Sunday, December 7, 2008

Rochester's Best Friend: Mike Brodeur?

Janis Sprukts and Kenndal McArdle returned to the Amerks' lineup for this evening's game against Albany and Mike Brodeur (signed to a 25-game PTO) was in net.

From the start, Tanner Glass took charge of the game, playing with a mean streak and taking an immediate slashing penalty -- and then a roughing penalty, all within the first three minutes. Three minutes later, the gloves were off as he and the six-foot-six Patrick Bordeleau were fighting.

When Glass took the roughing minor, two River Rats' players went off with him, putting Rochester on the power play. Before it had ended, Stefan Meyer had scored his sixth of the year.

Late in the first, with Michal Repik in the box for hooking, Glass got the puck to Sprukts and Janis put the puck past Daniel Manzato. The shorthanded goal was Sprukts' sixth tally of the season.

Noah Welch got on the board in the second period while working on the power play, picking up the second assist on Sprukts' second goal of the game. Meyer had the primary assist.

In the third period, Tanner Glass completed a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, fight) when he scored his fourth goal of the season (Drew Larman, Mike Duco with assists). Not a bad night for the Amerks' alternate captain.

According to Kevin Oklobzija, Panthers GM Jacques Martin was in Rochester today for a meeting with Amerks' management. Plus, the Cats are in Ottawa for a game tomorrow night, so I would think he probably stayed to watch the game.

Rochester will now prepare themselves for Tuesday night's epic clash with the San Antonio Rampage.

The two teams have traded places in the league basement and are a combined 8-38-0-2. Misery loves company.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

by far the best game of the season for the Amerks. three consective periods of well-played hockey...all in the same game too!