AMERKS TOP FIVE FACTS FROM THE MONTH OF MARCH
Mar 31, 2022By Suzie Cool
The month of March was a busy one for the Rochester Americans as they were tasked with 13 games over the course of 31 days. While the Amerks managed to collect at least a point in eight of their 13 March matchups, Rochester head coach Seth Appert reached the 30-win mark, Arttu Ruotsalainen went on to reach the 40-point mark and the Amerks added to the depth of their blue line. Here’s a closer look at the Amerks top five moments and performances from the month of March.
1. APPERT JOINS ELITE COMPANY
While Rochester took home a 6-5 overtime victory over the Cleveland Monsters on Mar. 19, Appert became the sixth straight head coach to reach the 30-win mark in his first full season behind the bench.
Appert now boasts a 42-39-11 coaching record in 92 career games in Rochester. Should the Amerks win nine of their remaining 13 games of the 2021-22 campaign, Appert will become the first bench boss to lead his team to 40 wins in his first full year at the helm since Hall of Famer Randy Cunneyworth. Cunneyworth’s nine seasons behind the bench in Rochester established him as the most winningest coach in franchise history.
2. WORKING OVERTIME
Rochester’s 6-5 overtime loss to the Bridgeport Islanders on Sunday, Mar. 27 was the 16th game this season - and ninth since Feb. 11 - that went beyond regulation for Rochester.
The Amerks are now 6-5 in overtime but show just a 2-3 mark in shootouts this season, while only five other teams in the league have played more overtime games than the Amerks.
In 2017-18, Rochester tied an AHL record with 29 overtime games.
3. RUOTSALAINEN REVVING UP
Over his last 38 games since the turn of the New Year, Amerks forward Arttu Ruotsalainen has tallied 40 points on 16 goals and 24 assists, a stretch which began with a three-point effort versus the Hartford Wolf Pack on Jan. 2.
Ruotsalainen has went on to turn in a multi-point effort in 11 games over that 38-game span, an impressive run highlighted by three consecutive two-goal games for the first time in his AHL career. Additionally, Ruotsalainen has recorded at least one point in 12 of his last 14 outings since Feb. 27.
On Sunday afternoon against the Bridgeport Islanders, Ruotsalainen became the fourth different Amerk to reach the 40-point mark, joining forwards JJ Peterka, Jack Quinn and Michael Mersch. It is the first time in his North American career he has reached the mark and third time as a pro.
4. CONTROL, ALT, LAST-MINUTE ADDITION
The Amerks made only one move during the AHL’s trade deadline earlier this week, but it was one that will undoubtedly positively impact the team in its pursuit of clinching a playoff spot for the second time in four years.
Rochester acquired veteran defenseman Mark Alt from the San Jose Barracuda in exchange for forward Mason Jobst.
A native of St. Paul, Minn., Alt is a veteran of 451 American Hockey League games with the Ontario Reign, Colorado Eagles, Lehigh Valley/Adirondack Phantoms and San Jose, totaling 125 points with 33 goals and 92 assists while also appearing in 20 NHL contests with the Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche and Philadelphia Flyers.
Prior to turning pro, the 6-foot-4, 201-pound blueliner played three seasons at the University of Minnesota, where he amassed 39 points (7+32) in 117 career games with the Gophers. Additionally, Alt was a second-round selection (53rd overall) of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2010 NHL Draft.
Alt appeared in 46 games with the Barracuda this season, recording eight points on three goals and five assists before appearing in his first game in Rochester on Wednesday, Mar. 30 against the Utica Comets.
5. MARCH RIGOROUS SCHEDULE BLEEDS INTO APRIL
In the month of March, the Amerks were tasked with 13 games over the course of 31 days. These 13 games featured two weekends of three-in-three action, a week that featured four games over a five-day span, eight home games and all but one of their March matchups were against North Division opponents.
While the Amerks registered points in eight of their 13 games in March, they also managed to combine for 13 out of a possible 26 points.
The rigorous schedule isn’t over for the Amerks though as it bleeds right into the final month of the regular season. The beginning of April features another 13 games on tap, a five-game road trip to kick off the month and all but one game will be against the North Division.