Amerks Update

Rochester Report: Week 4

Robert Janish, Jr.
Robert Janish, Jr.

After a difficult performance the week prior in which they lost both games to Cleveland and Utica, Rochester needed to perform better as a team and earn some crucial wins early in the year. Playing Hershey at home, then facing Syracuse and Springfield on the road can hopefully build some chemistry for this team and hopefully lead to more success as the season goes on.

#Top ScorersGPGoalsAssistsPoints
39J.S. Dea57152439
17Sean Malone58121830
22Zach Redmond5952530
15Andrew Oglevie55151429
19C.J. Smith50121527

October 23: vs. Hershey (W 5-1)

Entering with a two-game losing streak, the Amerks were looking for a win on home ice. While the opening period provided no goals, Rochester held a 10-9 edge in shots after the first. Rochester took command in the second and never looked back, scoring three goals in the period from Kevin Porter (2) on the power play, Sean Malone (1) and Scott Wilson (2). With an assist on Malone’s goal, Tage Thompson continued his hot start with seven points in eight games. As they continued to hold Hershey in check, C.J. Smith gave Rochester a four-goal lead with his second of the year and included the first assists from Andrew Ogelvie and Lawrence Pilut on the year.




However, Rochester gave up a short-handed goal from Axel Jonsson-Fjallby to put Hershey on the board. Under a minute left in the game, Brett Murray scored his first goal in the pros and sealed Rochester’s 5-1 win. In his first win of the year, Jonas Johansson saved 19 of 20 shots faced and was the second star of the game, as the Amerks ended their quick skid.

October 26: @ Syracuse (W 7-6/OT)

After winning their season opener against Syracuse, Rochester faced the Crunch for their second meeting of the year. This game was as back and forth as a hockey game could get, with 13 goals scored and 52 shots on goal between the two teams. Both first-period goals were scored on the power play, with Gemel Smith and Curtis Lazar each getting their first goals on the season, and resulted in the game tied after 20 minutes. The next two periods were filled with scoring, as both teams scored five goals apiece. Boris Katchouk scored under five minutes into the second period, giving Syracuse a 2-1 lead, and the Amerks responded with Casey Fitzgerald scoring his first goal as a pro, and Sean Malone (2) scoring 21 seconds apart to give their team the lead.

Ben Thomas and Cory Conacher’s goals for the Crunch resulted in a 4-3 Syracuse lead after two.  Just ten seconds into the third, Jean-Sebastian Dea (3) scores his first of two goals in the period to tie the game, only to have Alex Barre-Boulet and Gemel Smith gave Syracuse a 6-4, and Andrew Hammond was pulled from the game.

Curtis Lazar (2) at 13:15,  and Dea (4), with 13 seconds left, forced OT.




With 41 seconds remaining in OT, Lawrence Pilut scores his first of the year after returning from injury to win the game for the Amerks.

Lazar, with 5 points (2+3) and Pilut with 3 (2+1) were the second and third stars of the game as they got their second win this season against the Crunch.

October 27: @ Springfield (L 2-1/OT)

Like their game last night, Rochester and Springfield are meeting for the second time this year, with the Amerks winning their first matchup. Unlike the previous day when it took Rochester seven goals to win, this game saw 87 shots combined, but only three found the back of the net. Chris Driedger had a stellar outing for Springfield, which included stopping all 26 shots faced in the first period. Tage Thompson, the Amerks leading scorer, opened the scoring with his fourth of the year, just 55 seconds into the second period and that was enough to give them a 1-0 lead heading into the final period.

However, when Springfield goes on the power play due to a tripping penalty on Fitzgerald, Paul Thompson tied the game with under nine minutes left in regulation. For the second straight game, Rochester headed to overtime, but with over a minute to play, Henrik Borgstrom scored the game-winner for Springfield on the power play, and the Amerks suffered a tough loss on the road. After coming in relief last game, Jonas Johansson made the start, making 35 saves in the loss.

After earning 5 points in 3 games this past week, Rochester will begin the upcoming week with two home games on back-to-back nights, hosting Providence and Binghamton before traveling to Utica once again. Providence earned the 3-2 win in their prior meeting, and Utica was dominant in a 7-1 win on October 9. Friday’s game against Binghamton will be the first game between the two teams this season and their response from losses in their first meetings, and how they play against a new opponent can continue to build their momentum.

DateOpponentTime/Result
10/04/19vs. Syracuse CrunchW 3-2 (OT)
10/11/19@ Springfield ThunderbirdsW 2-1
10/12/19@ Providence BruinsL 3-2
10/13/19@ Hartford Wolf PackW 3-2 (SO)
10/18/19vs. Cleveland MonstersL 4-3 (SO)
10/19/19@ Utica CometsL 7-1
10/23/19vs. Hershey BearsW 5-1
10/26/19@ Syracuse CrunchW 7-6 (OT)
10/27/19@ Springfield ThunderbirdsL 2-1 (OT)
10/30/19vs. Providence BruinsL 4-3
11/01/19vs. Binghamton DevilsW 4-2
11/02/19@ Utica CometsW 6-0
11/08/19vs. Binghamton DevilsL 4-3 (SO)
11/13/19vs. Syracuse CrunchW 4-3
11/15/19vs. Cleveland MonstersW 4-3 (OT)
11/16/19@ Utica CometsW 4-3
11/22/19vs. Hartford Wolf PackW 4-0
11/23/19@ Binghamton DevilsW 4-2
11/29/19vs. Toronto MarliesL 3-2 (OT)
11/30/19@ Cleveland MonstersW 3-2
12/04/19vs. Toronto MarliesW 4-0
12/06/19vs. Charlotte CheckersW 4-0
12/07/19vs. Charlotte CheckersL 3-1
12/11/19vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsW 4-2
12/13/19@ Laval RocketW 3-2
12/14/19@ Laval RocketW 5-0
12/18/19@ Binghamton DevilsL 2-1
12/20/19vs. Binghamton DevilsW 3-0
12/21/19vs. Utica CometsW 4-3
12/27/19vs. Belleville SenatorsW 4-3
12/28/19@ Binghamton DevilsL 2-0
12/31/19@ Utica CometsL 3-2
01/03/20@ Belleville SenatorsW 4-3 (OT)
01/04/20@ Toronto MarliesL 5-2
01/08/20vs. Binghamton DevilsL 4-3 (SO)
01/10/20vs. Belleville SenatorsL 5-1
01/11/20@ Syracuse CrunchL 5-4
01/17/20vs. Cleveland MonstersL 4-3 (SO)
01/18/20@ Lehigh Valley PhantomsL 4-0
01/19/20@ Hershey BearsL 4-1
01/22/20@ Cleveland MonstersW 3-2 (OT)
01/24/20vs. Laval RocketW 5-2
01/25/20@ Syracuse CrunchW 3-2
01/31/20vs. Syracuse CrunchW 4-2
02/01/20@ Binghamton DevilsW 3-2
02/05/20@ Cleveland MonstersW 4-2
02/07/20vs. Syracuse CrunchL 5-2
02/08/20@ Toronto MarliesL 4-0
02/11/20@ Charlotte CheckersL 4-2
02/12/20@ Charlotte CheckersL 5-2
02/15/20@ Syracuse CrunchW 4-3 (SO)
02/16/20vs. Utica CometsW 3-2
02/19/20vs. Belleville SenatorsL 3-2 (OT)
02/21/20vs. Lehigh Valley PhantomsW 3-2 (OT)
02/22/20vs. Cleveland MonstersL 3-2 (OT)
02/26/20vs. Utica CometsL 3-2 (SO)
02/28/20vs. Laval RocketW 4-2
02/29/20@ Syracuse CrunchL 4-2
03/04/20vs. Utica CometsL 3-1
03/06/20@ Belleville SenatorsW 5-3
03/07/20@ Belleville SenatorsW 4-2
03/11/20vs. Binghamton DevilsL 5-2
03/13/20vs. Syracuse Crunch7:05 PM
03/15/20@ Cleveland Monsters3:00 PM
03/17/20@ Toronto Marlies1:30 PM
03/20/20vs. Springfield Thunderbirds7:05 PM
03/21/20vs. Springfield Thunderbirds7:05 PM
03/25/20vs. Toronto Marlies7:05 PM
03/28/20@ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins7:05 PM
03/29/20@ Bridgeport Sound Tigers3:00 PM
04/01/20vs. Utica Comets7:05 PM
04/03/20vs. Syracuse Crunch7:05 PM
04/04/20@ Syracuse Crunch7:00 PM
04/08/20@ Utica Comets7:00 PM
04/10/20vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers7:05 PM
04/11/20@ Binghamton Devils7:05 PM




Robert Janish, Jr.
Robert Janish, Jr.
One of the most memorable Sabres games I ever attended was the line brawl against the Senators, which Buffalo won in a shootout, 6-5. I can't wait for the day when playoff hockey returns to Buffalo. I graduated with a Masters in Sport Administration, and a Bachelor's in Political Science & Communication Studies from Canisius College.
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