AMERKS LOOK TO REBOUND WITH ANOTHER BUSY WEEK AHEAD
Apr 20, 2021Following a three-game miniseries against the Cleveland Monsters, the Rochester Americans look to get back on the winning track with another busy stretch of three games in four nights this week.
The Amerks welcome the Syracuse Crunch back to The Blue Cross Arena on Wednesday, April 21 before hosting the Utica Comets on Friday night and closing out the weekend with a rematch against the Crunch in downtown Syracuse Saturday evening.
Positivity Among Amerks
In each of the three games with Cleveland, the Amerks opened the scoring less than two minutes into the contest, which included Remi Elie’s first goal on Saturday just 26 seconds into the game.
While the Amerks were unable to contain the Monsters high-scoring attack that is averaging 4.06 goals-per-game (second-best in the AHL), first-year head coach Seth Appert was pleased with his squad given the circumstances they faced each game.
“After playing poorly in the first game against Cleveland, I thought we put ourselves in a really great position to win both games,” explained Appert. “Both games we lost a forward and then we were down to 10 forwards, with one being defenseman Alec McCrea. Saturday’s game, we allowed the fewest chances-against all season, and analytically one could argue that it was our best game all season as it had the greatest disparity between scoring chances for versus against.”
Following the three-game sweep of Rochester, Cleveland has now won a franchise-best six straight games and is 9-2-0-0 in its last 11 games, but Appert attributed their most win Saturday to the performance of goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks.
“Their goaltender played really well and Stefanos Lekkas had an off night,” Appert continued. “We did a lot of good things against them, but we just have to find a way to win those games moving forward.”
WATCH: SETH APPERT AFTER MONDAY’S PRACTICE
Pekar gaining Confidence as Season Progresses
In his first season in the American Hockey League, 21-year-old forward Matej Pekar has seen many ups and downs but has been constantly under the skin of the Amerks’ opponents this season.
“With every day, I am feeling more and more comfortable,” said Pekar. “I am working on my game, both with and without the puck, playing north and south and having a shooter mentality. Simple hockey and eliminating turnovers all very important steps the higher the ranks go so I have been listening to what the coaching staff has to say.”
The Turnov, Czech Republic, native has been challenged by Appert and the rest of the coaching staff to continually improve all facets of his game, but the first-year winger, who recorded his first two pro points on Saturday, has taken everything in stride.
WATCH: MATEJ PEKAR AFTER MONDAY’S PRACTICE
“With ‘Peks’, it has been about execution in team play and in puck play,” Appert described. “One of his greatest strengths is his agitation, his ability to be a rat and a pest to the point where his opponents hate him. I love those types of players and I love that about him. Every level he’s played at he’s been able to outwork, outwill and outcompete his lack of precision – systematic precision and puck-execution precision. You can’t do that in the American Hockey League or the NHL. Players like him that make it, they walk that fine line, but those players must have the most detail with the puck and with their systematic execution otherwise they don’t get ice time.
“We have challenged him to take more pride in practice that every pass it tape to tape, every pass is handled and you do not just throw away pucks. We have seen him make massive strides this season, but they just haven’t always translated into games.”
Last Wednesday night after the Amerks saw the Monsters chip into their 2-1 lead, Pekar dropped his gloves and fought Cleveland’s heavy-weight Brett Gallant. In 12 seasons in the AHL, Gallant has amassed 1,367 penalty minutes while Pekar is only 18 games into his professional career.
“Prior to the game, coach stressed we needed to win the line of scrimmage and after he pushed me, I pushed him back,” Pekar said. “I think it helped give me a spark and helped me feel better about my game.”
“Matej went toe-to-toe with one of the toughest men in professional hockey and he lived to tell the tale,” said Appert. “The next practice following the fight, was Matej’s best practice of the year by a mile. Then I thought he was fabulous Saturday night, so I think he certainly gained a lot of confidence.”
Roster Moves
On Monday afternoon, the Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) loaned defenseman Nick DeSimone to the Amerks.
DeSimone, 26, joins the Amerks after beginning the 2020-21 season with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), where he recorded five assists in 14 games while serving as an assistant captain. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound blueliner was recently acquired by the Golden Knights on April 12 in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft from the San Jose Sharks.
The fifth-year pro has appeared in 190 career AHL games with the Barracuda, totaling 91 points (26+65), including a career-best 46-point campaign in 2018-19 when he finished tied for seventh in scoring among all AHL defensemen. He also has nine points (2+7) over 21 Calder Cup Playoff contests.
Prior to turning pro, the East Amherst, New York, native completed a three-year collegiate career at Union College (ECAC), where he registered 48 points (15+33) in 109 games with the Dutchmen from 2014-2017. During his final season, DeSimone finished tied for fifth on the team with a career-high nine goals while also producing then a personal-best 19 points in 38 games.
On Tuesday, the team signed forward Brandon Hawkins to a Professional Tryout (PTO).
Hawkins, 26, joins the Amerks after registering 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points in 28 games with the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL) to begin the 2020-21 season. The 5-foot-10, 198-pound forward currently paces all Komets skaters in both goals and points in addition to leading the ECHL with 10 power-play tallies.
As a rookie during the 2019-20 campaign, Hawkins totaled 34 points (16+18) over 53 combined games between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Wheeling Nailers (ECHL) before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among all first-year skaters, Hawkins topped all Nailers in goals (16), assists (17) and points (33) in 47 contests.
The third-year pro has appeared in 11 career AHL games with the Penguins, totaling three points (2+1) while also adding 64 points (35+29) in the ECHL between Wheeling and Fort Wayne.
Prior to turning pro, the Macomb, Mich., native completed a four-year collegiate career between Bowling Green State University (WCHA) and Northeastern University (H-East), where he combined for 108 points (46+62) in 141 games from 2014-2019. During his first season with the Falcons in 2014, he ranked first on the team in both goals (16) and points (30) in 39 games while earning a spot on the NCAA (WHCA) All-Rookie Team.
Looking ahead
The Amerks begin a busy three-game week as they welcome the Syracuse to The Blue Cross Arena on Wednesday, April 21. The 7:05 p.m. will be the ninth of 12 scheduled meetings between the two clubs and the second-to-last contest inside the Flower City this season.
Following the contest, the Amerks will close out the week with a home tilt with Utica Friday night at 7:05 before squaring up with Syracuse Crunch on Saturday, April 24.
All of the action will be carried live on The Sports Leader AM 950/95.7 FM ESPN Rochester as well as AHLTV. Friday’s matchup will be tape-delayed on CW Rochester beginning at 10 p.m.