The Rochester Americans forced the favored Chicago Wolves to the brink with a 7-2 win in Game 4 of the Calder Cup Western Conference Quarter-Final on Friday, but came up short in the pivotal Game 5, losing a 4-2 decision at Allstate Arena Sunday afternoon.
Shane Harper, Brent Regner, Dmitrij Jaskin and Taylor Chorney scored for the Wolves, who move on to face the Toronto Marlies in the next round of the Calder Cup playoffs. Brayden Irwin and Luke Adam scored for Rochester.
The Amerks fell behind just over two minutes into the first period, as Harper beat rookie goaltender Andrey Makarov, who made 32 saves on the night.
Rochester rallied to take a 2-1 lead with power play tallies from Irwin late in the first and Adam early in the second, but Chicago responded with two of their own with the man advantage late in the middle frame from Regner and Jaskin.
The Amerks registered 23 shots on AHL Goalie of the Year Jake Allen, who held off a late rally until Chorney’s empty netter with 1:01 remaining in regulation.
Sabres first round pick Mikhail Grigorenko registered one assist, but was on the ice for the opening goal of the game, the empty net goal and took the hooking penalty that led to Jaskin’s game-winning goal.
*******
Former Sabres GM Darcy Regier may not be out of a job for long, as his name has come up in connection with the vacant Assistant GM position with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Brad Treliving left Arizona to become the new GM of the Calgary Flames last week and Regier is linked to current Coyotes GM Don Maloney from his stint as Maloney's assistant with the New York Islanders in the early 1990's.
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario / Western New York area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact… button at the top of the page.*******
For Those on Twitter: Follow @mikeinbuffalo