Rochester scored twice on the power play and once shorthanded and took a 1-0 lead in the North Division finals with a 4-3 win at Toronto on Thursday evening.
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is set for Saturday afternoon.
Nick Abruzzese put the Marlies on the board first 3:04 into the game, but the Amerks responded with four straight goals, including a shorthanded tally from Kohen Olischefski and power-play markers from Isak Rosen and Jiri Kulich.
Brett Murray tacked on a goal and an assist for the Amerks, and Malcolm Subban made 20 saves in the win, Rochester’s fourth in a row after losing the first two games of their division semifinal series vs. Syracuse. In addition to their three special-teams goals, the Amerks went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Logan Shaw assisted on all three goals for Toronto.
North Division Finals (best-of-5)
N1-Toronto Marlies vs. N3-Rochester Americans
Game 1 – Thu., May 11 – Rochester 4, TORONTO 3
Game 2 – Sat., May 13 – Rochester at Toronto, 4:00
Game 3 – Wed., May 17 – Toronto at Rochester, 7:05
*Game 4 – Fri., May 19 – Toronto at Rochester, 7:05
*Game 5 – Sun., May 21 – Rochester at Toronto, 4:00
*if necessary… All times Eastern
