ROCHESTER, N.Y. – It was a great night for Rochester Americans fans on Friday, as they got a thrilling 5-3 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. This game was also military appreciation night, with the Amerks sporting a specialty jersey for the night.
Michael Mersch, Amerks captain, got the scoring started for the night, hitting the back of the net three minutes into the game. The Pens would bounce back in the first though, scoring two goals within a minute of each other – the first from Ryan Shae, and the second from Radim Zohorna.
The second period was dominated by the Amerks, scoring two more goals. Mersch got his second, and Tyson Kozak scored his first and only goal of the night. The referees kept themselves busy, calling three minors on the Pens in the second.
Jiri Kulich gave the Amerks some more breathing room in the third, scoring eight minutes into the period, but would leave due to injury shortly after. The Pens got one more from Ty Smith, but it wasn’t enough when Linus Weissbach got an empty net goal with about two minutes left in play.
Mersch finished with two goals and one assist. Tyson Kozak got three assists on the night. Devon Levi of the Amerks finished with 41 saves on 44 shots. Magnus Hellberg of the Pens finished with 23 saves on 27 shots. The Amerks are now third in the North Division, and the Pens are third in the Atlantic Division.
Check out this photo gallery from Inside The Rinks photographer Brett Ballachino.
