By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
The All-Star break can’t get here soon enough for the Rochester Americans.
Within shouting distance of the first-place Toronto Marlies coming out of the holiday season, the Amerks endured a January nose-dive and now find themselves 17 points from the top and in fourth place, just one point ahead of fifth-place Laval.
The slump was punctuated by back-to-back weekend losses on home ice to the Charlotte Checkers, with Saturday’s 5-3 setback the eighth in the past 11 games (3-7-1-0).
“We just have to try to be better,” said 18-year-old rookie Jiri Kulich, who assisted on a pair of Amerks goals.
Too often on the weekend they were in chase mode, with the quick-to-attack Checkers capitalizing over and over on giveaways.
“They have a great lineup right now so they have weapons everywhere,” Amerks coach Seth Appert said. “They’ve got a heckuva team and when you turn pucks over they’re going in the other direction quick.”
The Checkers also do what the Amerks do not do often enough: they shoot the puck. They outshot the Amerks 40-23 on Saturday and erased 1-0 and 3-2 deficit before pulling away in the third period.
“We like to say shooting puts you in chaos,” Appert said. “You shoot, you can put the other team in chaos. It’s hard to predict where the rebound is going to go and then you get teams spinning.”
The Amerks, however, look for the perfect pass – but don’t complete it often enough.
“The second period alone we passed up seven pretty decent looks and probably three high-end looks,” Appert said. “We have too many guys that too often look to pass in those situations.”
Brett Murray’s tip-in of a Kulich shot on a power play at 4:05 of the first period put the Amerks ahead, though they came out of the period ahead only because of goalie Malcolm Subban. He stopped all 17 shots, and several with on great scoring chances.
The Amerks fell behind 2-1 in the second period but used a quick-strike attack to regain the lead.
Anders Bjork scored at 15:42 off a give-and-go fast break with Lukas Rousek, then Mason Jobst made it 3-2 at 16:51, firing home a perfect drop pass in the slot by Kulich.
But the Amerks, as has been their M.O., couldn’t protect that lead in the third period. A needless offensive-zone tripping penalty by Filip Cederqvist put the Checkers on the power play and Zac Dalpe converted at 6:25.
Then a misplay behind the net by Amerks defenseman Chase Priskie led to Justin Sourdif’s goal at 8:52 and 4-3 Charlotte lead.
The score didn’t change until Calle Sjalin’s 120-foot clearing try veered into an empty net with 1:25 remaining.
The Amerks play in Belleville Thursday and Saturday, then are off for the All-Star break and return to the ice to play Springfield at home on Feb. 10.
Coach Appert certainly praised the opponent to the max…but he also said something that can’t be ignored about his team…they don’t shoot enough. What did Gretzky always say…something to the effect that every shot you don’t take is a goal you don’t get. Is it a confidence thing? Or is it a talent thing? Frankly the two weekend games were pathetic.
While the team has a lot of real young kids trying to learn the pro game, during this latest skid the key guys have not pulled their weight. Mersch, Malone, Murray, Weissbach and Biro have combined for nearly nothing over the past 7 to 10 games…1 or 2 goals and few assists. That just can’t happen. Murray got a goal last night but the others have been missing in action.
Leaders have to lead and its not happening with this team. Their play on home ice has been dismal. They lost for the 5th time when leading after 2 periods. Frankly it seems like more. Fans have been surprisingly patient with this team but the reality of missing the playoff cut will soon set in if the ship isnt righted soon.
Amerks squeezed a win Wednesday and totally wasted the two weekend games. Time for a reset? No one wants to ever admit that their team just isn’t very good; that it lacks the talent to compete; that is doesn’t have the right mix of players; that there is no chemistry. But maybe thats this season’s Amerks…so far. All I know is that watching them struggle game in and game out hasn’t been much fun. After last year’s gallant playoff run, I was hoping for more. The HOF night only made me miss those years even more when the team was really exciting to watch.
With the Sabres knocking on the door of a wildcard, we sure don’t expect much help from them going forward. I understand that. But still…….