11/21 Recap: Schaller's big night fuels Amerks

Tim Schaller recorded a career-high five points (2+3) Friday, headlined by his first professional short-handed goal and later the game-winner to lead the Rochester Americans to a 7-4 victory over the Utica Comets. Joel Armia notched a power play goal and an assist to earn the game’s number two star.

Jordan Samuels-Thomas scored twice in the final minutes of the third period with an empty-netter at 18:07 and then a big shot with less than one second remaining on the clock. Mark Pysyk and Matt MacKenzie provided singles, while Phil Varone saw his five-game point streak snapped in the victory.

Andrey Makarov allowed four goals on 28 shots to move to 5-4-1 on the year with a 3.04 GAA and .905 save%.

With Dan Catenacci (suspended), William Carrier (injured) and Zac Dalpe (injured) unavailable, second-year defenseman Jerome Leduc filled in as a winger, joining Drew Schiestel, T.J. Brennan and Dennis Persson as prospect blue-liners in recent memory to plug forward minutes. Justin Kea contributed one shot on goal and a plus-one rating in his first game in an Amerks uniform.

The Amerks are back in action Saturday when they travel to Adirondack.

QMJHL

Vaclav Karabacek scored with 3:44 left in regulation to thrust Gatineau to a 2-1 victory at Blainville-Boisbriand. The goal, Karabacek’s seventh of the year and first game-winner, gives the second-year winger 16 points through 22 games. The Olympiques host Acadie-Bathurst on Saturday.

WHL

Sam Reinhart added two assists to his stat line as Kootenay downed Lethbridge 5-1. Through six games, Reinhart has gathered four goals and 15 points. He’ll be expected to maintain the production Saturday when the ICE look to avenge their loss to Medicine Hat earlier in the week.

Brycen Martin (-1) picked up one assist as Swift Current lost at Prince Albert 6-2. Martin has nine points (0+9) at the 25-game mark for the Broncos, who travel to Saskatoon on Saturday.

OHL

Nick Baptiste produced one assist as Sudbury dropped a 2-1 home-ice decision to North Bay. The helper gives Baptiste 11 points (6+5) in his first dozen games. The Wolves are off until next Friday when they square off with Guelph.

Justin Bailey was held without a point for just the third time in his first 20 games as Kitchener edged Windsor 2-1. Bailey will look to re-start production when the Rangers visit Guelph on Sunday.

NCAA

Hudson Fasching (-2, 2 SOG) was unable to produce as No. 4 Minnesota was defeated by Team USA Under-18 5-4. Senior forward Christian Isackson earned an assist for the Gophers, while Team USA 2016 draft stud Auston Matthews notched three points (2+1) including the overtime winner to seal the exhibition victory. The Gophers get back to work Friday at Boston College.

J.T. Compher was blanked as Michigan opened the B1G schedule with a 3-2 loss to Penn State. Compher now has zero goals and six assists through his first 10 games. The Wolverines will look for the conference split on Saturday.

Connor Hurley was kept off the score sheet as Notre Dame skated to a 2-2 tie with No. 5 UMass Lowell. Notre Dame freshman netminder Cal Petersen did not play for the second straight night. Next up for Notre Dame is the opener of the Shillelagh Tournament on Friday versus Union. 

Judd Peterson logged one shot on goal as St. Cloud State earned a 3-1 victory over North Dakota. The freshman forward has two assists through his first 11 collegiate contests while being shut out in his last five. The two clubs close the NCHC set Saturday in St. Cloud.

Brad Navin contributed two shots on goal as Wisconsin continued their season-long skid with a 5-2 loss at Colorado College. Wisconsin hopes to end their seven-game funk on Saturday versus Denver.

Max Willman was kept off the score sheet as Brown was defeated by Colgate 4-3 in overtime. The Bears will look to end a five-game losing streak Saturday when they conclude their Upstate swing at Cornell.

Sean Malone remained out of the lineup due to injury as Harvard bested Bentley 5-1. Malone has yet to suit up in Harvard’s first eight games. The Crimson face off with Boston University on Tuesday.

The game between Providence (Anthony Florentino, Mark Adams) and New Hampshire was postponed due to issues with the ice surface at UNH. The teams will give it a go on Saturday, and make up the Friday contest at a later date.

USHL

Christopher Brown connected for a pair of assists as Green Bay lost at Madison 5-4 in overtime. The two-assist effort was Brown’s second multiple-point game of the year and first since his Oct. 10. His 12 points (5+7) through 15 games lead the Gamblers’ attack entering Saturday’s rematch with the Capitols.

ECHL

Colin Jacobs scored his second goal of the year on a penalty shot as Elmira edged Reading 3-2. Jacobs’s tally gives him three points in his first five games. The Jackals take on Wheeling on Saturday.