Kulich’s ‘bad shot’ in OT gives Amerks victory over Laval

By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA

Here’s how you know someone is truly dedicated to becoming the best hockey player they can be.

They score the winning goal in overtime, driving a perfectly set-up one-timer past the goalie, and well after the victory celebration, they provide a far-from-glowing critique of their own shot.

Yes, Jiri Kulich was the hero. But he says he can be better, that his very potent shot must be better.

“My one-timer the last five games has sucked,” Kulich said after Friday’s 4-3 victory over the Laval Rocket at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. “Even tonight, I know I scored but I think it was a bad shot.”

Bad because “I hit it bad,” he said, even though it rocketed past goalie Jakub Dobes on a power play 2:56 into overtime.

That’s pretty much the definition of a perfectionist, and it means he’ll be back in the shooting room at the rink, perhaps even on Thanksgiving. Then again, he’s in the room often, even when he’s happy with his shot.

“I don’t think shooters get enough credit for the amount of work they put in on their shot,” Amerks coach Seth Appert said. “Jiri Kulich puts in countless hours, after practice, before practice, back home in the Czech (Republic), honing that shot.

“It’s just not a gift that’s given to him, it’s a gift he’s acquired through a lot of hard work.”

And it’s a weapon the Amerks work to set up when they have the man advantage, and it’s one reason the second-year winger has 11 goals in just 15 games.

“You want to use your threats as much as possible,” said winger Linus Weissbach, who returned after missing 10 games with a lower body injury suffered on Oct. 20.

Amerks center Brandon Biro wholeheartedly agrees. He made the pass to set up the winning goal, zipping the puck from near the left point between defenders to Kulich in the right wing faceoff circle, his office on the power play.

“We’re usually better off with ‘Kulie’ shooting the puck,” Biro said. “There’s not many guys in the world who can shoot like he can, not even in the NHL.”

For years, that’s how Alex Ovechkin pelted the net for the Washington Capitals, rocketing his one-timer from the left circle. And all along, there were those who would wonder why opponents just don’t take away that shot.

Easier said than done, even for Amerks opponents. Kulich isn’t stationary. When Biro has the puck at the point, Kulich is constantly in motion, ensuring there’s an open passing lane.

“It’s a skill finding that lane and he kind of has a second sense for it,” Biro said. “He makes it pretty easy for me.”

Biro himself scored a goal, his fifth in eight games with the Amerks, and Justin Richards and Viktor Neuchev also scored goals as Rochester erased an early 2-0 deficit and, in winning, improved to 9-4-2 (20 points in 15 games).

Alex-Olivier Voyer and former Amerk Joel Armia staked Laval to that lead with goals in the first 17:19. But Richards scored on a breakaway with 58.8 seconds left in the first period and Biro’s goal 1:17 into the second tied the score.

His goal was an oddity of sorts. He had the puck at the right point and no defender moved toward him. So he just kept moving closer and closer, finally unleashing a shot from the right circle that Dobes had no chance to stop.

“I was going to shoot (right away) but no one came to me and I was going to shoot, and no one still came to me,” he said.

Neuchev’s second goal of the season was a demonstration of his skill. He attacked on the left wing and, as he entered the Laval zone, darted around winger Joshua Roy above the left circle, then shielded the puck from defenseman Logan Mailloux as he angled toward the net before roofing a shot from in tight.

“He’s confident right now and he’s super-skilled,” Biro said.

Nicolas Beaudin tied the score for Laval at 9:39, and Amerks goalie Dustin Tokarski made sure it stayed 3-3 with several big-time saves in the final three minutes.