AMERKS TOP FIVE FACTS FROM THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
Mar 5, 2022By Suzie Cool
Although February marks the shortest month on the calendar, it was jam-packed with 13 games for the Rochester Americans. While roster moves continued to hit the Amerks hard, they managed to keep their second-place spot in the North Division standings with snagging points in seven of their 13 matchups while beginning a stretch of 17 games against divisional rivals.
We got it all right here as we take a look at the Amerks top five facts from the month of February.
1. 28 DAYS, 13 GAMES, NO BIG DEAL
In the short month of February, the Amerks were faced with 13 games. That’s right, 13 games in 28 days with a season-long five-game road trip sandwiched in the middle and two three-in-threes to cap off the month.
Over their 13-game stretch, the Amerks managed to come away with points in seven matchups while finishing up February going 5-6-1-1 overall. With the Amerks at 57 points, they’re still sitting in second place in the North Division, just 10 behind the Utica Comets and five in front of the Toronto Marlies.
Now, February won’t be the only month that the Amerks are tasked with game after game. Looking ahead to March and April, both months feature 13 games to wrap up the regular season.
2. LUCKY NUMBER FOUR?
The Amerks have scored four or more goals in all but four of their 26 wins this season, two of which have come at The Blue Cross Arena. Additionally, 11 of Rochester’s 13 road victories have come with three or more goals despite being outscored 100-84 through their first 26 road games.
3. BATTLING THE NORTH
Heading into their first three-in-three of the 2021-22 campaign, the Amerks began a stretch of 17 games where they would take on North Division opponents.
As that season-long stretch began with three consecutive losses, the Amerks bounced back the last weekend in February with another round of three-in-three action, propelling themselves to two wins over the Syracuse Crunch and the Toronto Marlies, to start off this 17-game stretch going 2-4-0-0 heading into the month of March.
While the North Division battles continue on the Amerks road ahead, Rochester will take on the Crunch four more times over this stretch, the Belleville Senators and Marlies twice, and face the Utica Comets, Laval Rocket and Marlies all once.
4. MURRAY MOVING ALONG
After being held scoreless in four games in January, Brett Murray responded with his best offensive showing of the season in February, leading the Amerks with 12 points on seven goals and five assists while appearing in all 13 games during the month.
Murray scored more than half of his 13 goals in February. He opened the month with four goals in his first five games, including a season-best three straight games from Feb. 5 to Feb. 9.
Additionally, Murray also began and ended the month with multi-point efforts, highlighted by a career-best four-point effort in the 5-3 win at Toronto on Feb. 27, with a goal and three assists.
5. ON THE PROWL
Rochester has two of the league’s top point-producing defensemen in Ethan Prow and Oskari Laaksonen.
Prow, who has already reached the 30-point mark for the third straight year in the AHL, is also tied for sixth with 24 assists, which are just two more than Laaksonen. After scoring twice in three games during the Amerks last weekend in February, including the overtime game-winner last Friday in Syracuse, Prow has recorded 14 points (4+10) over his last 16 games.
Additionally, Prow has totaled 113 points (35+78) over his last 162 AHL contests dating back to the 2018-19 campaign.