. Now they’ve done it twice in three days – 4-3 in downtown Rochester on Wednesday, 4-3 in Belleville, Ontario on Friday.
“That this franchise hasn’t won a playoff series since 2005, that’s not on these guys, but I am very happy for our fan base,” Amerks coach Seth Appert said. “We have great fans, in Rochester and in Buffalo, and they haven’t been able to enjoy playoff winning for a long time, so that’s why I’m so happy for them.”
The Amerks will play the North Division-champion Utica Comets in the best-of-five division semifinals. Games 1 and 2 are in Utica on Tuesday and Saturday (7 p.m.). Game 3 is in Rochester on Sunday, May 15 (5:05 p.m.), as is Game 4, if necessary, on Tuesday, May 17 (7:05 p.m.) . Game 5 would be in Utica on Thursday, May 19 (7 p.m.).
Arttu Ruotasalainen, who scored the winning goal Wednesday 16:54 into overtime, set up Murray’s game-winner. He led a rather harmless two-on-four rush into the Senators zone and tried to maneuver between defenseman Zac Leslie and winger Jake Lucchini in the middle of the slot.
Ruotsalainen was denied, but the puck slithered through into the deep slot and Murray, charging in off right wing, plucked it away from Lucchini about 10 feet from the net and then fired a point-blank shot past goalie Filip Gustavsson.
The line of Murray, Ruotsalainen and Sean Malone produced all four goals, with Ruotsalainen scoring twice and setting up the other two goals. Mark Jankowski scored the other goal.
While Murray hadn’t scored a goal since early March, he has been instrumental in recent success, Appert said. His presence in the deep slot on Wednesday created the overtime goal. He was credited with an assist in a after-the-fact scoring change, tipping the Josh Teves point shot before it deflected in off Ruotsalainen.
“You can’t define all of what Brett Murray provides by points,” Appert said. “I bet there were 20 more goals this season because of what he does around the net, his physicality, his screening of the goaltender.
“He doesn’t get a point on it but he’s doing his job. He’s really bought in to being at the net.”
The teams actually did a little role reversal on Friday. On Wednesday, Belleville vaulted to a 3-0 lead, then allowed three goals in the third period before the Amerks won it in overtime.
On Friday, the Amerks built 2-0 and 3-1 leads, only to see the Senators score twice in the third: Andrew Agozzino at 2:09 right off a faceoff, and Roby Jarventie at 7:19 during a five-on-three power play.
“One of the hardest things to do in sports is end somebody’s season,” Appert said. “I thought we were in a good place mentally going into the third but then they scored the quick faceoff goal and it put us on our heels.
“It wasn’t like we imploded, it was a faceoff goal and a five-on-three goal.”
Both teams had good chances in overtime, when the Amerks outshot Belleville 10-5 (the Sens led 37-30 for the game), but Murray ended it late.
“At last night’s team dinner, just for the team and staff, the camaraderie and noise and feel was incredible. It’s what you strive for as a coach.
“When you love what you do, you want to do everything you can to keep doing it.”
Its nice to finally win. Amerks are finally catching on as even the local TV stations are doing stories and showing video of them again. The D&C has managed to find a little space away from high school sports to give the Amerks some love too. Winning will do that. I expect a very large crowd Sunday and I hope that it won’t be a try to stay alive game for the home team.
I won’t agree with Apperts comment about ‘it wasn’t like we imploded’. Actually they did. They came out flat as pancakes in the 3rd and let the Sens totally control play until they made it 3-2. Then two completely unnecessary penalties…4 minutes (not 2) for high sticking in a critical time in the game followed closely by an undisciplined boarding penalty putting them down 2 men. No surprise the Sens quickly tied it up. It could have been a disastrous 7 minutes…except they settled down and got the game to OT. They played well in the OT and earned the win.
I am not afraid of Utica. They were merely an ordinary team over the second half. They are beatable. I am more worried about Syracuse (or even Laval). The Comets won’t be pushovers, but I think we have the talent to beat them.
Wonder if Sabres will ‘force’ Appert to play UPL if he’s ready to go. I rather like Dell in the nets. And I also wonder if they will shut Samuelsson down rather than let him play in these playoffs. that would be a shame.
I hope the beautiful noise of 7 or 8 thousand fans Sunday will drown out that infernal loud music…which for this old-timer, is nothing but a pox on the great game of hockey.
Ted I agree this team can’t seem to play with leads that 3rd period they got away from the attacking style of play and instead of burying Belleville we had a game again at least they pulled it out again in OT and I think more then anything this team has gained some much needed confidence. As for Utica the Amerks have matched up very well with them all year definitely a winnable series I think but I also hope Appert isn’t forced to play UPL if he’s ready Dell has provided the clutch goaltending needed to win in the playoffs Amerks haven’t had timely playoff goaltending in many many years don’t think the Amerks would have won both games with UPL