Sunday Wrap-up: Rochester Punches Ticket to East Division Final in Overtime Thriller Fashion

Photo Credit: Patrick Garriepy

Northeast 4 @ Rochester 5 OT (Rochester wins series 3-2) - In a win-or-go-home contest, the two East Division teams were battling it out for the East Division Finals spot. The contest kicked off with Northeast striking first in the opening period, as Cole McKenna found the twine from the point late in the period. The scoring would pick back up in the middle frame as Rochester would score a trio of goals for the Jr. Americans. Lighting the lamp first was Ryan Flaherty off of a feed from Sam Schulte. Following him by a little over two minutes was Konner Powell, scoring his second of the postseason. Less than a minute later, Adam Gionta would continue his scoring ways and show up on the scoresheet for the fourth time in the playoffs. The Generals would not bow down in the frame as they scored two goals to even the scoreboard. Andrew Gibbons lights the lamp with 6:10 to spare in the middle frame. Following him was the captain, Mikey Bartkowski, finding twine to level the score. In the final frame, Rochester would strike first, taking the lead in the last 20 minutes of regulation. However, Northeast’s Logan Poulin scored in the final few minutes of the game to force the contest into overtime. As both teams traded chances in the final frame, it would be Colin Dustin sealing the game-winner for the Jr. Americans. Rochester heads to take on the Maryland Black Bears in the Division Finals.