GAMEDAY NOTES & QUOTES: FRIDAY, APRIL 7
Lineup notes & quotes from Coach Appert ahead of tonight's game
Apr 7, 2023The Rochester Americans open a big North Division back-to-back this weekend in Syracuse on Friday night before heading to Utica on Saturday. All three teams are within three points of each other in the standings, so this weekend’s games have huge playoff implications.
LINEUP NOTES
Forward Brandon Biro is out, and is not expected to play in either game this weekend, according to Amerks head coach Seth Appert.
Jiri Kulich will go back to center tonight. “His versatility has been huge,” Appert told the media today. “We’ve had a lot of center injuries this year, so the job he’s done playing center as an 18-year-old has been extremely valuable for us.”
“He’ll need to step up again tonight.”
Kulich has 44 points (22 goals, 22 assists) in 58 games so far this season, including six in his last four games. The rookie forward leads the team in goal-scoring and ranks eighth amongst rookies around the league.
Appert did not reveal starting goaltender or any other lineup adjustments, though he noted there might be a couple between the two teams.
“Both teams have pretty clear identities,” Appert explained, “so I think that both teams are going to be 75-85% the same, based on their style of play. There’s always going to be 15-25% that can be adjusted based on opponent.”
The Amerks and the Crunch have met 11 times so far this regular season, and the Crunch have won six of the match-ups. Rochester has stolen three games in Syracuse, and look to take another tonight.
WORTH MENTIONING
The Amerks currently sit in third place in the North Division, two points behind the second-place Crunch. When asked about looking to claim the second spot in the North Division, Appert answered: “I’m not worried about it. I’m worried about tonight. That’s the reality.”
“You can waste a lot of mental energy worrying about teams, other people, the standings, and all those things.”
The Amerks can clinch a Calder Cup Playoff berth with a win in Syracuse and a Laval regulation loss vs. Cleveland. “My focus is just on trying to be good tonight, and worry about the next day after that,” Appert said.
“Let the standings fall where they may.”
The Amerks have earned 16 out of a possible 22 points over their last 11 games.
ABOUT THE OPPOSITION
The Syracuse Crunch defeated the Rochester Americans in overtime at Blue Cross Arena on Wednesday night, and enter Friday night’s game 6-3-0-1 in their last ten games. Sitting at second place in the North Division with 77 points, the Crunch have made a big playoff push the last month.
Crunch forward Alex Barré-Boulet ranks second in the AHL in scoring with 79 points so far this season. Simon Ryfors and Darren Raddysh follow with 51 points so far this season, but Raddysh is currently with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Goaltender Max Lagace has appeared in 37 games for Syracuse this season, recording a .887 save percentage and 3.35 goals against average. He is 5-3 against Rochester this season.
GAME NIGHT INFORMATION
Tonight's game in Syracuse can be streamed on AHLTV or listened to on The Fan Rochester live as the puck drops at 7:00PM.
The Amerks head to Utica after the game, as they face the Comets on Saturday night at 7:00PM to closeout the North Division back-to-back.