Written by: Rory McGouran
Photo: Patrick Garriepy

The Generals will return home to the Canton Ice House on Thursday night for Game 3 of the best-of-5 series, needing to win three straight games to keep their season alive in the East Conference Semi Finals with the Rochester Jr Americans.

The Generals lost Games 1 and 2 in Rochester on April 17th and 18th, starting with an overtime 4-3 defeat on Friday.

Friday’s game was leaps and bounds more competitive, with three different lead changes, and neither team leading by more than a single goal.

Following Braydon Hudtloff’s second-period goal, his first career goal in the playoffs, the Generals overcame a 2-1 deficit in the third period with goals from Mikey Bartkowski and Rich Rucireto to take a 3-2 lead. Rochester’s Adam Gionta finished with three points, including the game-tying goal with six minutes left in the final frame.

Overtime was needed for the first time in the postseason, where defenseman Logan Keup beat Will Mizenko through a screen to give Rochester a 1-0 series lead.

Mizenko stopped 29 of 33 with the Generals outshooting Rochester 44-33.

Saturday’s game, unfortunately, featured very little jam from the Generals. They were unable to sustain much offensive pressure, generated very few high-danger scoring opportunities, and couldn’t engage on their usual tenacious forecheck. When finding the net, they ran into Florian Wade, who stopped all 30 shots faced to lead the Jr. Americans to a 3-0 shutout victory. Matthew Portz, Ryan Flaherty, and Lukas Bellinger provided the Americans’ offence.

Mizenko’s game was a bright spot, stopping 32 of 34, but the offense struggled to support their workhorse goaltender.

Down 2-0 in the best-of-five series, the Generals will need to win out the rest of the way to advance to the Eastern Finals. This won’t be the first time in a do-or-die situation, however, and certainly doesn’t limit their belief. The Generals had their backs against the wall against the Maine Nordiques in Round One. After losing the opening game, the Generals defeated the Nordiques on back-to-back nights to advance to the Semis.

The Canton Ice House puck drop for Game 3 is at 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 23. Game 4, if necessary, is scheduled for 7:00 pm on Friday.