Amerks Lost Second in a Row on New Years Eve

The Amerks lost their second in a row on New Years Eve against the Lake Erie Monsters.  I was on my way out of town and barely caught any of the action so the Amerks press release is below recapping the game..  They’re back in action on Saturday night on the road against the W-B/S Penguins.  The live chat will start around 7pm.

(Rochester, NY)… The Rochester Americans ushered in the start of 2010 on the losing end this evening, dropping a 5-1 decision in a New Year’s Eve matinee to the Lake Erie Monsters at Quicken Loans Arena. The loss was Rochester’s second straight on its current three-game road trip as the Amerks fell to 22-12-2-0. With the win, the last-place Monsters improve to 14-18-0-3.

Second-year forward Michal Repik netted Rochester’s lone goal as goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu posted 28 saves in the losing effort.

Lake Erie’s Darren Haydar, Brian Willsie and Marty Sertich each scored a goal and assist for the hometown Monsters who have now won five of their last six. T.J. Hensick assisted on two goals and fifth-year pro Tyler Weiman garnered his 12th win of the season with a 14-save effort between the pipes.

Haydar gave the Monsters a 1-0 lead at 7:44 of the opening period with his team-leading 16th goal of the season. Ryan Stoa and Brian Fahey were each credited with assists on the play.

Lake Erie extended its lead to 2-0 just under four minutes later on Willsie’s 10th of the season at the 11:21 mark.

Repik responded with his 10th of the campaign on the power-play at the 14:00 mark to cut the deficit in half and put the Amerks within one heading into the second stanza. Jamie Johnson collected his team-high 33rd point with an assist on the goal and defenseman Clay Wilson became the American Hockey League’s leader in power-play assists with his 14th helper on the man advantage.

The Monsters regained their two-goal lead as Sertich found the back of the net at 11:37 of the middle frame to make it a 3-1 game. Lake Erie would maintain the two-point cushion heading into the third before Cedric McNicoll scored at 7:53 to increase the lead to 4-1.

Stoa rounded out the scoring with his 13th of the year on the power-play at 15:58 to secure the 5-1 win for Lake Erie.

The Amerks open their 2010 slate and complete their three-game in four-night stretch as they face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday, January 2nd at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. The 7:05 p.m. non-divisional matchup will be the second of four get-togethers for the Amerks and the Baby Penguins and will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester Sports Talk. Rochester is 1-0-0-0 this season and 11-6-6 all-time against the affiliate of defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.