By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
They had played well enough to win, especially when comparing scoring chances for and against, yet the Rochester Americans lost again on home ice, this time 5-4 to the Cleveland Monsters on Wednesday night.
Of course, it’s pretty difficult to win when you don’t make the opponent earn goals, and the Amerks (8-7-3-0) pretty much gift-wrapped Cleveland’s last three as the Monsters (13-4-0-1) ran their winning streak to nine.
Thus, despite building a 4-2 lead in the first 23 minutes, they head into their Thanksgiving off day having lost three straight and seven of eight.
“The third goal, we turn over the puck, we don’t stop in the D-zone, they score,” coach Michael Leone said. “The fourth goal, we don’t get the puck out on the wall, they score. And then the fifth goal, we talk about it all the time, when the ‘D’ have the puck you can’t go through the middle of the ice.”
For some reason, defenseman Jack Rathbone tried to do just that midway through the third period, firing a pass from deep in his own zone toward Mason Jobst just outside the blue line.
There was just one problem, though. Monsters center Max McCue was lurking at the blue line, intercepted, and an instant later Gavin Brindley was scoring on a wraparound after goalie Devon Levi moved out to stop the first chance.
The goal broke a 4-4 tie with 10:30 remaining and the Amerks were unable to score the tying goal.
“It was just a bad decision,” said Rathbone, who scored the Amerks second goal and assisted on the fourth, by Graham Slaggert. “I pride myself on trying to be a reliable player. Unfortunately, I shoulder the brunt of this one.”
A familiar deficiency was present yet again: allowing a goal in the final minute of a period. The Amerks were in control with a 4-2 lead as the second period was nearing an end. But they gave the puck away and a harmless shot from the point by Madison Bowey ended up in the net after a mid-air tip-in in the right of the slot by Luca Del Bel Belluz.
Incredibly that was the seventh goal given up by the Amerks in the last minute of a period in the past 13 periods on home ice. That includes a pair of third-period last-minute daggers as well as an overtime goal against Laval on Nov. 13.
“It has a huge impact on the game,” Leone said. “There’s certain times in the game where you have to learn how to manage to get out of it. The last minute of periods, when you’re in your own zone or you’re in the neutral zone, it’s about not giving up anything.
“Whether it looks ugly, however you have to do it, you better get out of those situations.”
The late second-period goal gave the Monster momentum, and they needed just 3:34 of the third period to tie the score, again with a tip-in goal from several feet above the crease. This time Owen Sillinger redirected a Samuel Knazko point shot.
“I think it’s just being dialed in for 60 minutes,” Slaggert said of the last-minute issues. “Just because you’re in the last minute doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
“It’s a fast game but it’s also a game of field position, and sometimes you get in trouble if you don’t manage the field position.”
Brendan Warren and Josh Dunne scored the other goals for the Amerks, who are home on Friday night against Syracuse.
Honoring Weisbeck
The Amerks officially paid tribute to long-time athletic trainer Kent Weisbeck, who announced his retirement before the season. Weisbeck spent 39 years with the team.
He was presented with a framed 39 Amerks sweater before the game and a series of testimonials from former players and coaches played throughout the game on the video board.
You don’t see this every day
Amerks defenseman Zach Metsa was assessed a rare penalty for trying to use his stick to flip the dropped stick of Konsta Helenius back to the Amerks winger.
While Helenius’ stick was not broken, rule 10.3 prohibits a player from throwing or “shooting” a stick to a teammate.
As we head into the final month of 2024, Amerks have won a grand total of 2 home games. As ridiculous as that sounds, its true. Amerks have patented the script on how to lose games. Its the cliche wash, rinse, repeat. Get the early lead; blow it; give up last minute goals; fail to score on numerous power play opportunities; lose a close game.
Last night Amerks once again took an 0-fer on the powerless play. 6 chances including one 4 minute opportunity. With a golden chance to open up a 5-2 lead, they once again looked completely disorganized and punchless for the entire 4 minutes. Its just hard to explain how a team can play so poorly 18 games into the season.
And while a couple of Monster goals were tip-ins, Devon Levi didn’t have one of his finest games. He probably wants minimally 2, probably 3 back. So thanks in great part to the foul play of his teammates, our ‘savior’ goalie has now allowed 9 goals in his last 2 starts.
The last minute goals are just plain aggravating. We hardly had it out of our mouths as the 2nd period entered the final minute…DON’T get scored on and give Cleveland the momentum. Boom. And I truly believe that goal turned the entire game. We all knew Amerks couldn’t hold a one goal lead for 20 minutes.
Several Amerks had real weak games. Johnson comes to mind. Others too numerous to mention. But our so-called go-to guys like Murray, Rousek and Jobst just didn’t show up. The D made so many poor decisions. Cleveland has turned into a very strong team and they played perfectly on our miscues. Yes Amerks got 41 shots, a very misleading stat. They were only the dangerous team for the brief time they erased the 2-1 deficit. 2nd half of the game totally belonged to the Monsters.
Getting real tired of watching this team play like they are playing. An unusually large Wednesday crowd of over 4,300 once again went home frustrated as Amerks just refuse to learn from or correct their egregious game to game mistakes. Right now they just aren’t a competitive team, and even Devon Levi can’t save them.
Glad I didn’t go to this game! Another predictable outcome at home, no matter how much they carry the play or how talented they are as individuals this team is a complete train wreck at home! Awful in the clutch they can score early but can’t hold leads or late when the game is on the line. They lack a killer instinct always choke in the clutch and seem to have zero team chemistry. As evidenced by their play when the goalie is pulled in the last few minutes when behind by a goal or their disastrous power play for the young talented offensive forwards this team has and veteran blue liners the power play disaster is a mystery is a complete mystery. Even the veterans Murray and Jobst are very ineffective this year, especially Jobst who has regressed significantly from the last 2 years. Losing Mersch should not have been a big problem with the remaining talent but it has proven to be especially on the power play. Houser and Sandstrom have been about as good as expected but with the exception Levi’s first game iin Laval he certainly has underperformed compared to what we are used to. The talent is here to turn it around in a big way but will they? Right now I have serious questions about the ability of our very inexperienced coach and Vinny Prospal who has done an awful job with this power play unit. If anyone epitomizes this years team it is Lukas Rousek, speed, talent but refuses to shoot the puck and consequently has anemic production that doesn’t align with his talent. Small crowd for a thanksgiving eve but with only 2 wins on home ice all season I can see why!
no power play, no organization, no intensity in the final minute of any period, no on ice leadership, and just 2 wins in 9 tries at home.
the goaltending has not been up to par. Right now nothing is going right for the Amerks. Who is going to make this nonsense stop?