Upon Further Review! Wild Win at Rochester
Abols Shootout Goal in 4th Round Caps Crazy Night
January 17, 2025
Rochester, NY – It doesn’t get much weirder than this. After Rochester’s apparent overtime winning goal was overturned due to contact with the goaltender, the Phantoms won in the fourth round of the shootout on an Abols top-shelf shot that was initially ruled to be a crossbar shot. Lehigh Valley’s 3-2 win at the Rochester Americans in the first game of the two-game weekend series was filled with drama and exciting play as well as the officials’ decisions that had the players on both sides wondering whether the game had really ended…or not.
Ethan Samson (7th) and Brendan Furry (4th) shorthanded also scored for the Phantoms on the most interesting of evenings while Parker Gahagen (5-1-1) won his fourth consecutive start with a show-stopping 30-save performance.
Lehigh Valley (19-14-6) improved to five games over .500 for the first time this season and also ran their January record to 6-1-1. But it wasn’t easy. For a hot minute, it looked like the Phantoms had lost in overtime when first-rounder Isak Rosen had pushed it in on an overtime breakaway. But the Phantoms contended that Gahagen’s leg was pushed behind the line as the puck was gliding across. While both teams held their collective breath, the officials conferences and eventually agreed with the Phantoms and reversed their initial ruling. Rosen’s overtime goal would not count and the game would continue.
It also briefly appeared that Rochester (22-10-4) had opened the scoring at 6:40 into the game with Brendan Warren’s blast from the right wing brought the red light and brief celebration. But the shot had actually hit off the post. That one didn’t bring an argument.
Lehigh Valley ended up striking first on a blocked shot that was nudged out to Ethan Samson at the right point who was ready to unload another blast at Devon Levi perfectly connecting with the upper-left corner on the far side.
The Amerks had two power plays in the first period and a couple breakaways thwarted by Gahagen as Lehigh Valley escaped with a 1-0 lead.
More goal-line stops from the Phantoms’ defense kept the Americans away in the second period.
But Rochester finally broke through in the third period on a deflected puck that was shot in from the circle at 8:48 by Josh Dunne (6th) past the shoulder of Gahagen.
The Amerks had the table set to take the lead with their fifth power play of the night but instead a wide shot that came off the boards led to an opportunity for the speedy Brendan Furry who raced up ice along with a Rochester defender. As Levi pivoted to his left awaiting the shot, Furry opted to hang on to possession and carry behind the goal. Now Levi was out of position opening up the chance for Furry to stuff in the backhand wraparound into the open cage for an exciting shorty with just 7:18 left to give the Phantoms a 2-1 lead. Furry is now tied for second in the AHL with three shorthanded goals. All four of his goals this season have been scored on the backhand and none of them have been at 5-on-5.
But Rochester wasn’t done and a backdoor tap-in for Brett Murray with just 56 second remaining at 6-on-5 would even the score at 2-2 and force the game to overtime. It was Lehigh Valley’s league-leading 15th overtime game of the season.
After all of the Isak Rosen breakaway drama in the extra period, the game would eventually progress to a shootout, a first for the Phantoms since October.
Rosen converted in the third round to give Rochester a 1-0 lead but Samu Tuomaala slipped one through Levi on the Phantoms’ last chance to equalize.
Rodrigo Abols scored the winner in the fourth round striking top-shelf past Levi but the officials initially ruled it as no goal believing it had come out off the crossbar.
Here we go again!
This one would be discussed as well and after another review, this time consulting the video, it was determined that the puck had gone in, the goal was good, and the Phantoms escaped with the wacky win.
The Phantoms improved to 9-6 in post-regulation decisions including a league-leading seven overtime wins and two shootout victories. It was Lehigh Valley’s first shootout win since Opening Night on October 12 against Hartford.
This one was just the appetizer! Lehigh Valley and Rochester will rematch on Saturday at PPL Center on Air Products Night including our Children’s Book Donation Drive.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st 15:15 – LV, E. Samson (7) (J. Gaucher) (1-0)
3rd 8:58 – ROC, J. Dunne (6) (N. Ostlund, R. Fiddler-Schultz) (1-1)
3rd 12:42 – LV, B. Furry (4) (Unassisted) (SH) (2-1)
3rd 19:04 – ROC, B. Murray (17) (L. Rousek, J. Rathbone) (6×5) (2-2)
OT – No Scoring
Shootout:
ROC – M. Jobst X, V. Komarov X, Isak Rosen GOAL, K. Helenius X
LV – A. Gendron X, A. Richard X, S. Tuomaala GOAL, R. Abols GOAL
Goaltenders:
LV – P. Gahagen (W) (5-1-1) (30/32)
ROC – D. Levi (SOL) (12-3-2) (30/32)
Records:
Lehigh Valley (19-14-6)
Rochester (21-10-4)
UPCOMING
Saturday, January 18 (7:05) – Rochester Americans at Phantoms – Air Products Night, Children’s Book Donation Drive
Friday, January 24 (7:05) – Springfield Thunderbirds at Phantoms
Saturday, January 25 (7:05) – Bridgeport Islanders at Phantoms – meLVin Youth Jersey Night
Sunday, January 26 (3:05) – Phantoms at W-B/Scranton Penguins
Wednesday, January 29 (7:00) – Phantoms at Bridgeport Islanders
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