Goalie Makarov stellar again as Amerks beat Iowa

• Andrey Makarov stopped 28 shots for his second shutout of the season
• The Russian-born goalie has allowed just five goals in his past four starts
• Brodie Reid%2C Jerry D%27Amigo and Tim Schaller scored goals for the Amerks
• With the victory%2C the Amerks have won back-to-back games for the first time since Oct. 29 and 31

Before the Rochester Americans took the ice to play the Iowa Wild on Friday night, goalie Andrey Makarov made sure he let his American-born teammates know whose country has the superior hockey talent.

Earlier in the afternoon, Russia defeated Team USA 3-2 in the World Junior Championship quarterfinals.

That, of course, gave the Russian-born Makarov bragging rights in the Amerks dressing room.

Amerks winger Jerry D'Amigo, who grew up in the Binghamton suburb of Johnson City, was a prime target of Makarov's chirping.

"I didn't want to get into it with him," said D'Amigo, who won WJC gold with Team USA in 2010. "It was a tough loss."

A couple hours later, they were all hugging in the goal crease.

Makarov turned aside 28 shots and backstopped these Americans to a 3-0 victory over the Iowa Wild in front of 6,332 fans at Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester Community War Memorial.

"I guess all the Russians are feeling good today," Amerks coach Chadd Cassidy said.

Indeed, Makarov has been stellar of late. In his past five starts, he is 3-1 with a 1.26 goals-against average and .956 save percentage. He has allowed just 23 goals in his past 11 starts — never more than three in any game — dating back to Nov. 22.

"He's stepping up at the right time," said left winger Dan Catenacci, who assisted on Brodie Reid's goal 4:51 into the game.

Maybe it was a realization that if he didn't play exceptionally well, the team would be in dire straits since goalie Nathan Lieuwen is hurt. Maybe it was arrival of Matt Hackett that forced him to prove he deserves to keep playing, even when the team's veteran goalie is ready to play.

Whatever the reason for the string of consistent play, it's something the Amerks have needed in goal all season.

Makarov, 21, is doing now what he did in April, when he went 7-0 with a 1.98 GAA and .931 save percentage.

"I don't know if he felt he had to answer the bell but he's really emerged as our No. 1 goalie," defenseman Chad Ruhwedel said. "It all starts with your goalie."

The Amerks actually got going when Reid scored, giving the fourth-year right winger a goal in each of his three games since a Dec. 27 callup from ECHL Elmira.

D'Amigo scored on a semi-breakaway with 1:44 left in the first period, and Makarov kept the score 2-0 until Tim Schaller hit an empty net with 1:20 to play in the game.

"I didn't think we played particularly well but we played well enough to win," Cassidy said.

And considering where the Amerks are sitting in the American Hockey League's Western Conference, they'll take points however they can get them. They are 13th with a 14-19-1 record. Iowa is last at 11-20-1-1.

They're trying to start well each game and continue to build.

"We want to come out fast and hard," D'Amigo said. "We're behind in the standings so we need to come out strong, carry into the second period and keep going."

They were successful against Iowa, in large part because of Makarov. His second shutout, plus the right to brag about Russian hockey, all in one day.

But what if Russia and Canada end up playing for gold at the World Junior Championship on Monday?

"He knows Canada's better," Catenacci said. "I don't need to chirp him."

KEVINO@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/@kevinoDandC

Kevin's 3 stars

1. Andrey Makarov, G, Amerks ... He's making a big-time statement with his big-save play.

2. Chad Ruhwedel, D, Amerks ... Efficient, strong and effective in all three zones.

3. Dan Catenacci, LW, Amerks ... Set up the first goal, played perhaps his best game of the season.