Nathan Lieuwen earned the start in the Rochester net, stopping eight of 11 shots in the opening frame before giving way to Andrey Makarov to start the second period.
Johan Larsson made his return to the Amerks lineup after a brief NHL recall, manning the left wing on a line with Tim Schaller and William Carrier. Taking Carrier's place down the left side on the line with Mikhail Grigorenko and Armia was 24-year old rookie Jordan Samuels-Thomas.
QMJHL product Emile Poirier beat Nathan Lieuwen just 2:30 into the opening period to give the Flames an early 1-0 lead. Poirier took a short pass and got some torque on his stick from the top of the circle to beat Lieuwen cleanly.
Adam got the Amerks even when he pounced on a Jake McCabe rebound in front of Joni Ortio at 6:48. Zac Dalpe kicked the puck back to McCabe at the point for the second assist.
With Nick Petrecki in the box, Boston College alum Bill Arnold (1st star) buried a rebound past Lieuwen from the low slot to put Adirondack up 2-1 at 9:45. The power play goal was Arnold's first of the season.
DING DING. Samuels-Thomas and Mathieu Tousignant squared off for what was essentially a wrestling match at 16:03. The pair earned fighting majors for their tumble to the ice.
With the combatants making their way to their respective dressing rooms, Garnet Hathaway cut to the net from the right side and saw the puck get caught in the skates of Jerome Leduc and end up in the Amerks net for a 3-1 Flames advantage at 16:32.
The Amerks freshened it up by putting Makarov in net to start the second period, but that move backfired when the second-year pro misplayed a puck a behind his own net and couldn't scramble back to make the save just 13 seconds into the action. The goal, Arnold's second of the game, made it a 4-1 Adirondack lead.
With the Amerks working the power play, Adam would get his get his second of the night at 7:02 to halve the Flames' lead when he deflected a nice feed from Phil Varone (3rd star) at the doorstep. Adam's third goal in his last two games gives him a share of the Amerks' points lead with 12 (4+8) in his 13th game. Larsson worked the right point to earn the secondary helper on the play.
With the Amerks working the power play, Adam would get his get his second of the night at 7:02 to halve the Flames' lead when he deflected a nice feed from Phil Varone (3rd star) at the doorstep. Adam's third goal in his last two games gives him a share of the Amerks' points lead with 12 (4+8) in his 13th game. Larsson worked the right point to earn the secondary helper on the play.
The Amerks got one back early in the third period as Joel Armia scored his fifth goal of the year and second while short-handed at 2:28 to make it a 4-3 game. Varone stole a puck just inside the Rochester blue line and broke all the way into the Flames end before sending a backhand pass to a streaking Armia, who scored off the backhand finish. Varone's second helper of the game puts him into a tie with Adam atop the Amerks scoring list.
Makarov put the early gaffe behind him to finish with 16 saves on 17 shots on a night when the Amerks defensive core struggled in their own zone. It was also an off night for Mikhail Grigorenko, who saw his ice time decrease as the game progressed.
Rochester looks to end the funk Friday on home ice when they host division nemesis Toronto.
