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AMERKS STAY CALM, COLLECTED IN OT TO SECURE SERIES WIN

AMERKS STAY CALM, COLLECTED IN OT TO SECURE SERIES WIN

May 9, 2023

“I went in [to the locker room] immediately, which I don’t normally do, and said: Take a breath. Calm down. We’re going to win this game.”

 

Amerks head coach Seth Appert had confidence in his team. He knew if they used the intermission to reset — and to get back to their attacking game — that they would pull out the Game 5 victory.

 

And they did.

 

After the Syracuse Crunch stormed back in the third period and tied the game with just 29 seconds in regulation, the Rochester squad could’ve panicked. The Crunch are a top team with some skilled veterans, they had the momentum, and they were at home.

 

“Coming back into the room after the third period, you really recognized how much character is on this team right here,” defenseman Lawrence Pilut told the media. “You come in and the first thing everybody talked about was just to ‘focus on the next play, focus on our game.’ I think that’s what really made it that we could jump back to our momentum.”

 

 

Appert agreed: the team played more assertive and more aggressive in overtime. He applauded Tyson Kozak for his unbelievable blocked shots, but thought that the blocked shot from Jeremy Davies is what really sealed the deal in overtime: “That’s what it takes to win.”

 

“In playoff hockey, we’ve been talking — especially after we lost the first two — it’s whatever it takes,” Appert continued. “In some games, it’s going to be your offense. Some games, they might be on us and we need guys to block shots.”

“The guys were willing to do whatever it took to try to win this game.”

And a seemingly overdue power play, from a delay of game penalty, definitely helped. “Everybody, once we go that power play, it was a momentum swing on the bench,” Pilut said. “I think everybody was just waiting for it. It could’ve been anyone.”

 

While it could have been anyone, technically, the group that was on the ice stayed collected and kept their composure after an early miscue. “Larry made a great play,” Appert said. “He’s a pretty dangerous shooter when he gets it from that spot.”

 

There was a screen in front and the puck “trickled in,” according to PIlut. After that, he “blacked out, to be honest. I saw it go in and I saw all the guys skating out to me. It was a happy feeling.”

 

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A happy feeling for him, and for the team, who were rewarded for playing the right way and playing back to their identity in overtime. They had found what was missing the first two games in the series, where they had come up short.  

 

“We played hard in Syracuse the first two games,” Appert said, but “we needed to increase our ‘whatever the F it takes’ because that’s how you win in the playoffs.”

 

Pilut also felt that he had to give back to his teammates after taking three penalties during Game 5, which he thinks is a career-high. “The guys, when I took my penalties, did a hell of a job just baring down, blocking shots, and playing to our game plan on the PK,” he said.

 

 

“I’m so grateful to be with those guys here.”

 

And after the team came up with two huge victories for the home crowd in Games 3 and 4, hundreds of fans flocked to Syracuse to continue their unwavering support.

 

They took over entire sections, and scattered themselves throughout the arena, too and most importantly: they made their presence known well before the puck dropped.

 

The arena rocked with ‘Let’s go Amerks’ chants for hours.

 

“That was one of the more special things I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve been fortunate to coach in a lot of big games. That was insane.”

 

And hopefully, that’s just the start. The Amerks advanced to the North Division Finals and will meet the Toronto Marlies in a best-of-five series. A guaranteed Game 3 will be in Rochester on Wednesday, May 17, and tickets are on sale now.

 

For a full schedule, and to stay up-to-date with all playoff updates, fans can visit Amerks.com/Playoffs.

 

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