Extra time doesn't pay for Amerks

JAMIE GERMANO Rochester's Milan Bartovic screens Albany's Scott Clemmensen, who still makes the save.

By Kevin Oklobzija
Democrat and Chronicle

(Saturday, February 2, 2002) -- It may be time for someone to let the Rochester Americans and Albany River Rats in on what really isn't a secret -- you don't get paid overtime for going to overtime.

"I wish we did," Amerks goalie Tom Askey said after Friday's 1-1 tie in front of 8,280 fans at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial, the 18th time in 48 games that the Amerks have gone to overtime.

Albany's Richard Rochefort scored in the game's first minute, Amerks defenseman Henrik Tallinder tied the score late in the second period, then neither team could find the net again.

Thus, the Amerks maintain the American Hockey League's best extra-session record (5-1-12) while Albany's overtime record goes to 2-7-8.

"When we're four-on-four, we're an awesome team," said Askey, who faced only 14 shots but made a clutch save with his left skate 20 seconds into overtime on Joel Bouchard's slap shot. "We're a great overtime team."

They certainly were Friday, peppering rookie goalie Scott Clemmensen with five shots on goal while another four shots sailed wide or high. That followed a 14-shot third period.

Tallinder was all set to be the hero 2:50 into overtime but shot wide off a perfect setup by Ales Kotalik.

"It's pretty simple -- you can't score if you don't hit the net," he said.

Sometimes misses can be entertaining, however. Francois Methot unloaded a slap shot from the Amerks side of center as the final buzzer sounded and it cleared the net and end glass, essentially splitting the uprights like a field goal.

"It would have been 50-yarder for sure," Methot joked. "I couldn't believe I could even do that."

In tying for the 12th time, the Amerks proved they love overtime. With just one loss in 18 overtime games, some would say they might be a better team if they opened it up during regulation.

"Maybe we just play more desperate in overtime," right winger Christian Matte said. "If we played the same way we do in overtime, we might be in first place in the league."

The Amerks remain 10th in the Western Conference, which means they hold the final playoff spot. They're 16-20-12 with 45 points, one more than Hershey.

Albany is in even worse shape when it comes to the playoffs. The Rats have the second-worst record in the 27-team AHL (10-29-8) and entered the game 15 points out of a playoff spot.

They started strong Friday as Rochefort scored just 46 seconds into the game. Well, he was given credit for the goal, anyway. Askey stopped his rebound shot but the puck bounced out a couple feet, hit Matte's skate and caromed back into the net.

"I'm skating back and it's another bad bounce," Matte said.

Luck didn't play favorites, though. Tallinder scored his second goal -- both have been against Albany -- when Clemmensen looked worse with the glove than former Rochester Red Wings first baseman Calvin Pickering.

He failed in his attempt to grab Tallinder's head-high wrist shot from the left point, and the puck plopped into the crease and bounced over the goal line.

"I just tried to hit the net," Tallinder said. "Sometimes you get lucky."