MICHAEL HOUSER'S TOP THREE MOMENTS FROM THE 2020-21 SEASON
Jun 3, 2021The Rochester Americans 2020-21 campaign was a season unlike any other and presented ample opportunity in the most unusual circumstances.
Take goaltender Michael Houser for example, a player that has been making his way through the pros for nine seasons and finally had his chance to show what he was made of up in Buffalo and here in the Flower City.
From his National Hockey League debut, to his first win as an Amerks and more, here’s a closer look at Houser’s top moments from this past season.
1. SIGNING HIS WAY TO THE SABRES
On March 19, the Buffalo Sabres officially announced that the team had signed Houser to a one-year contract for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.
Originally signed to an American Hockey League contract with the Amerks at the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign, the 28-year-old Houser appeared in 26 games with the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) in 2019-20, posting a 16-5-5 record with two shutouts. He ranked fifth among qualifying ECHL netminders with a 2.27 goals-against average and tied for 14th in wins (16).
After plugging through the minors for a total of nine seasons, this NHL contract was the first that Houser has signed in his pro career.
2. MAKING THAT NHL DEBUT
After traveling with the Sabres taxi squad for a little over a month and a half, the goaltending situation throughout the organization had presented the perfect opportunity for Houser to finally make his NHL debut.
On May 3, Houser got the chance to strap on his pads at the highest level with the Sabres at the KeyBank Center against the New York Islanders. In his first game in the blue and gold, Houser made 36 saves on the 38 shots he faced and he got his first NHL win to boot.
Houser ended up starting the final four games of the season for Buffalo before returning to Rochester to finish up the 2020-21 campaign.
3. ENDING THE YEAR ON A HIGH NOTE
When the Sabres season ending on May 8, Houser made his way down I-90 to finish up the Amerks season in winning fashion.
On Wednesday, May 12 against the Utica Comets, Houser made his Amerks debut at The Blue Cross Arena and, just like he did with the Sabres, finished up the final four games in the crease for Rochester. In those four contests, Houser combined for 110 saves with his best outing coming in the final matchup of the season.
If it weren’t for a literal last-minute penalty shot for the Comets on May 16, Houser had the potential to record a shutout in his final game of the year. However, the veteran netminder still came out with his first win in an Amerks sweater while recording 28 saves.