AMERKS WEEK 21 ROUND-UP
Mar 6, 2023The Rochester Americans finished out the longest road trip of the season with two games in Laval and one game in Belleville last week. The Amerks snagged one of a possible six points, keeping them in fourth place in the North Division.
TRADE DEADLINE UPDATE
The Buffalo Sabres made a few moves that changed the Amerks roster ahead of last week’s trade deadline. The Sabres sent forward Anders Bjork, who recorded 25 points in 42 games for Rochester, to the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations.
Those future considerations immediately came to fruition: Amerks general manager Jason Karmanos announced that the team acquired center Carson Gicewicz from the Rockford IceHogs on Thursday night. Gicewicz joined the Amerks on Friday and took the ice wearing No. 15 in both Laval and Belleville.
The Sabres also acquired defenseman Austin Strand from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Chase Priskie, the team announced Friday. Strand has appeared in five games for the Ducks this season and 46 games for the San Diego Gulls (AHL).
GAMES AT A GLANCE
MARCH 1: ROCHESTER 5 — LAVAL 7
It was a high-scoring affair in Laval on Wednesday night with a combined 12 goals from the two North Division squads. Brandon Biro scored his first professional hat trick, while Tyson Kozak and Mason Jobst added goals for the Amerks.
The Rocket had too much firepower, despite the Amerks’ best effort to come back in the third period, outshooting Laval 12-8 I the final frame. Malcolm Subban started in net and made 28 saves.
MARCH 3: ROCHESTER 3 — LAVAL 4 (OVERTIME)
The Amerks got out to a three-goal lead thanks to goals from Jiri Kulich, Mason Jobst, and Jeremy Davies, but the Rocket stormed back to answer with three goals of their own. The Rocket outshot the Amerks 18-2 in the third period, then secured the win with an overtime goal from Anthony Richard.
Michael Houser got the start between the pipes and made 42 saves.
MARCH 4: ROCHESTER 2 — BELLEVILLE 3
Subban returned to the starters net for the second half of the North back-to-back, but the Senators got on the board early in the first with a power play goal. The teams traded tallies in the second with Amerks goals from Linus Weissbach and Michael Mersch.
The Amerks dominated most of the third period — outshooting Belleville 12-1, but couldn’t find the back of the net with a man-advantage for the final two minutes. Weissbach was named third star of the game with one goal and one assist.
CHAPEAU POUR BIRO
Biro tallied his first professional hat trick in Laval on Wednesday night, recording three beautiful goals. His goal with just 23 seconds remaining in the first sparked a high-flying start to the second period for the Amerks.
Biro completed the hat trick with a tap-in on the power play in the third period. He now has 13 goals on the season, a career-high. His 40 points pace the Rochester roster, and are just two points shy of another career-high.
Biro is the first Rochester skater to record a three-goal outing on the road since JJ Peterka did so on April 1, 2022. He joins Jobst (January 24) and Sean Malone (November 25) as Amerks who have recorded a hat trick this season.
JOBST KEEPS SCORING
After returning to the lineup, Jobst tallied goals in three-straight games, including a short-handed goal on March 3 against the Rocket. Head coach Seth Appert had previously praised the buy-in of guys who have been scratched:
"Those things speak a lot to the culture that we fight to have, how much the guys like playing for each other and with each other. [They] come in and perform to that level."
Jobst was definitely one of those guys. Appearing in 42 of the Amerks’ 53 games so far this season, he’s always ready to return to the lineup at a moment’s notice. His 24 points are a career-high… by a lot.
Since the start of 2023, Jobst has 10 points in 14 games, including his first career hat trick on Saturday, January 14.
OTHER STATS TO NOTE
Weissbach tallied his 17th goal of the season, a new career-high, and the most amongst the Rochester roster. He has eight points (4+4) in his last seven games.
Mersch recorded his 25th point (12 +13) over his last 28 games, dating back to December 17.
Davies has seven points in his last six games and a career-high nine goals so far this season.
Kulich recorded his 17th point in his last 14 games with a goal on Saturday. He has 34 points (16 +18) in 43 games.
COMING UP THIS WEEK
The Amerks have another three-in-three this weekend, and finally return to Blue Cross Arena on Friday night to host the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Friday night is Irish Night, presented by Rohrbach Brewing Company, and the first 2,000 fans will receive an Amerks and Rohrbach-branded stein. 100 lucky fans will also get to try their puck at the Pot of Gold for an additional prize, so get to the game early.
The team heads to Syracuse on Saturday night for another matchup with the Crunch. The Crunch currently sit in third place, four points ahead of Rochester in the North Division.
Rochester returns on Sunday for a matinee puck drop against the Division-leading Toronto Marlies. Celebrate Halfway to Halloween, presented by Pepsi, with $10 tickets for kids. All kids under the age of 12 in costume will get to trick-or-treat through the suites during intermission!
SUNDAY TICKETS HALFWAY TO HALLOWEEN
