Bailey's goal streak ends at 7 games for Amerks

All good things must come to an end, even a seven-game goal-scoring streak. Such was the case for Justin Bailey, whose torrid scoring stretch came to an end in a 3-1 loss for the Rochester Americans in Bridgeport on Sunday afternoon.
Bailey scored twice in a 4-3 loss at Providence on Friday and again in a 3-1 win at Hartford on Saturday. The seven-game streak was the longest in the AHL this season, while his streak of eight games with a point was a personal best. He scored 12 points (9+3) in that span dating back to Dec. 16.

A sophomore in the League, Bailey now has 17 goals in 35 games, tied with Nicholas Baptiste for the team lead. He scored 20 goals in 70 games as a rookie last season.
"It was a good run," Bailey said following the team's practice on Tuesday. "I went into Christmas break with a little bit of confidence scoring an overtime goal and then got that call-up right after. I just used that confidence that I'm going to score every game and let that roll into a little seven, eight-game streak."
Let's take a look back at the week that was in Rochester.

Friday: RCH 3 - PRO 4

This one was a heartbreaker, as Bailey scored back-to-back goals to tie the game at 3-3 with 56 seconds remaining in regulation only to see Chris Casto score the game-winning goal for Providence with four seconds left on the clock.
Bailey's goals came just 39 seconds apart after coach Dan Lambert pulled goalie John Muse with the Amerks trailing 3-1. He scored first by cleaning up a rebound off the end boards on a shot by Casey Nelson and then added another with a shot from in front of the net.
Casto scored the winning goal on a loose puck during a net-front scramble in the game's waning seconds. The goal was his first of the season.
With Linus Ullmark in Buffalo, Muse made his fourth start in five games and made 31 saves.
Erik Burgdoerfer scored the only other goal for Rochester, his first as an Amerk. Burgdoerfer also tallied an assist on Bailey's first goal.

Saturday: RCH 3 - HFD 1

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The Amerks trailed 1-0 and had been outshot 14-6 following the first period in Hartford, but the game turned in the second. Daniel Muzito-Bagenda tied the game 9:13 into the period with his sixth goal of the season, tapping in his own rebound after a backhand attempt, while Bailey scored the game-winning goal prior to the second intermission.
Tim Kennedy scored into an empty net to secure the victory with 1:02 remaining in the third period.
Ullmark made 25 saves on 26 shots for his 16th win of the season and his fifth in his last six starts.

Sunday: RCH 1 - BRI 3

Hudson Fasching scored his second goal of the season just 4:54 into the contest to give Rochester an early lead in Bridgeport, but it would be the only time the Amerks would find the back of the net against Sound Tigers goalie Stephon Williams.
Josh Ho-Sang, a first-round pick by the New York Islanders in 2014, scored the game-tying and game-winning goals for Bridgeport in the first and second periods. Former Sabre Steve Bernier added an empty-net goal with eight seconds remaining.
Ullmark took the loss in net, having allowed two goals on 28 shots.

Coming up

The Amerks will return to action at Blue Cross Arena when they host the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday night prior to playing a home-and-home set against the Albany Devils on Friday and Saturday. The game on Friday will be "Hometown Heroes Night" at Blue Cross Arena, and police, fire, EMT, and military personnel are all eligible to receive one complimentary ticket to the game.
More information can be found here.

Scoring leaders

1. Cole Schneider 15G - 23A - 38 PTS
   2. Cal O'Reilly* 8G - 26A - 34 PTS
   3. Justin Bailey 17G - 10A - 27 PTS
   4. Nicholas Baptiste 17G - 9A - 26 PTS
   5. Evan Rodrigues 7G - 17A - 24 PTS

Goaltending leaders

1. Linus Ullmark 16-14-1; 2.92 GAA; .910 SV%
   2. John Muse 2-6-0; 3.21 GAA; .904 SV%
   3. Jason Kasdorf* 0-3-0; 5.75 GAA; .828 SV%
      * Denotes player is not currently on AHL roster