By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
There are few things connected to this version of the Rochester Americans that are more exciting or more captivating than a two-on-one fastbreak with Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen.
The speed, the puck skills, the creativity, the anticipation, the execution; it’s all rolled into five seconds of must-see action, and no opponent wants to deal with it.
Which the dynamic second-year duo proved on Sunday afternoon. Streaking down the ice two-on-one, Rosen rocketed home an on-the-fly one-timer off a Kulich set-up to give the Amerks insurance and secure what became a 4-1 victory over the Utica Comets.
Jeremy Davies scored two goals and Brett Murray the other while Michael Houser stopped 19 shots as the Amerks improved to 31-22-6-3, moved back into sole possession of third place in the North Division and may very well have derailed Utica’s fading playoff hopes. The Comets are five points from the final spot with only 11 games remaining.
Although Amerks coach Seth Appert is counting anyone out yet.
“The standings are so tight and nobody’s going to go away,” he said. “Our seven teams are too good.”
You know what else is pretty good; well, actually, really good? Kulich and Rosen on the odd-man rush. On Sunday it was Kulich taking a perfect Brett Murray outlet and speeding away on left wing. He kept it, and kept it, and then held on just a bit longer before zipping a pass across to Rosen in the right circle and he shot in stride for his 16th goal.
“He was waiting for the right moment,” said Rosen, who has produced 4 goals, 5 assists and 9 points in his past 11 games. “I was a little surprised because I thought it was too late, but he waited for the right moment.”
Considering Kulich failed to score off a perfect Rosen pass on the previous shift, the result was fitting.
“He owed me after missing the other one,” said a smiling Rosen, who sat out Friday’s 2-1 shootout loss to the Marlies due to a minor injury.
While he appreciated the display of skills on the goal, Appert wanted to talk more about the play an instant earlier in the defensive zone.
“The underrated part of that play,” Appert said, “was Brett Murray’s play, because they put a bad-angle shot on goal to create chaos and Brett was in the exact perfect spot defensively to help as the weak-side wing on any potential rebound but also has the skill and intelligence to quickly find an outlet pass to spring those two on their two-on-one.
“And then those two do what they did after that.”
Davies’ empty-net goal clinched the victory with 38.9 seconds remaining, giving him 10 goals for the season and his first two-goal game since March 11, 2022, when he played for the Milwaukee Admirals.
The beauty of the Rosen goal was a stark contrast to the goal by Murray that he assisted on, and also the first goal by Davies. Both found the net because of good fortune, which of course was preceded by hard work.
Davies was credited with the game’s first goal 4:32 into the second period when his wrister from the left point hit a stick or skate, caromed into the crease and then caromed off the skate of defenseman Michael Vukojevic and into the net.
“Something we always say is that shooting creates chaos,” Appert said. “When you get opponents in chaos, they’re out of structure and you can take advantage.”
The second goal, by Murray 2:23 later, was like a remake of one of those old McDonald’s commercials with Michael Jordan. You know, off the wall, off the building rooftop, off the swingset, off the hood ornament and then nothing but net. This one was Kulich firing high off the end glass, followed by a carom off Rosen’s left skate right to Murray to the left of the net which then became his 17th goal.
While the Amerks were opportunistic offensively, Houser was solid again in goal. Called up from ECHL Jacksonville last week, he made his second start in a row and again allowed just one goal. He was the losing goalie in Friday’s 2-1 shootout loss to Toronto.
On Friday he faced 21 shots. On Sunday he faced 20.
“If you’re feeling it, 40 shots can be fun,” Houser said, “but these are the games they make it easy on you. You stop the shots you’re supposed to stop and come up with the odd big save.”
Takeaways –
1. Right now, I feel Houser should be the #2 to Levi. Even though this year’s defense is subpar, Tokarski has been off. Not sure if age is catching him or he has a lingering injury.
2. Davies was a beast tonight. If him and Cecconi can play that well consistently as a pair, it could trigger a deep run.
3. There seems to be a higher level of compete and camaraderie over the past couple weeks. They guys seem to be playing for each other and it shows on the ice. A few scrums where guys hopped in to support a teammate. But also more enthusiasm and excitement in general!
Robert agree about Houser not sure if Tokarski has been full strength all season, at 35 maybe this is the end of the line for a goalie who’s had a brilliant AHL career Winning 2 Calder cups! Amerks are indeed finally playing with more consistency will it last or get better? No reason it can’t, next week 2 big road games in Syracuse and Cleveland, I’d like 3 of 4 pts I do believe they are capable!
After some real uneven play at home for most of the season, Amerks did not lose a game in regulation during March…which is a very good sign. There are some who really bristle at giving Buffalo so much attention at Amerks games, especially the Bills; but the truth is the Bills have a very large footprint in this town and seeing near 9000 in attendance on a Sunday afternoon tells a tale.
Its hard generating revenue in minor league sports, as Dan Mason learned many seasons ago. The days of people going to games in large numbers, just to watch the game itself has passed. While old timers like me find that sad, its reality, so having a ‘Bills themed game’ brings out the fans in very large numbers. The atmosphere in the building is electric when its filled, and the annual Bills promo is the most successful of them all. Winning makes it even better. Last season Amerks drew near sellouts for all 3 games against Hershey in the playoffs…and they lost them all, which really hurt.
It has been quite noticeable that Kulich and Rosen have finally ‘found’ their spark again. Coach insists they never lost it, but the eye test said otherwise. those two are here to generate offense and it wasn’t happening for several weeks. That its happening now is a very good sign. Now, if the Sabres would just leave them alone to develop and not do something silly by calling them up at this juncture of the season.
Also, let’s hope they do send Levi back this week and not have him sit around watching UPL. Sabres playoff hopes are on serious life support. Houser played great in place of Levi and should be the back-up for the duration.
Let’s see how the guys fare against the top two teams in the division this week. Should be a good test of their newfound cohesiveness.