AMERKS LOOK TO RESET DURING WEEKEND TRIP TO NEW ENGLAND
Jan 19, 2023By Suzie Cool
The Rochester Americans embark on their first true road trip of the month this weekend with back-to-back games against Atlantic Division opponents.
A little time away is just what the Amerks need, too, considering they’re in the middle of a three-game home skid opposed to the five-game win streak they’re currently riding on the road.
“It’s fun to get on the road, especially since we’ve been home a lot this month,” started Amerks head coach Seth Appert when asked how the Amerks weekend getaway to New England can serve as a mid-season reset. “It’s nice to get on the road and spend some time with your teammates and go to dinner and things of that nature, and it's fun to play the other division.”
On Friday, the Amerks are matching up against the Bridgeport Islanders, the final matchup between the teams this season and the 20th all-time.
Dating back to the 2017-18 campaign, the Amerks have earned points in 10 of the last 11 meetings against the Islanders, including a perfect 3-0-0-0 mark in their last three visits to Bridgeport. In 14 of the last 15 meetings, the winning team has scored three or more goals, and eight of the previous 15 games between the Rochester and Bridgeport have been decided beyond regulation, which includes four of the last five dating back to the 2018-19 campaign.
“They have a really good mix of heavy, strong, smart veterans with real high-end, young skilled players and good goaltending,” commented Appert when discussing Bridgeport’s style of game.
Bridgeport forwards Chris Terry and Andy Andreoff lead the Islanders offense with 37 and 34 points, respectively, while goaltenders Cory Schneider and Jakub Skarek have alternated duties between the pipes this season. Both netminders have appeared in 17 games for Bridgeport, combining for a 16-12-5 record.
On Saturday, Rochester continues its tour of the Northeast when they take on the Hartford Wolf Pack for the first time of the 2022-23 campaign.
Over the last five years, the Amerks have compiled a 7-2-1-0 record against the Wolf Pack while registering a nearly perfect 4-0-1-0 mark at XL Center. Currently, Hartford is tied at seventh place in the Atlantic Division with 37 points, however, they’re 5-1-2-2 in their last 10 games.
Offensively, the Wolf Pack are led by forwards Turner Elson, Will Cuylle and Tanner Fritz, all of whom have combined for 56 points on the year so far, while blueliners Ty Emberson and Andy Welinski aren’t too far behind with 14 points each. In terms of goaltending, the Wolf Pack will go with either veteran Louis Dominque, the reigning AHL Player of the Week, who’s appeared in 22 games and sports a .914 save percentage or rookie Dylan Garand, who has a 3.20 goals-against average through 16 appearances.
Two tough matchups ahead for the Amerks as they look to extend their road win streak over the course of this weekend against some Atlantic Division opponents. A little switch-up in opponents and in a month full of games at The Blue Cross Arena could be just want the Amerks need right now as they inch closer to the halfway point of the 2022-23 campaign.
“I think being on the road is good for camaraderie. Guys have opportunities to be able to go to dinner with their buddies, with their teammates, there’s a lot of bus time, guys playing cards, watching movies, things like that. All those things go a long way,” finished Appert.
The Amerks kick off their New England trip tomorrow night versus the Islanders at Total Mortgage Arena. Game time is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start, while Saturday’s face-off against the Wolf Pack at XL Center is at 6:00 p.m. Both games will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV.