The Amerks found themselves in an early 1-0 hole after a Philippe Paradis marker just 1:19 in, but Ellis evened the score before the first intermission when he tipped a Jake McCabe shot while on a power play. Mark Pysyk earned the second assist on the tally at 18:20 of the opening period to snap his 10-game point drought.
The second period would again see the teams trade goals, and again it was the Crunch striking first with Yanni Gourde's 12th of the year at 5:29. Six minutes later, Ruhwedel scored for the second straight game when he buried a slap shot off a Brayden Irwin face off win to knot the score 2-2. Ruhwedel now has points in three straight after failing to get on the score sheet in his previous nine.
McCabe completed two thirds of the Gordie Howe hat trick late in the middle frame when he dropped the gloves to take on Paradis after the QMJHL product clipped Allen McPherson from behind in the neutral zone. McCabe, who rang up the second fighting major of his rookie campaign, was also given the instigator and 10-minute misconduct on the play.
Rochester would quickly surrender another early goal to start the third period when Andrey Makarov blocked a shot right into the middle of the ice for an easy Mike Blunden putback at 2:14. This time, though, the Amerks were unable to answer despite some late pressure to lose for the eighth time in their last 10 games.
Rochester gets back to action Friday at home when they take on Adirondack.
WHL
Brycen Martin saw his four-game point streak come to an end as Swift Current got past Saskatoon 5-2. Through 34 games, the left-handed defender has two goals, 15 points and an even rating. The Broncos return to work Saturday versus Regina.
