AMERKS READY FOR ‘CHAOS BY DESIGN’ IN LAVAL
Rochester plays its first of two against the Rocket tonight
Oct 18, 2023
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48
Two games and four available standings points greet the Rochester Americans this week as the team continues its three-game road trip with a pair of games in Laval against the Rocket.
Rochester has earned three of a possible four points to start the season while Laval is winless through two games after dropping back-to-back outings against Abbotsford over the weekend. Amerks head coach Seth Appert dismissed the Rocket’s 0-2 start and is expecting a difficult set of games at Place Bell.
“They’re really hard to play against,” said Appert. “They play a unique style. At first glance you may think it’s chaotic and unorganized, but it’s by design. They play a frantic, high-paced game that puts you in some really uncomfortable positions because it’s an unusual style.”
Laval’s unusualness is led by their head coach, Jean-Francois Houle, and his unique style has helped guide the Rocket to playoff appearances in each of his first two seasons at the helm.
Rochester is making its first visit to Place Bell since March 3. It’s a night they’d like to forget, as Laval battled back from down 3-0 to win 4-3 in overtime. Two nights earlier, the teams met on a Wednesday in Quebec where Brandon Biro notched his first pro hat trick in a high-scoring affair that saw the Rocket squeak out a 7-5 win.
The Amerks are looking for their first win in Laval since Oct. 29, 2022, though the Amerks have had great success in general when playing in Laval, earning points in 13 of their first 17 visits. Rochester also won the last time these teams squared up via a 2-0 Malcolm Subban shutout at Blue Cross Arena on March 15.
“It’s a mini-NHL environment,” said Appert when asked about playing in Laval ahead of morning skate. It’s a passionate hockey market and they are one of few teams that can draw fans on a weeknight.”
Unlike the Amerks, coach Houle has seen his team revamped from a season ago. A dozen new players dressed for Laval on opening weekend and the Rocket are one of only seven AHL teams with an average age of under 24.
Still, the club boasts some noteworthy names, including former Amerk, Joel Armia. The 11th-year pro is back in the AHL for the first time since 2016. Armia began his pro journey with Rochester after the Buffalo Sabres selected him with the 16th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. In 87 games as an Amerk from 2013-15, Armia scored 17 goals and connected for 35 assists to generate 52 points in a Rochester jersey. The Pori, Finland native has gone on to skate in 439 NHL games, spending the bulk of his time with Montreal, including a trip to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. Armia scored two goals and added an assist over the weekend against Abbotsford. He has never played against the Amerks.
“Those kinds of players don’t exist in the American Hockey League very often. They’re really loaded up and down the lineup with really talented players. They’re young, very much like we are. Their lineup looks very similar to us in that probably 75 percent of their lineup is prospect based.”
Laval has five former first-round picks in its lineup. The Amerks have three, whom collectively lead Rochester’s scoring with three points apiece in Isak Rosen, Jiri Kulich and Ryan Johnson. The combined eight first rounders are all expected to be in Wednesday’s lineup.
Coach Appert confirmed Wednesday morning that Devin Cooley will get the start in the first of two games this week. Cooley made his Amerks debut Friday in the teams’ home opener, turning aside 38 shots. He will make his second career start against Laval Wednesday, having previously faced the Rocket with Milwaukee on April 1 of this year. Cooley made 30 saves in goal that night. Over his three-year AHL career, Cooley has a 13-8-1 away record and has won seven of his last eight decisions in goal on the road.
“He’s a goaltender that really competes hard in the net. He’s going to give you everything he has. He won’t give up on pucks and guys like playing in front of him because of how hard he battles for them,” said Appert.
The Amerks play a pair of 7 p.m. games on Wednesday and Friday in Laval. The scene will shift to Rochester next week when the Rocket visit Blue Cross Arena Friday, Oct. 20.