With a pair of quick first-period goals and a 20-save effort from veteran goaltender Andrew Hammond, the Rochester Americans (14-3-2-2) opened the final month of the calendar year on Wednesday with a 4-0 shutout win over the Toronto Marlies (15-4-2-1) at The Blue Cross Arena. The matchup was the first of a season-long four-game homestand and second between Rochester and Toronto in a five-day span.
The win pushed the Amerks’ point streak to 11 games (9-0-1-1), their first since an 11-game run from Oct. 12 to Nov. 10 during the 2009-10 season. Additionally, Rochester has now picked up points in 16 of the last 18 contests overall, going 12-2-2-2 over that span, while also earning 32 out of a possible 42 points through their first 21 contests of the campaign.
Curtis Lazar and Casey Fitzgerald both recorded their second and third multi-point games of the season, respectively, with a goal and an assist each. Zach Redmond opened the scoring on the night with his third of year while second-year forward Pascal Aquin netted his first career AHL goal. Hammond (8-1-2), who appeared in his 200th pro game, picked up his first point as an Amerk while earning his third shutout of the season. More impressively, in his last seven starts, Hammond has posted five wins, three shutouts, a 1.32 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage.
AMERKS WIN???
FACTS:
▪️11 game point streak
▪️5-0-1-1 in our last 7 home games
▪️@andrewhammond30 3rd shutout of the season pic.twitter.com/i2odvaFWVn— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) December 5, 2019
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
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