Amerks offense too much for Marlies in Game 2

By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA

You can determine scoring prowess just by looking at the scoresheet, and a deep dive into statistics can give you an accurate measure of goaltending ability.

It’s a little more difficult to quantify an intangible like resiliency, but there’s little question that the Rochester Americans have plenty of it.

Unfazed when Toronto used a power play to tie the score 80 seconds into the second period, the Amerks rattled off four unanswered goals in span of just 2 minutes, 45 seconds and rolled to a 7-4 victory over the Marlies on Saturday evening.

In winning again at Coca-Cola Coliseum in downtown Toronto, the Amerks now are on the verge of advancing to the conference finals for the first time in 19 years.

They lead the best-of-five North Division finals 2-0, and will look to complete the sweep when the series resumes at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.

“Blue Cross should be buzzin’,” said center Sean Malone, who scored the fourth goal and assisted on two others.

Of course, the Amerks are well aware that no series is over until the clinching game has been won. They were the team facing elimination after two games of the division semifinals, but won three straight elimination games to earn the series date with the Marlies.

“We have a lot of work to do,” Amerks coach Seth Appert said. “We know what can happen.”

Indeed, the Amerks’ resiliency was on full display as they clawed their way not only back into that series against Syracuse, but to advancement to the next round. Then in Game 1 against Toronto, they fell behind just 3:04 into the game, yet didn’t panic, and soon found themselves on their way to a 4-3 victory.

And on Saturday, they led 1-0 after the first period thanks to a Jiri Kulich power-play goal at 9:57. That’s five straight games that Kulich has scored a goal (one in each).

The Marlies tied it 1:20 into the second period when Nick Abruzzese scored on a power play, but the Amerks weren’t panicked in the least and needed just 3:08 to regain the lead.

Defenseman Jeremy Davies whipped home a shot from the left circle just after a power play expired, his first goal since March 17, and first career playoff goal (in 16 games).

The lead became 3-1 at 5:58 when Lukas Rousek converted a return pass from Mason Jobst off a three-on-two fastbreak, his first goal against a goalie since March 12 (his two goals since then were scored into empty nets).

Malone steered home Joseph Cecconi’s pass to the goal mouth at 7:01, ending Erik Kallgren’s afternoon. The Marlies goalie stopped just 15 of 19 shots.

But the scoring didn’t end, with relief goalie Keith Petruzzelli surrendering a goal on Cecconi’s point shot on the first shot he faced at 7:13. The puck may have hit defenseman Jordie Benn in the deep slot.

Michael Mersch and Brendan Warren added goals in the third period as the score ballooned to 6-3 and then 7-4.

Seven different Amerks scored goals and six others had at least one assist.

“Depth of scoring is something we’ve had all year,” Appert said. “I think it’s a testament to how much they care about each other, how much they want to step up for each other.”

Notes: Winger Linus Weissbach sat out because of an upper body injury suffered in Game 1. Appert said his playing status is day-to-day, and there’s a chance he could return for Game 3. … Winger Filip Cederqvist, who suffered a knee injury in Game 2 against Syracuse, returned to the lineup. He had missed the previous four games. … The Amerks were 2-for-5 on the power play and are 4-for-10 in the series. The Marlies, after going 0-for-4 and giving up a short-handed goal in Game 1, went 4-for-6 on Saturday. … Cecconi and Davies each finished plus-4 in plus/minus. … After being swept by the Marlies in the first round in 2012, 2013 and 2019, they’re looking to return to the favor this year.