By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA Just four weeks remain in the American Hockey League season, which means games are beginning to have a post-season feel. There’s little razzle-dazzle, because there’s little open ice. Teams don’t trade chances from opening faceoff to final buzzer because they’re trading body checks instead. A mistake in the first period can be the difference between … [Read more...] about Amerks offense sputters in loss to Charlotte
Amerks
Amerks use the 3 R’s, Rosen, Rathbone and Rousek, to rally past Providence
By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA Over his two seasons as an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans, Vinny Prospal has watched Lukas Rousek pass up countless chances to shoot the puck in order to show off his passing skills. Maybe more than Prospal passed on in his 1,108-game NHL career. “He drives me nuts with that,” Prospal said. Of course, when you can pass the puck like … [Read more...] about Amerks use the 3 R’s, Rosen, Rathbone and Rousek, to rally past Providence
Brännström shines in debut but Amerks lose 5th straight
By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA They say you only get one chance to make a first impression. Erik Brännström made quite an entrance into the Buffalo Sabres organization on Wednesday night. The seventh-year defenseman scored his first of two goals just 67 seconds into the game, he was active on the rush and he provided poise and steadiness in the defensive zone for the Rochester … [Read more...] about Brännström shines in debut but Amerks lose 5th straight
Aube-Kubel finding his stride as Amerks stay hot
By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA There’s a bit of an unknown element when a veteran player who has spent considerable time in the NHL is reassigned to an American Hockey League team. Will they be bitter? Will there be a woe-is-me attitude? Will they buy into all that is their new team, when deep down they believe they should still be in the NHL? In the case of Nicolas Aube-Kubel, … [Read more...] about Aube-Kubel finding his stride as Amerks stay hot
Johnson’s 1st pro goal helps Amerks power past Belleville
By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA They had already scored four goals, all on the power play, and there was no doubt the Rochester Americans were well on their way to victory. Yet when Ryan Johnson zipped home a wrist shot from the left circle off the rush to give the Amerks a 5-1 lead just 49 seconds into the third period on Friday night, you’d have thought he’d just scored a … [Read more...] about Johnson’s 1st pro goal helps Amerks power past Belleville