GAMEDAY NOTES AND QUOTES: AMERKS BEGIN WEEKEND AT HOME AGAINST COMETS
Cooley gets the start in net as Rochester officially opens second half of season
Jan 26, 2024
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (19-13-3-1) continue their four-game homestand Friday night when they welcome the intrastate rival Utica Comets (14-16-4-3) to Blue Cross Arena.
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Tonight marks the seventh of 12 meetings with Utica this season. The Amerks own the edge in this North Division series thus far, having gone 4-1-1-0 in the prior six meetings.
“They’re a physical team,” said Amerks head coach Seth Appert. “They do a really good job in the offensive zone of putting you in stressful situations. They have a defensive core that is good at delivering pucks to the front of the net. They can have some dangerous players lurking off the backside. They’re very good at pressuring the puck in all three zones. Their penalty kill is excellent.”
“Physically, you got to be ready to play a hard game against them, but mentally you have to make plays very fast against this team because they’re going to put you under duress quickly.”
FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS
Last Friday saw the Comets and Amerks get together in Utica for what wound up being a 2-1 win for Rochester, though the game featured a pair of third-period bouts and numerous instances of physicality, including a questionable hit on Tyson Kozak that has forced the forward out week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
“Sometimes there is (carryover) from that stuff, but that’s not a focus of ours,” said Appert. “That’s not how we’re wired, but we’re not going to let anybody push us around. When liberties are taken, we’re going to have guys stick up for each other like we did in that game, but we’re not going into this with any focus other than playing the way we want to play to give us a chance to win.”
Brendan Warren and Joe Cecconi each dropped the gloves last week in third-period scuffles with Daniil Miisyul and Colin Felix, respectively.
“They’re a tough team,” said Cecconi. “I think that’s how it is against every team in this division. When guys that normally don’t fight get in there and back up a teammate, that brings a lot of trust and makes the camaraderie of the team stronger.”
“Fighting for each other is no greater sign of what kind of teammate you are,” said Appert. “There’s nothing that gets a bench going more and nothing that galvanizes a team more than those types of things. It’s not necessarily in their DNA as players historically.”
“So, I think what that says is:
1. For both of them, they’re trying to grow their game and add more physicality and nastiness because that’s their upward trajectory into growing their game in this sport.
2. I think it shows how much they love being here. You don’t do those things unless you love playing for the Amerks. When you see those things from players like that, it’s a good sign about what that locker room is trying to stand for as a group.”
JOST ANOTHER DAY
After clearing waivers near the end of December, center Tyson Jost is set to appear in his 10th game as an Amerk this season. After rejoining the AHL for the first time since the 2018-19 season, Jost has two goals and seven points in his nine outings with Rochester, including a goal against Utica on Dec. 30.
“I’ve been using this time to get better and work on my game,” said Jost. “I like where my game is at right now. I think I’m playing really good hockey. In the long run, this is going to be good for me. It’s nice to play with confidence and play regular shifts.”
The 25-year-old has appeared in 442 career NHL games but is centering a line of two wingers who are hoping to get their NHL careers to blossom in Isak Rosen and Jiri Kulich.
“It’s nice playing with Rosen and Kulich, too. It’s been awesome. I think we could’ve had 10 goals last weekend. Even watching video with the coaching staff it’s like ‘holy smokes, keep it up’ because we’ve had so many chances. We can keep building on that and keep working because it’s fun to play with those guys.”
“Jost isn’t old, but he’s played a lot,” said Appert. “A mid 20-year-old with some NHL experience that can kind of be a driver and have a calming presence in chaotic moments. To have a guy like Jost as a role model for Kulich and Rosen is great. His work ethic is exceptional. His competitiveness is awesome, and he’s got a great attitude about this situation.”
LUCKY NUMBER 13 FOR COOLEY
Appert confirmed Friday morning that goaltender Devin Cooley will get his 13th start of the season, facing the Comets for just the second time with Rochester.
Cooley owns a 6-4-2 record with a .897 save percentage and a 3.58 goals-against-average. His last start came on Jan. 12 in Charlotte, where the Los Gatos, California, native made 37 saves in a 3-2 win for the Amerks.
“I always knew that Cooley would pull his way out of it (his early season struggles) because of his work ethic. That guy works his tail off, puts a ton of extra time in. Competes hard during practice, puts a ton of time in before and after practice, and is consistently one of the last guys here taking care of his body. When you invest as much as he invests in himself, eventually you’re going to turn it.”