Bryan Rodney saved the day for the Canadian All-Stars on Tuesday night.
Representing the Albany River Rats, Rodney blocked a shot by Nathan Gerbe of the hometown Portland Pirates which likely would have been the clinching empty-net goal in the final minute of regulation and the Canadian team completed its comeback by edging PlanetUSA, 10-9 in the American Hockey League All-Star game in Portland, Maine.
River Rats goalie Justin Peters also competed for the Canadian All-Stars, making nine saves on 11 shots faced in the second period.
The Canadian All-Stars trailed 9-5 with on Gerbe’s goal 7:33 into in the third period, but reeled off four unanswered goals to force the shootout.
After Rodney made his game-saving play, Hershey’s Alexandre Giroux scored the tying goal with 17.3 seconds left.
Center Logan Couture of Worcester and P.K. Subban of Hamilton scored in the third and fourth rounds of the shootout, respectively, for Canada, which won the shootout, 2-1.
Hamilton goalie Cedrick Desjardins allowed only two periods in the third period and allowed only one goal in the shootout, as former Rats captain Keith Aucoin of Hershey tallied in the third round.
Rookie Tyler Ennis of Portland, who contributed a goal and two assists for the Canadians, was named the event’s most valuable player.