TACO BELL WRAP-UP: AMERKS CARRY OT WIN INTO HOLIDAY BREAK
Dec 26, 2023
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (13-10-2-1) salvaged their pre-Christmas week of action in their final game, boasting a 3-2 overtime win against Syracuse to snap a three-game skid finish the week with a 1-2-0-0 record.
After falling on home ice to Cleveland (5-3) and Providence (6-3), the Amerks topped the Crunch on the road, courtesy of a Brandon Biro power-play goal in overtime. With the win, Rochester enters the final week of 2023 ranked fourth in the AHL’s North Division.
TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
Seven of Rochester’s nine games in December have been decided by two or fewer goals, including four of the last five outings.
Overall, 16 of the team’s 26 games have been decided by one goal. The Amerks have played more one-goal games than any other AHL team, and 20 of their games have been decided by two or fewer goals.
That lack of separation in games is reflected in the North Division standings. The Amerks are fourth in the North, but outside the top two teams in the division, third through seventh place is separated by just seven points.
BRYSON’S WEEK IN REVIEW
Last week saw defenseman Jacob Bryson make his return to the AHL, playing in his first string of games since February 2021. The 26-year-old has spent the bulk of three seasons in Buffalo, but cleared waivers to return to Rochester ahead of the team’s three-game week. Bryson recorded a plus-one rating over his first three games and tallied the primary assist on Biro’s overtime winner Saturday.
“It’s nice to play games,” said Bryson earlier last week. “It’s fun playing 15-20 minutes here, whereas in Buffalo I probably wouldn’t get to play that much. It’s hard to get into games sometimes when you’re not playing a lot. The difference between the AHL and NHL is a small margin. These are some of the best players in the world, as well (players in the AHL). It’s a little different style of hockey, but it’s a tough game and it’s tough to get goals and put up points in this league.”
Bryson has logged 173 NHL games of service since debuting for the Sabres at the tail-end of the 2020-21 season, but he didn’t view going to Rochester as a downward assignment.
“He was excited about it,” said Amerks head coach Seth Appert. “Would you rather be playing in the NHL than the AHL? Yes, but if you’re not playing in the NHL, it’s better for you to be in the American League playing for two things: One it’s good to showcase how good he is for next year to earn a big contract and get back to the NHL, or two, when he gets called back up to Buffalo, he is going to be more ready to be effective and help them win by playing 20 minutes a night instead of sitting on the bench or sitting in the stands just practicing once in a while.”
ROUSEK COMMITTED
In his second full season with the Amerks, forward Lukas Rousek is beginning to show glimpses of the player he was last season that led Rochester in scoring with 56 points (16+40).
Rousek’s up to five goals and 16 points on the season after scoring off a one-timer on the right side in Syracuse on Saturday, giving the Ostrov nad Ohri, Czechia, native points in three straight games for the second time this season. Rousek recorded two goals and two assists last week, but it isn’t just points that are noticed by coach Appert.
“I think Rousek’s last five games have been elite. Some of the games have led to points and some have just led to playing the right way. His commitment to being a winning hockey player on and off the puck has just been really high. He’s been competitive and been back checking. His effort and tenacity getting on the puck are things we’ve been asking him to do, but that’s because those are the things he needs to do to drive winning down here and when he gets another opportunity in Buffalo. That’s the style he has to play to stay (in the NHL). He’s going to be a bottom-six, secondary scorer. Those guys have to play with energy and have to play with tenacity. I think he’s done that in spades over the last five games.”
COMING UP NEXT
It’s another stretch of three games in four days for the Amerks, beginning Wednesday on home ice in a rematch against Syracuse as the home-and-home series shifts back to Rochester. Then, the team will play its final home game of 2023 against the same team they played their final playoff game against. For the first time since June, the Hershey Bears will make an appearance at Blue Cross Arena Friday night. After that, the Amerks face-off with Utica on the road to put a bow on a busy December and memorable 2023.