By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
It was the first early season test to learn how the Rochester Americans measure up to the best in the AHL’s North Division.
The Laval Rocket skated into Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial on Wednesday night with a 9-2 record and a division-leading 18 points.
For two periods, the Amerks passed the test, but then a passive third period enabled the Rocket to barge back into the game before winning 3-2 in overtime.
Logan Mailloux scored a power play goal with 20.7 seconds remaining while Amerks rookie Konsta Helenius was serving an interference penalty.
The Amerks did earn a point for getting to overtime and will take a 7-4-1-0 record and 15 points into Saturday’s 5 p.m. rematch at the War Memorial.
“They’re a good team, I think the best team we’ve played,” said rookie winger Anton Wahlberg, whose fourth goal of the season tied the score at 9:44 of the third period.
The result could have been different, however.
“Overall, I thought we did a good job minimizing a really skilled team,” Amerks coach Michael Leone said. “I just thought in the third period, the first 10 minutes we have to be more engaged.”
They also need to be better on the power play. They went 0-for-4 in the game, all in the first 40 minutes, failing to use the man advantage to build a bigger lead.
“They do a really good job blocking shots, I just think we need to do a better job of playing faster,” Leone said. “I thought we were a little slow tonight, allowed them to get in shooting lanes. We need to do a better job of moving their pieces around because they sit really tight in the diamond.”
The Amerks first goal came 12:16 into the second period after Amerks captain Mason Jobst bowled over William Trudeau in the neutral zone, which created a two-on-one fast break for Brendan Warren and Graham Slaggert.
Slaggert converted Warren’s pass to break a scoreless tie, and the period ended with the Amerks ahead 1-0 despite a 24-11 advantage in shots on goal.
“The first two periods were really good,” Wahlberg said.
The third period, however, was not nearly good enough. The Rocket tied the score at 2:59 when Luke Tuch, younger brother of Buffalo Sabres veteran Alex Tuch, scored his fourth goal of the season.
With Vincent Arseneau driving to the net and creating a screen, Tuch took the puck at the right wing half wall, spun and fired a wrist shot that zipped between the legs of goalie Michael Hauser.
Laval then went ahead at 9:31 on a power-play goal by Alex Barre-Boulet but the Amerks tied it on the next shift thanks to the hustle of Jiri Kulich.
With the puck sliding toward the crease, Laval goalie Jakub Dobes prepared to clamp his glove down on it for a faceoff.
But Kulich came streaking in, surprised Dobes with his speed and poked the puck free, leaving Wahlberg with an empty net.
“That was one of the easiest goals I’ve gotten,” he said.
In overtime, Helenius was called for interference when he upended Laurent Dauphin in the Laval zone as the Amerks were pressuring. The rookie appeared to be well aware of what he was doing, but Leone said he wasn’t sure it warranted a penalty.
“I just thought it was a hockey play,” Leone said. “I don’t even think we picked him, I just think he got in the way.”
The penalty came with 1:44 remaining and Laval needed 1:23 of the power play to convert. Mailloux, who continually tried to set up Barre-Boulet for the one-timer in the right circle, this time chose to fake the pass and then shoot and beat Hauser low to the stick side.
I felt that the penalty call in OT was a bush league call. Hardly a penalty and one that was way too marginal to be called in OT. Even at that, Amerks nearly killed it off, but for a failed clearing attempt that they should have made, which allowed the Rocket to continue to press in the zone. Had they managed to get the puck over the blueline, they may have had a much better chance to kill off the final 20 seconds and get it into the skills competition.
Their failure to generate anything at all during their 4 early power plays was also a big factor, especially when they really let up in the 3rd period. Houser wasn’t tested that much and I think the only goal he wants back was the first one, which was fluky. Amerks 2nd goal was similar, but was all hustle.
So boys and girls, what do our beloved Sabres do with their goalies now? How about if they must have 3 goalies for their roadtrip, they call up Sandstrom and send Levi back down here to start playing regularly. Levi has not played well when he has gotten the chance and clearly he needs to play, not sit.
Another empty house last night. Looking for a big crowd Saturday night.