The Rochester Americans got the help they needed on the last day of the regular season to get in the playoffs. They helped their own cause as they took care of business on Saturday night against the Lake Erie Monsters. Luke Adam scored at the 4:14 mark of the third period to give the Americans a 2-1 lead. That goal would end up being the game winner as Rochester catapulted themselves to 5th in the Western Conference.
Rochester got the scoring started in the first period as Paul Sczechura scored the game’s first goal at 7:52 of the first period. Marcus Foligno extended his point streak to three games with an assist and Brayden McNabb was credited with the other assist. Lake Erie tied the game ten seconds into the second period on a Patrick Rissmiller power play goal. That would be the score heading into the third period when Luke Adam scored the game winner four minutes into the period.
Rochester’s David Leggio looked solid again as he made 35 saves on the night and earned the game’s second star of the night. Leggio finished the regular season with a 28-24-2 record, 2.63 goals against average, and .917 save percentage. At the opposite end of the ice, Cedrick Dejardins took the loss on a 24 save night.
With the Milwaukee Admirals/Charlotte Checkers game ending in regulation, the Americans clinched a playoff spot and will most likely finish 7th in the Western Conference. That means a matchup against the Toronto Marlies, a team that the Amerks faced 10 times in the regular season.