By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
Remember how, early in the season, the Rochester Americans were able to play some on-ice razzle-dazzle all night long?
How they would go from defending to the attack in the blink of an eye and produce goal after goal on the rush?
How in the first 17 games they scored four or more goals nine times and reached their high-water mark of five games over .500 at 10-5-1-1 by Nov. 25?
Those are becoming distant memories, as a 4-0 home loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds proved on Friday night.
The Amerks have won just two of their past 10 games (2-7-1-0) and have been outscored 41-24 over that span. They have nine regulation losses since Jan. 4, which is the same number they had from October through December.
Back in early January, they were talking about hunting down North Division-leading Toronto. Now they’re a lightyear behind, trailing by 18 points and in fifth place with 30 games to play.
So what happened? Actually, it’s what hasn’t happened. There aren’t enough players committed to getting to areas of the ice where it’s difficult to play, like the front of the net, coach Seth Appert said.
“We need more forwards that want to get to the inside. It gets harder to score in January, February, March, April if you want to keep playing in May,” Appert said. “It’s hard to score this time of year. We need more forwards more consistently more willing to pay the price to get there.”
The problem isn’t stature, either. Big guys, little guys, it doesn’t matter; everyone can show desire, he said.
“Nobody cares about your size; nobody gives a crap,” he said. “The American League and the NHL doesn’t care about your genetics, they care about your will and your ability to do things.
“So you either find a way if you’re undersized, whether you’re an older player or a younger player, or we replace you with somebody that does.”
The Amerks did create scoring chances, especially in the second period. They just didn’t shoot nearly enough, and if there were rebounds, they didn’t get to them.
Appert said he liked everything about their play in the second period, except the execution when they created three-on-ones and four-on-twos.
“Most didn’t result in a shot on goal,” he lamented.
The first period was scoreless, largely because of Amerks goalie Malcolm Subban. He stopped all 11 shots, and then made three more terrific saves in the first three minutes of the second period to keep it 0-0.
Matthew Peca finally broke through with a goal at 10:30, then Brady Lyle scored on a wrap-around at 16:55 to give Springfield a 2-0 lead.
The two third-period goals were scored into empty nets in the final 2:14.
“We played good enough team defense to win tonight,” Appert said. “We’re getting better defensively, that’s a good sign. We have to have more guys consistently willing to get to hard areas to score.”
While the slide has been frustrating, defenseman Ethan Prow said confidence is still strong.
“We’re still building,” Prow said. “We’re not going to hit the panic button. When we’re playing at our best, we’re a hard team to beat.”
Lasting tribute to Stevens
Broadcaster Don Stevens, who is in his 37th season calling Amerks games on the radio (and TV), was honored after the first period with the surprise unveiling of new signage at the arena proclaiming the media suite as the Don Stevens Press Box.
After crisscrossing the Midwest and West Coast for two decades, Stevens arrived in Rochester in the summer of 1986 to call Amerks games. He has been here ever since and called his 3,000th game for the organization in November.
Stevens, 74, began his broadcasting career in Grand Island, Neb., in 1969 and on the way to Rochester made stops in Denver; Sioux City, Iowa; Grand Forks, N.D.; San Diego; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
“Don has been a staple of Amerks hockey for nearly four decades and this is a tremendous testament for everything he has done for not only the organization, but the entire Rochester community,” Rob Minter, vice president of business operations for the Amerks, said. “Don’s distinct and iconic call has been synonymous with some of the most memorable moments in team history and his impact on the organization is one that cannot be measured.”
Somehow the organization managed to keep the unveiling a secret to Stevens, and he was flabbergasted when a tribute played on the video board before the signage was revealed during the first intermission.
“Surprised would be an understatement,” he said.
Said Appert: “What a tremendous honor; over 3,000 games … just a true legend in the American Hockey League and in Rochester and just a great person who has given so much to this organization.”
Donnie Stevens deserved a lot better on a night that honored his 37 years of accomplishments as Amerks broadcaster extraordinaire. He never got to even call ONE goal for the good guys last night.
‘when we’re playing at our best we are a hard team to beat’ said Prow. Uh, when is that going to happen? Amerks have not played anywhere near their best in weeks. Yet again, their top 6 scorers were MIA…they aren’t producing and the Amerks aren’t winning. Coach liked the 2nd period–except for the execution. OK, except without execution you dont score goals and you don’t win games…SO, what was to like again??
For the umpteenth time Amerks probably played hard for maybe 20 minutes. Hardly enough. The Thunderbirds controlled most the game. Amerks were loathe to shoot the puck. Always giving the opponent just enough time to defend. Wide open nets were missed. Players out of position. One puck bounced high in the crease and landed ON the goal line. Another time a rebound trickled about an inch from the goalpost…untouched.
For the umpteenth time Appert pulled is goalie very early and predictably ENG’s resulted. Clearly that strategy is not in the Amerks playbook because it hasn’t worked all season. They don’t know how to play 6 on 5 hockey. It was embarrassing to see an empty netter scored when Amerks had a 6 on 4 advantage. The ultimate indignity was seeing the Birds pour off the bench to congratulate their goalie for the shutout, with 17 seconds remaining on the clock. I guess most of didn’t notice, or care to notice that apparently the clock malfunctioned and the game truly was mercifully over.
‘Not going to hit the panic button’? I think you should guys. You are playing poor hockey. Your home ice performances are terrible. No one is afraid to come into the BCA. Your play is fundamentally unsound. Anyone care to be accountable? Anyone care to ‘go Torts’ and admit your game is in the toilet?
We are not expecting any real help from Buffalo. They are focused on finally earning a playoff spot. Amerks exist solely to make sure the bodies stay healthy in case they are needed. Team chemistry is ‘off’. At least it sure looks totally different than last year. Sitting in the crowd last night, the undertone sadly was ‘this team stinks’. Thats not what we want it to be, but the ‘eye test’ is clear. They don’t play well enough at home. The games are boring.
IS this going to end up being a throw-away season? There is still time to fix it but recent games have not offered much in the way of encouragement.
To Biro, Weissbach, Rousek, Mersch, Malone, and Murray—-please score some goals. That would be a start.
Congratulations to Don very well deserved. Before Don there was John Gurtler ,and before John there was the great Rick Peckham. Do you know who was play by play for Amerks before Peckham??
Bill Givens had a very nice run behind the mic during the 60’s and early into the 70’s. Sadly he died pretty young…heart issues I believe. But he was very good. Until Donnie came along I never thought there would be anyone better.
Pete Brown, and Nick Nickson were in there somewhere. I know Pete Brown was in 1973.