By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
Eric Comrie is now in his ninth professional season, and over the previous two years filled the backup goaltending role with the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and then the Buffalo Sabres.
But despite a resume that shows better than 250 games of pro experience, he’s more than willing to keep learning after a New Year’s Day demotion by the Sabres.
Which may be why he looked so composed and so in control on Wednesday night, making 32 saves as the Rochester Americans blanked the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 6-0 at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.
“The biggest thing for myself is how much Seamus (Kotyk) has helped me,” Comrie said, referring to the Amerks goalie coach. “I think he’s helped me find my game. It’s always a bit of an unfortunate situation getting sent down. You can go into a shell a little bit and be a little sad and I think he did a great job, saying ‘Here’s the things we’re going to work on, we’re going to get better at these things, we’re going to find the parts of your game where you sort of got lost in your ways.’ ”
While Comrie was stopping all 32 shots by the Phantoms, including at least four high-quality stops, Brandon Biro, Brett Murray, Linus Weissbach, Mason Jobst, Tyson Kozak and Viktor Neuchev were scoring goals.
The Amerks scored twice in the first, once in the second and three times in the third to win for the fourth time in six games (4-1-1), improving to 17-13-3-1. The shutout was the first of the year for Comrie and the Amerks.
“It starts with goaltending,” Amerks coach Seth Appert said. “At the end of the first it could have easily been 2-2. At the end of the second, it could have easily been 3-3. Com’s made easy saves easy and made a couple big ones as well.”
The shutout was obviously nice for Comrie. His last was with the Sabres, a 27-save performance in a 3-0 victory over the New York Islanders on March 25. But he said he was much happier about the victory and in knowing his game is on the improve.
“I feel really confident with where I am,” Comrie said. “I’m just happy I’m getting back to where I feel comfortable. It’s not about the results, it’s more about the process, getting back to where I want to be and finding my game. I think I’ve done a good job of letting the results come and just focusing on the process.”
Some of his teammates have been trying to apply the same approach, but that hasn’t necessarily been easy. Coming into Wednesday, Biro had produced just one goal and one assist over his previous seven games.
But his 11th goal of the season staked the Amerks to the lead just 1:31 into the game. With a delayed penalty upcoming on the Phantoms and the puck in the offensive zone, Biro slowly worked from the right wing to the center point. That gave Murray and Lukas Rousek time to establish position in the slot, then Biro wristed a shot that goalie Felix Sandstrom never saw sail into the right side of the net.
“I’ve probably been a little frustrated,” Biro said. “When you get a point early, your legs feel better, the puck feels better on your stick.”
Biro then helped set up Murray’s fourth goal for a 2-0 lead at 9:22. Biro darted between defenders and to the net, only to have his shot stopped. But he retrieved the puck behind the net and passed to Rousek, who in turn found Murray alone in the deep slot for a quick slam-dunk goal.
“In the last two years, we’ve been a really good offensive team, but it’s not just because we have skill,” Appert said. “We’ve scored a lot of what we refer to as blue-paint goals; screens, tips, rebounds. As the season goes on, teams defend harder and they’re going to give you less line rushes and power plays and you’re not going to get as many pretty goals.
“We have to add in those dirty goals.”
The lead became 3-0 at 10:15 of the third period when Weissbach’s long-range one-timer from 50-feet off a quickly developing fast break zipped past Sandstrom for his sixth goal.
The play, however, was made in the neutral zone by defenseman Nikita Novikov, who bowled over puck-carrying Jordy Bellerive along the boards. Mason Jobst quickly attacked and fed Michael Mersch in the high slot. He quickly dropped to Weissbach, just entering the zone on right wing, and his long shot fooled Sandstrom.
Jobst’s ninth goal extended the lead to 4-0 at 12:47 of the third on a power play. Isak Rosen partially fanned on a shot from the left circle, but the misfire ended up being a pass into the slot and Jobst steered it five-hole.
The line of Kozak, Neuchev and Aleksandr Kisakov applied the finishes touches by scoring twice in the final 2:42. Kozak’s goal was just his second, and first since Nov. 25, while Neuchev scored his fourth.
Neuchev has a five-game point streak, producing 2-4-6 in that span.
“Neuchev’s growth has been fun to see,” Appert said.
Davies injured
Amerks defenseman Jermey Davies suffered what appeared to be a significant lower-body injury 7:34 remaining. He immediately grabbed his right knee after falling awkwardly. He was upended in the corner by Phantoms defenseman Ronnie Attard, who was penalized for holding.
“I really didn’t like the play,” Appert said. “I thought it was an egregiously dirty, unnecessary play.”
Finally a killer instinct in the third period! Nice win, wasn’t at the game but sounded good on the radio as I was out doing errands. For a change, not a home loss on Wednesday! Where was Don Stevens?
All up arrows last night. Defense, offense, PK and goaltending all came together as Amerks finally won a blowout. However the PP was downright awful honestly until the 3rd period when they finally got one. Perhaps the only negative of the game. I suspect Coooley will play in Utica and Comrie will get Springfield. No offense to Tokarski but Comrie didn’t come down to sit. He has to play and I hope the Amerks are the better for it.
Taking a 3 goal lead into the 3rd and then adding on to it is something the Amerks have not done this season. I hope this is a sign of good things to come.
For anyone there, how was the volume of the music? Was it toned down to the point where it was noticeable or not?
Hope Donnie’s medical issues are taken care of and he is back in the saddle by months end. In the meantime Andrew did a great job.
It was just plain fun having a game like this again. Let’s have more.