Just when you thought the rivalry between the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch and the Rochester Americans couldn’t get any hotter, that’s exactly what happened.
Matched up in the North Division Semifinal for the second-straight postseason, the Crunch came looking for revenge and for a moment, it looked as if they’d found it. Entering Saturday’s Game 4 with a 2-1 series edge and leading 3-0 entering the third period, Syracuse had its arch-rival down and out. However, akin to last year, the Americans showcased their trademark resilience and pulled off a stirring four-goal comeback to win in overtime and force another Game 5.
Yet Another Rochester Rally
After the Americans roared back from an 0-2 series deficit to defeat the Crunch in five games in last year’s North Division Semifinal, it seemed as if the bar had been set and there was no way it was going to be surpassed, but the rematch somehow has. The teams traded the first two games this time around and the Crunch took the lead after a 2-1 double-overtime victory in Game 3.
Though they were already against the wall in Game 4, the Amerks were in even direr of straights down by three entering the final period. But just like last season, they refused to go down and fought their way back. As he has been so many times before, the hero for Rochester was Brandon Biro, as the Americans’ centerpiece scored 19 seconds in to finally get his team some momentum. Youngstown, NY native Joe Cecconi drove to the net and scored to cut the lead to one halfway through the period and then Biro struck again to knot it at three with 5:12 remaining.
Not intent on being denied after such a stirring rally, Brett Murray finished the job 11:46 into overtime to stun the crowd at Syracuse’s Upstate Medical University Arena and send the series back to Rochester for a fifth game. Given the circumstances, it was one of the most impressive single-game comebacks in AHL postseason history and puts the momentum squarely on the Americans’ side entering Game 5 this Friday.
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Rochester’s offense came through after being held in check in Game 3, but that wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for the man in goal. Devon Levi has been stellar in his introduction to professional playoff hockey and it would be difficult to put either of the Americans’ losses on him. He’s played to a 2.25…
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