Americans’ Taylor reaches milestone

Chris Taylor became the newest member of an exclusive AHL club during the Rochester Americans’ 5-4 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday night.

Taylor’s third-period goal was his second point of the game and the 500th point of his AHL career, making him just the 80th player in the 74-year history of the American Hockey League to reach that plateau.

The 37-year-old Taylor has recorded 154 goals and 346 assists in 535 career AHL games, played with Rochester (1999-2006, 09-10), the Providence Bruins (1998-99) and the Capital District Islanders (1992-93).

The 18-year pro has also skated in 149 games in the National Hockey League with Buffalo, Boston and the N.Y. Islanders.

Taylor was the recipient of the AHL’s Fred T. Hunt Award for sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey in 2004-05.

He is the fifth player to reach the 500-point milestone this season alone, following Trent Whitfield, Alexandre Giroux, Bryan Helmer and Jason Krog.