For Davidson and the Amerks, winning ugly never felt so good

By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA

The schedule says it’s only February, but Rochester Americans coach Seth Appert would like to believe Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins was really a look into the future.

One, because veteran defenseman Brandon Davidson was back in the lineup, and two, because the Amerks, who previously were winning only by means of their elite offense, found a way to win a defend-the-house game.

They did so with Aaron Dell’s big-save goaltending, attention to defensive zone details and Ethan Prow’s game-winning goal off a two-on-one fast break with JJ Peterka 7:01 into the third period.

Not that they’ve given up their run-and-gun tactics. But when key components such as Jack Quinn, Peyton Krebs, Sean Malone, Mark Jankowski and Ryan MacInnis are either on recall to the parent Buffalo Sabres or out with injury, the style of play changes dramatically.

It becomes more of a lockdown M.O.

“Although that sometime isn’t always fun, especially for the younger forwards, that’s winning hockey and that’s also how you win at the hardest times of the year,” Appert said. “This is how we need to play now but it’s also good preparation and a learning curve for later in the season.”

It’s a little easier to play that style when one of the top defensemen on the roster returns to the lineup. Davidson has been out since early November with a neck injury, which he suffered in practice. He had played only eight games before he was injured, and the recovery was arduous.

“He’s just such a great human, such a great teammate, and it was hard to watch him have to go through what he’s gone through, more emotionally than physically,” Appert said. “His teammates and our staff are just so happy for him, that he’s back doing what he loves to do. That was really fun to see.”

They didn’t ease him back into the lineup, either. They gave him top minutes and had him on the ice in the final 90 seconds as the Amerks protected a one-goal lead.

And what’s he do? He blocks Juuso Riikola’s slap shot with a minute remaining, preventing what may have been a goal.

“I got back to the bench and the trainers asked me if I was OK and I said, it never felt so good,” Davidson said.

Said Appert: He’s a true warrior. He’s all about team, he’s all about winning.”

There were times when Davidson knew he had missed considerable time.

“I definitely was breathing pretty heavy,” he said. “There’s just no way to replicate the physical part of a hockey game.”

But he had been determined to get back, to join his teammates in their battle to stay near or reach the top of the American Hockey League’s North Division.

“I pushed the envelope every single day,” Davidson said. “As soon as I felt a little bit better I asked for more than I could probably chew off. I had a little bit of doubt moving forward. The injury that I had was a tough one. It was touch and go the whole way, even a few days ago, but we did the check-off boxes with our medical staff, and we finally determined I was ready to play tonight.”

That crew with strength and conditioning coach Nick Craven and head athletic trainer Michael Dhesse deserved a big assist, according to Appert.

“For him to look as good as he did tonight and be in that kind of shape and be able to play that kind of minutes is a real credit to our crew behind the scenes and how they work our guys and take care of our guys,” Appert said.

Rochester actually fell behind just 69 seconds into the game, when former Amerk Alex Nylander set up Pierre-Olivier Joseph off a two-on-one.

Brett Murray tied it 6:55 into the second period, jamming home the rebound of an Arttu Ruotsalainen shot.

The scored didn’t change until 7:01 of the third, when Prow led a breakout from the Amerks zone before passing to newcomer Ben Holmstrom in the neutral zone.

Holmstrom chipped the puck ahead to Peterka on the right wing and Prow barreled forward to create the two-on-one and converted Peterka’s pass from the left of the slot.

It was the type of play coaches envision winning tight games, and the type of play they hope their own team doesn’t give up.

“It’s 1-1, they’re playing good hockey, they have a nice lineup right now, they’re physical, they’re hard to play against and chances are hard to come by,” Appert said of the Penguins. “Do you get frustrated and cheat and then give them easy offense? Or do you stay the course and find a way to win an ugly game? And then make a big play when the game presents itself, and that’s what we did.”

The longest recruiting effort in history

When Ben Holmstrom was 16 and playing youth hockey in Colorado Springs, colleges were on the recruiting trail. That included Appert, then an assistant coach at the University of Denver.

Holmstrom chose U-Mass Lowell.

Now, 18 years later, Holmstrom and Appert are finally on the same team. Holmstrom, a 13-year veteran of pro hockey, was called up from South Carolina of the ECHL and made his Amerks debut on Wednesday.

“Seth’s been trying to get me to play for him for a long time. He finally got me at 34,” Holmstrom joked.

Said Appert: “He gave us tonight why we went and got him. He’s a center, he’s really smart and he’s hard and physical. He just felt like he gave us a stable presence, and he made a really good play to help us get the game-winner.”