By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
In each of the past three seasons, games in the final weekend of the American Hockey League season were monumental to the Rochester Americans.
In April of 2022, they needed to win the finale to earn the final playoff spot in the North Division. The next year, they needed a victory to avoid the mini-round play-in series. And last year, they needed to win the final game in order to secure second place and home-ice advantage for the first round.
This year? The only pressing matter in Saturday’s Game 72 finale at Toronto will be which players sit out and if any of the four returned players from the Buffalo Sabres re-familiarize themselves with the AHL.
Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen, Noah Ostlund and Tyson Kozak were reassigned to the Amerks on Friday afternoon but all four sat out Friday night’s home finale, a 3-0 loss to the Marlies.
With the Amerks (42-22-4-3, 91 points) locked into second place, they have the luxury of resting players this weekend.
Kulich and Kozak also won’t play Saturday in the rematch in Toronto while coach Michael Leone said a final decision on whether Rosen and Ostlund are in the lineup hadn’t been made.
Their offensive prowess certainly could have been used on Friday, when, despite 32 shots and plenty of high-quality chances, the Amerks failed to score against Dennis Hildeby.
“I know we lost 3-0 but we had a ton of good looks,” center Josh Dunne said. “There was a lot we did tonight that was good.”
Come Friday’s playoff opener against the Syracuse Crunch, the big guns – Rosen, the Amerks leading scorer; Ostland, the AHL’s Rookie of the Month for March; and Kulich, he of the deadly shot – will be on the ice.
Kulich’s return is perhaps a surprise. While he was placed on the Amerks clear-day roster back in March, there was speculation he would instead opt to play for his home country of Czechia in the World Championships.
But playing in another North American playoff season “could hold big benefits for him,” Leone said. “How do you get him to be the best version of himself to help the Buffalo Sabres (in the future)?”
The World Championships run May 9-25 in Sweden and Denmark. Leone said he wasn’t sure if Kulich could head overseas after the Amerks’ first-round series.
Such a move wouldn’t be unprecedented in the organization. In 2000, rookie forward Maxim Afinogenov played the first 15 games of the regular season with the Amerks, then graduated to the Sabres.
However, general manager Darcy Regier returned him to Rochester after the Sabres lost their first-round playoff series. He played two playoff games for the Amerks, then joined Russia for the Worlds before returning to Rochester for the Calder Cup finals.
The Sabres might want Kulich to show how he can handle playoff pressure now that he’s in his second pro season. A year ago, he produced just two assists in the Amerks five-game, first-round loss to Syracuse.
Leone said the playoff experience will enhance Kulich’s chances to firmly plant himself as a top-six forward with the Sabres.
Prow injured
The Amerks played the final 54 minutes with five defensemen. Veteran Ethan Prow suffered what appeared to be an injury to his right arm when he blocked a Roni Hirovonen slap shot in the game’s sixth minute.
While he has primarily been a depth defenseman and mentor this year, he’s likely out long-term.
“He’ll be out some time,” Leone said. “It’s really unfortunate.”
As for the game …
Turnovers were costly, as they often are.
A giveaway in the neutral zone led to Marlies fast break and the game’s first goal, by Nick Aburzzese, with just 52.6 seconds remaining in the first period.
The Marlies winger slipped behind defenseman Zach Metsa on the rush, took a pass from Alex Nylander and, from the dot in the left faceoff circle, fired a wrist shot that zipped past the glove of goalie Devon Levi.
Nylander’s breakaway goal 8:49 into the second period pushed the Toronto lead to 2-0. With the Amerks pressuring the Marlies, Lukas Rousek attempted to make a move at the left point. But he fell and Nylander took off on the breakaway, snapping a shot in off the cross bar for his 23rd goal.
“We turned it over up ice on the first goal and then we had another high-danger turnover to the player you don’t want to turn the puck over to,” Leone said.
First-round playoff schedule
Game 1 – home Friday, April 25, 7:05 p.m.
Game 2 – home Sunday, April 27, 3:05 p.m.
Game 3 – at Syracuse, Thursday, May 1, 7 p.m.
Game 4 * – at Syracuse, Saturday, May 3, 7 p.m.
Game 5 * – home, Friday, May 9, 7:05 p.m.
* = if necessary.
Team award winners
MVP – Devon Levi
Rookie of the Year (shared) – Noah Ostlund and Konsta Helenius
Fairand/O’Neil Sportsmanship Award – Zach Metsa
McCullough Trophy (community service) – Metsa.
Unsung Hero – Josh Dunne
Most Improved Player – Ostlund
Most Popular Player — Levi
overall, Amerks did not play a bad game. The turnovers were costly though and Amerks just could not figure out how to get in close enough to score any goals. Most the shots were not scoring chances. Too bad the huge crowd had nothing to cheer for.
For me–I would sit Rousek for awhile now. He is adding nothing. And his lack of desire to take shots when he has the opportunity has soured a ton of fans. Last night he certainly was the villain.
As for Kulich…he has to prove he cares. (I don’t think he does but Sabrefan remains hopeful). If his heart is not in it we don’t need him. I’ll still be skeptical he plays one game frankly. Anyone actually interview him yet?
Its tough to flip the switch..even with ‘new’ players back in the lineup. Amerks have been only a near .500 team for several weeks. Syracuse OTOH is a winning machine. I hate this match-up. On paper our guys should be able to compete. Both teams know each other’s tendancies and weaknesses. In a 5 game series, our style of play doesn’t measure up well.
Hope I’m wrong obviously. We will be filling the building and the fans deserve a deeper run than last years bomb. Its a big series for Levi too. He hasn’t been ‘awesome’ lately but he is good enough to win a series or two.
I hate it when Nylander beats us. He was such a jerk when he played here.
Ted I agree on the mediocre play of the Amerks of late. I believe this is for a couple different reasons first being they have been playing against teams that needed to win to make the playoffs so the Amerks have naturally not matched their desperation and compete level. Hope and fully expect they can flip the switch for the playoffs! Also, as the Sabres have essentially been eliminated for a month or more we have had constant disruption in our roster during this mediocre streak which started with the 2 losses in Laval (both blown third period leads) when they were playing without Murray and Rosen, called up at the worst possible time! Both these situations are in the rear view mirror we should have roster stability and will be a more desperate team! Ted I hope you’re wrong on Kulich mindset, if he actually wants to be here this is a game changer which I believe makes the Amerks a favorite to win the Calder cup. I know that’s a big IF! We will see….As for Rousek he has fewer goals than any forward on the team who’s played a full schedule! I know he’s a playmaker but still very unacceptable for someone with his talent and speed! We have 4 forwards who played last night that will need to set with the additions. Rousek should be one of them, at least for game 1 then evaluate from there. My prediction is an Amerks sweep in 3, Syracuse is a bigger physical team with stifling defense but I just don’t think they will be able to stop the Amerks scoring and speed. I believe the talent gap is too great! That said this is playoff hockey where anything can happen and if the referee decides to swallow his whistle it will be a clear advantage to Syracuse. Hope that doesn’t happen as a penalty is a penalty in any situation!
Amerks end season losing 4 of last 5. Not exactly a playoff push. Should we be concerned? The excuse makers will say of course not. Look at how many players weren’t playing. But the realists will say honestly whoever did play didn’t get the job done so the team will go up against Syracuse flat as a pancake.
Today, like they have done SO many times this year (no matter who is in the lineup) they jumped out to that death-dealing 2-0 lead and sure enough before the smoke cleared it was a 3-2 loss.
they won’t get away with playing 20 minutes against the Crunch, no matter who they insert in the lineup. I have a very uneasy feeling this team isn’t going to recover from their sub-par play of late.