Article by Aidan Charde
Recap: New Hampshire Mountain Kings on Dec. 13 and 14
The Rochester Jr. Americans earned four massive points over the New Hampshire Mountain Kings last weekend with a pair of wins. Once again, special teams played a large role in the wins with the Jr. Amerks killing 11 of 12 penalties and scoring on 3 of 13 during the weekend to improve both marks.
Both goalies had big weekends with Danick Leroux earning his third shutout of the season and seventh overall in what was a Rochester-controlled contest from start to finish.
For the 23rd time this season, Rochester got on the board first with a powerplay goal from forward Landon Brownlee just over two minutes in. It was part of a period where Rochester outshot New Hampshire 14–6, another trend that has continued in recent weeks. It was the only goal for much of the game, though, as both defenses braced and kept the contest scoreless until the end of the third frame.
Forward Jaden Dyke finally gave the Jr. Amerks some insurance during a brief 4-on-4 with five minutes left, making the score 2–0 and the team held on for the win. Two points paired with a loss from the second-place Maryland Black Bears doubled Rochester’s divisional lead, although the New Jersey Titans and Maine Nordiques held pace with two points apiece.
In game two, Florian Wade got the start in the net for the first time since Nov. 30 and looked like his best self once again. Unsurprisingly, the Jr. Amerks scored first thanks to forward Adam Gionta, but a massive fight that saw eight penalties assessed and a five-minute powerplay for New Hampshire gave the visitors an advantage. The Mountain Kings capitalized, scoring once during the extended powerplay and again when shorthanded to take a 2–1 lead late in the second.
With two seconds left on the clock in the frame, Gionta struck again to tie the game in a massive change of momentum to tie the game headed back into the locker room.
The third period was comparatively slow, but forward Hugo Branthsson took matters into his own hands to find the back of the net twice, giving Rochester the lead with five minutes left and some breathing room just before the final minute to take the 4–2 win.
It was a big series in the standings and for momentum as Rochester now prepares to face the Maine Nordiques for the first time this season.
Preview: Maine Nordiques on Dec. 20 and 21
WHEN: Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. | Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: The Colisee | Lewiston, ME
WATCH: NAHL.tv
FOLLOW: @JrAmerksNAHL
History
These two teams have played some incredible contests, but the Jr. Amerks did earn four wins in eight contests last season. A hot streak by Rochester down the stretch last season nearly allowed them to surpass Maine for second place in the division, but it ended up being too little too late. The teams met in the second round of the postseason for a best-of-five series, where Maine ultimately took game five in overtime.
Sporting a deep roster
Last season’s success was largely built on elite play on the first line, with the team’s first line being five of the top six scorers by a large margin. While of course the first line is leading the way once again, this year’s team has been getting contribution all the way down the roster. At the midpoint of the season, 11 players have double-digit points with a handful more just shy of the mark.
Staying clean
Forward Calle Karlsson is playing phenomenal hockey, currently second on the team in points with 32 and 20th overall. He also is tied for the team lead with 14 goals, including a hat trick. But a large part of the reason he has had so many opportunities is because he is one of, if not the most, penalty-averse players in the league. Karlsson has a grand total of two PIM on the season, which came last weekend on a boarding call. That is the lowest number of any player with at least 30 points. In fact, you would have to scroll down to 76th place on the scoring leaderboard to find anyone else with two or fewer PIM.
Heading to one of Rochester’s favorite arenas
Rochester heads up to Lewiston, Maine this weekend for the first contest of the season against the Nordiques. Last year, some of the team’s best and worst performances of the season came against Maine, although strangely, the Jr. Amerks played much better in Maine than Rochester during the regular season, holding a 3–1–0 record in The Colisee compared to a 1–1–2 record at home.
Nordiques enter after snapping six-game skid
For most of the season, Maine held first place in the division with a solid grip, but it began to slip following a 4–3 loss to New Jersey on Nov. 23. That was the first of six straight losses, including consecutive shutouts against the New Hampshire Mountain Kings. They broke out of the skid last week with a sweep of the Elmira Aviators. It was in large part due to silence at the top of the leaderboard, with the team’s three top scorers, who have combined for 44 goals this season, totalling just four in the six-game stretch.