(Utica) Arttu Ruotsalainen and Sean Malone scored early in the third period as the Rochester Americans edged the Utica Comets 4-2 on Thursday in the final game of their North Division semifinal.
Posted yesterday at 9:32 p.m.
The Americans, school club of the Buffalo Sabres, won the series 3-2 and they will face the Laval Rocket, affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens, in the North Section final. The series will get under way on Sunday at Place Bell.
Casey Fitzgerald had a goal and an assist, while Mark Jankowski provided an empty-net insurance goal for the Americans. Lukas Rousek had two assists and Aaron Dell made 19 saves.
Swedish prospects Fabian Zetterlund and Alexander Holtz replied for the Comets, a New Jersey Devils farm club. Nico Daws stopped 24 shots.
The Americans and the Rocket shared the honors in their eight-game seasonal series.