AMERKS WEEK 16 ROUND-UP
Jan 31, 2023By Suzie Cool
January proved to be a tough month for the Rochester Americans, as over 11 games, the team went 3-7-1-0 while averaging 2.27 goals per game. Now, just because the month was tough on the scoresheet doesn’t mean there weren’t a lot of valuable takeaways, especially from the Amerks last week of play.
Over this past week, Amerks forward Lukas Rousek was added to the North Division’s AHL All-Star roster in place of Brandon Biro, the team began to dial in on net-front play and the Amerks are gearing up for their final two games before the annual All-Star break against the Belleville Senators.
We cover it all here, and more, with Amerks head coach Seth Appert in our Week 16 Roundup.
ROUSEK GOING TO THE ALL-STAR GAME
Rousek will replace fellow Amerks forward Brandon Biro, who is unavailable to participate in the event due to injury.
Currently in his second season with the Amerks, Rousek ranks second on the team with 18 assists and tied for second in scoring with 28 points while being one of only two Rochester skaters to appear in all 39 games this season. He also ranks third on the team with 10 goals.
“Rousek has been really good all year. Realistically, this is his first year in the American League,” started Appert when asked how Rousek can take advantage of the opportunity ahead. “He just keeps getting better. He's very creative offensively. He's really good in open ice, and the All-Star Games are more skill based and three-on-threes and things like that. So, he's going to be a perfect addition.”
A native of Ostrov nad Ohri, Czech Republic, the 5-foot-11, 191-pound forward was the Buffalo Sabres’ sixth-round selection in the 2019 NHL Draft.
NET-FRONT PLAY AT HALFWAY POINT
Something that the Amerks have been excellent at over the last two years are dirty, net-front markers. However, this year is a little different and the Amerks need to step up their net-front presence at the midway point of the 2022-23 campaign.
“At this time of year everybody tightens up defensively. The points in the standings get tighter, every game has the same significance in the standings, but they do start taking on greater significance at this time of the year,” began Appert when asked the importance of net-front goals at this point in the year.
Appert then continued with, “Teams stop giving up as many line rush goals this time of year. Teams stop taking as many penalties this time of year. So, you can't just be a team that relies on your line rush on offense or on your power-play. To be successful offensively, you need to add in those net-front goals, the screens, tips, rebounds, and offensive zone goals to complement your offense.”
TAKING IT TO THE NET AGAINST BELLEVILLE
This week, the Amerks head north of the border for one last road trip before the 2023 AHL All-Star break. On Thursday and Saturday, the Amerks take on the Belleville Senators, with both games slated for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop.
So far this season, the Amerks have a 2-1-0-1 mark against the Senators, with a 6-2-1-1 overall record at CAA Arena. While Belleville is sitting in last place in the North Division Standings, Rochester needs to be ready for the Senators’ physically demanding style of play in order to come out with back-to-back wins to help them climb back up the standings.
“Belleville is such a physically demanding team to play against. They're very challenging to play against. They're in your face. They take away your space out there. They have a violence to their game.”
With how violent and in-your-face Belleville plays, the Amerks net-front play is all the more important than ever heading into this week’s action.
“We play a different style, but you can't get pushed around and you have to have some push back in your game physically. One of those areas you push back is by attacking the inside and attacking in front of their net.”
While the Amerks open up the month of February with back-to-back face-offs against the Senators, it’ll be their final two games before the 2023 AHL All-Star break, meaning the team will have a six-day hiatus between games between Feb. 4 and Feb. 10.
All the week’s action between Rochester and Belleville will be carried on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV.