ROCHESTER, NY – Geoff Walker’s overtime goal propelled the league-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins past the Amerks 4-3 tonight at the Mohegan Sun Arena AT Casey Plaza. With the victory, the Pens upped their point total to 111 (55-20-0-1) and also secured the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the 2010-11 regular season points champion. The Amerks suffered their eight loss in the past nine games, dropping to 31-36-5-4 overall. Chris Taylor (1+1) and Jeff LoVecchio (1+1) led the Amerks offensively, each contributing two points in the losing effort. Bill Thomas (1+0) also scored for Rochester, while Marc Cheverie turned aside 40 of 44 shots between the pipes in his fifth straight start. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton was powered by Zach Sill (1+2), Andrew Hutchinson (1+1), and Corey Potter (1+1), each of whom had multi-point contests. Walker (1+0) scored the other lone goal in the victory and John Curry made 24 saves. The Penguins struck first in the contest at 4:35 of the opening period, as defenseman Potter netted his sixth of the season. Assisting on the play were Sill and recently-added forward Paul Thompson. The Amerks responded less than four minutes later as veteran forward Taylor’s goal total reached double digits with his 10th of the year. Patrick Rissmiller, fresh off a stint with the Panthers, continued his torrent play with an assist on the tally. The 32 year-old has picked up at least a point in each game with Rochester since being acquired at the NHL trade deadline. LoVecchio also factored in with the secondary assist. The first period came to a close with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton doubling Rochester’s shot output, 14-7. Cheverie continued to build off his strong performance last night against Manitoba between the pipes, denying the Pens of finding twine on many quality scoring opportunities. Despite being outshot 14-9 in the middle frame, the Amerks escaped with a one-goal lead, tallying their second goal of the night with the man-advantage at the 19:26 mark. Thomas finished off a combination with Taylor and Mark Cullen for his 16th goal of the season, his fourth goal in six games. The Pens opened the third period with a pair of quick goals within the first five minutes. Hutchinson potted his seventh of the season, with Sill following up with his 11th and third point of the night. Just over a minute later, however, Rochester regained momentum and knotted things up at three at 6:36 as Lovecchio scored his eighth of the year from Adam Comrie and Jordan Knackstedt. After back and forth play throughout overtime, Walker gave the Penguins the victory with just under two minutes remaining, set up by blueliners Potter and Carl Sneep. The Amerks return to action Monday, April 4th as they travel to the Glens Falls Civic Center to do battle with the Adirondack Phantoms.
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