The Rochester Americans invaded First Niagara Center for the second time in the 2012-13 season Friday, riding a pair of Cody Hodgson goals to a 4-1 victory over the Lake Erie Monsters. The five-goal affair was a drastic change from the previous two tilts between the two clubs that each ended with identical 7-6 come-from-behind victories for the Americans.
A record number of fans also invaded First Niagara Center -- 19,070 of them -- to set a new attendance record for the storied Rochester Americans franchise. The crowd was the eighth-largest in American Hockey League history.
Hodgson scored the game's first goal at 14:48 of the opening period while on the five-on-three advantage. The skilled centerman took a Mark Mancari pass down low and slid a forehand along the ice past Sami Aittokallio to give the Amerks a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
Just over two minutes into the second period, Mark Mancari weaved into the zone and unloaded a high-rising wrist shot over Aittokallio's left shoulder to make it a 2-0 game. Hodgson skipped in again five minutes later and slipped a backhand into the net for his second of the game and fifth of the season to put the Amerks ahead 3-0.
Rochester took a 3-1 lead into the third period, but there was no comeback to be had as David Leggio shut the door 13 of his 36 saves in the final frame. Tough guy Nick Tarnasky added some late insurance with a tally at 11:54 to complete the game's scoring.
Rundown:
McNabb: 2A, +2, 2 SOG
Foligno: A, SOG
Brennan: A, 4 SOG
Sundher: +1, SOG
Adam: +1, SOG
Flynn: 2 SOG
Varone: 2 SOG
Crawford: even
Girgensons: SOG
Gauthier-Leduc: 2 SOG
Please visit Amerks.com for their game recap and video highlights.
