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Home , American Hockey League, Blue Cross Arena, Buffalo Sabres, Carter Hutton, Cincinnati Cyclones, Don Granato

AMERKS DAILY PRESS CLIPS

Friday, M arch 26, 2021

Amerks hosting a holiday food drive By Mark Gruba Rochester First

The are hosting a holiday food drive in partnership with T-Mobile and supported by this Saturday, March 27 in Webster.

The Amerks Director of Strategic Planning and Hall of Famer and the organization’s Senior Director of Business Development Chad Buck discussed Fueling the Frontlines 2.0 Thursday during News 8 at Noon.

“Due to the overwhelming success of the program in 2020 we thought it was important to continue to make a positive impact in the community during these challenging times,” said Buck. “The first part of the program is getting out 15 times in the community to deliver some hot meals to first responders, and the secondary is once again to benefit our friends at the VOC – local veterans and their families. So we’re going to be hosting a contactless holiday food drive this weekend at the T-Mobile location in the town center of Webster. We’re encouraging all fans and community members to come out, donate a ham and one non-perishable item, and you’ll receive two complimentary digital ticket vouchers to a future Amerks game and also the opportunity to win some cool prizes from the Amerks, T-Mobile, as well as a $500 gift card compliments of Wegmans.”

The Amerks held similar food drives last fall before Thanksgiving and again before Christmas. Saturday’s food drive will go from 11 am to 3 pm at the T-Mobile location at 927 Holt Road in Webster. Fans and members of the community are encouraged to bring one ham and one non-perishable food item.

For Gage and other Amerks alumni, supporting veterans has strong roots. “This is very close and dear to our hearts,” he said. “Back when 9/11 happened we got together and because of the logo and the flag of the Rochester Americans, we thought it was important to get involved with veterans. And one of the things that we’re proud of is just the community, the response the last two times out. Our fans are unbelievable. Let’s face it – a lot of us alumni, we’ve actually stayed in the community because of how the community is and how we’re always top in the nation on giving back within the community. So this one is dear to us and it’s a way for us to make sure that we’re feeding veterans who are really hurting.”

Wegman will also contribute $3 for every pound of food donated up to $5,000.

Find out more about Saturday’s food drive at Amerks.com.

'I'm just trying to learn' | Luukkonen hopes to benefit on taxi squad By Jourdon LaBarber Sabres.com

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen may not appear in a game during his current stint with the , an assignment necessitated by injuries to both and .

Sabres interim coach still expects it to be an invaluable experience for the 22-year-old .

"Every moment you're with the NHL team is big," Granato said. "… You have to acclimate and feel that you belong and take ownership of being at that level, and when you do, those players flourish, they play to their actual potential at that time.

"So, confidence is an enormous part of it, that self-projection. The more time a can get around it, the easier it becomes for them to associate, 'Yes, I belong here.' It moves from a dream to a reality for every player in that regard. So, it's a big moment."

Luukkonen was watching on TV when Hutton sustained his injury against the Rangers on Monday. With Ullmark still on injured reserve, the loss of Hutton left and Michael Houser as Buffalo's two healthy .

Teams are required to carry at least one goaltender on the taxi squad this , prompting Luukkonen to get the call on Tuesday.

Luukkonen has had a promising trajectory since being selected by the Sabres during the second round of the 2017 NHL . He turned heads upon joining the of the Hockey League for his first North American season in 2018- 19, rewriting the team's record books while capturing the Red Tilson as the league's most outstanding player. He won a medal with at the World Junior Championship that January, on the cake for a storybook year.

The Sabres have since taken their time with Luukkonen's development. He spent the majority of last season with the organization's ECHL affiliate, the Cyclones, where he posted a .912 percentage in 23 games and earned a sport in the league's All-Star Game. His results in 10 games at the AHL level with Rochester were less dazzling - 3-4-4 with a .874 - but proved to be valuable. Luukkonen began this season with TPS of Finland's top pro league and has since returned to Rochester a more comfortable, confident goalie.

Luukkonen has started eight of 10 games for the Amerks this season, going 5-2-1 with a .904 save percentage.

"The game is all-around more solid," he said. "I feel like the positioning and being in the right place and not overreacting or overplaying situations, I think that is the base for being more - I don't know - reactive in the and being more comfortable with the shots."

Tokarski is expected to start for the Sabres against the Penguins on Wednesday with Houser as his backup. Granato has not set a target date for Ullmark to return to the lineup, though the goaltender did practice with the team on Tuesday.

Whatever awaits him, Luukkonen said he hopes to make the most of the time he has while sharing the ice with Ullmark and assistant coach . "I'm just trying to learn as much as I can here," he said.

Sabres goalie prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen excited for first taste of NHL By Bill Hoppe Buffalo Hockey Beat

If injured Buffalo Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark keeps progressing, he could play this week, perhaps as soon as Thursday. So Ukko- Pekka Luukkonen’s first taste of the NHL might be brief.

Still, spending just a day or two with the Sabres, even on the taxi squad as their third goalie, should be a significant step for Luukkonen’s development.

“The more time a prospect can get around (the NHL), the easier it becomes for them to associate, ‘Yes, I belong here,’” interim Sabres coach Don Granato said on a Zoom call this morning. “It moves from a dream to a reality for every player in that regard. So it’s a big moment.”

The Sabres recalled Luukkonen, their top goalie prospect, on Wednesday after Carter Hutton suffered a lower-body injury in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the .

Luukkonen said he was watching the game and learned later that night the Sabres would summon him from the Rochester Americans to the taxi squad. He skated Tuesday morning in Rochester before leaving for .

The Finn participated in the Sabres’ optional workout this morning inside PPG Paints Arena, where they face the Penguins tonight.

“It’s been an exciting couple of days for me,” said Luukkonen, a second-round pick in 2017, 54th overall.

He added: “There’s going to be a lot to learn from here.”

Sabres goalie Dustin Tokarski will start tonight’s game and be backed up by Michael Houser, who has spent most of this season as Rochester’s backup.

The Amerks’ recent COVID-19 pause and postponements related to the ’ COVID problems have limited Luukkonen’s practice time and game action. He hasn’t played since March 10.

Luukkonen has started eight of the Amerks’ 10 games this season, compiling a 5-2-1 record with a 3.19 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage.

Luukkonen needs consistent work to keep developing, so the Amerks want to him to play the bulk of their 32-game schedule.

He played most of 2019-20, his rookie season, with the , earning ECHL All-Star honors. He also played 10 games with the Amerks.

He spent the early part of this season on loan to HC TPS, a team in Finland, posting a 6-3-4 mark with a 2.52 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in 13 games, according to eliteprospects.com.

“I took some great steps there,” Luukkonen said. “We had good coaching there, too, so I was really fortunate to play (with TPS) at the start of the season. I think being back again in Finland in a professional environment, you learn from the older guys to become more professional and to be a better goalie and better player all around.”

Luukkonen has learned to settle down and utilize his 6-foot-5, 196-pound frame. He said he plays more confidently and showcases a “more relaxed” style.

“The game is all around more solid,” he said. “I feel like the positioning and being in the right place and not overreacting or overplaying situations, I think that is the base for being more – I don’t know – reactive in the goal and being more comfortable with the shots.

“I think coming from Europe where the ice is bigger, too, kind of getting into the smaller ice here I feel like having the better positioning and more stable game has helped me a lot.”

He added: “There’s not much scrambling anymore.”

Granato did not have an update on Hutton. Ullmark, who suffered a lower-body injury Feb. 23, started practicing Tuesday.

The Amerks are scheduled to play the on Friday in Rochester.

Syracuse is one of only three opponents the Amerks face this season. They also have Utica and the Monsters on their schedule.

“You’re playing … the same three teams all over again,” Luukkonen said. “That’s probably been the hardest part I can pick out from this season, so preparing yourself every game even though you may be facing the same opponent (a) second or third time in a row. That’s been one of the most different things compared to a normal season.”

Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen's taxi squad assignment is intro to life as an NHLer By Lance Lysowski Buffalo News

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was watching the Buffalo Sabres’ game Monday night when an injury occurred at that altered the organization’s goaltending plan.

Carter Hutton, the Sabres’ 35-year-old goaltender, suffered a lower-body injury that forced him to exit in the first period of a 5- 3 loss to the New York Rangers. Dustin Tokarski, thrust into a backup role when Jonas Johansson was traded, took over and stopped 33 of 37 shots in his first NHL action since Oct. 28, 2016.

With Hutton in Buffalo for medical testing and starting goalie Linus Ullmark still working his way back from a lower-body injury, Sabres management called on Luukkonen to join the team in Pittsburgh. The 22-year-old top prospect was added to the taxi squad and participated in an optional morning skate Wednesday in PPG Paints Arena ahead of a game against the Penguins.

“First of all, I’m just trying to learn as much as I can here,” said Luukkonen, a second-round pick in 2017. “It has been a great experience to be here. We have a lot of great players here, all the coaching staff is really good. There’s a lot to learn from them, and, of course, seeing Linus back on the ice, there’s a lot to learn from him, too. So, I will try to focus on those things they tell me do.”

This is not how the Sabres planned to introduce Luukkonen to the . He’s only appeared in 42 professional games between the ECHL and , including eight this season with the Rochester Americans. Lowest-earning county in every state

Luukkonen has not appeared in a game since March 10, a 3-2 shootout loss at Utica that preceded a Covid-19 pause. He practiced in Rochester for the first time Wednesday before leaving for Pittsburgh to join the Sabres.

Ullmark, 27, has skated each of the past two days and interim coach Don Granato expressed hope that Ullmark can play Thursday night against Pittsburgh.

This is an opportunity for Luukkonen to work with goalie coach Mike Bales and take shots from the Sabres in morning skates and, potentially, practices. In eight starts in Rochester this season, Luukkonen totaled a 3.19 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.

His game has been much better technically because he had a full offseason to train on and off the ice. That wasn’t the case in the summer of 2019 as Luukkonen was still recovering from double hip surgery, a procedure that impacted his play last season. The surgery came after a season in which Luukkonen captured a gold medal with Finland at the IIHF World Junior Championship and earned MVP honors for his outstanding performance with Sudbury.

“I think all the positioning, the game is all around more solid,” Luukkonen said. “I feel like the positioning and being in the right place and not overreacting or overplaying situations, I think that is the base for being more – I don’t know – reactive in the goal and being more comfortable with the shots. I think coming from Europe where the ice is bigger, too, kind of getting into the smaller ice here I feel like having the better positioning and more stable game has helped me a lot.”

With improved lower-body strength, Luukkonen set out for Finland’s Liiga during the NHL’s pause last fall, producing a .908 save percentage in 13 games with TPS before his loan agreement ended in December. Instruction from Sabres goalie development coach and TPS goalie coach Ari Moisanen helped Luukkonen clean up the areas of his game impacted by the surgery.

It’s unclear how long Luukkonen will remain with the team. The Sabres would prefer he play games in Rochester as opposed to taking shots in Buffalo’s practices. This also isn’t the ideal time or situation for Luukkonen to make his NHL debut. Regardless of how long he’s around, Luukkonen can use this introduction as a learning experience for when he’s finally called upon to play in a game.

“Every moment you’re with the NHL team is big,” Granato said. “You have to acclimate and feel that you belong and take ownership of being at that level, and when you do, those players flourish, they play to their actually potential at that time. So, confidence is an enormous part of it, that self-projection. So, the more time a prospect can get around it, the easier it becomes for them to associate, ‘Yes, I belong here.’ It moves from a dream to a reality for every player in that regard. So, it’s a big moment.”

Filling in

If Luukkonen remains with the Sabres this week, the Amerks will likely turn to goalie for their scheduled game Friday night against Syracuse in Rochester’s .

Lekkas, 25, joined the Amerks on a professional tryout shortly after the team returned to practice from the Covid-19 pause. He previously appeared in nine games this season with the ECHL’s , posting a 6-1-2 record and .920 save percentage. Lekkas played collegiately at the University of Vermont, totaling a. 918 save percentage in 134 NCAA games.

Wednesday's Game In Utica Postponed By Staff Report Amerks.com

The American Hockey League announced today that due to league COVID-19 protocols affecting the Utica Comets, their game scheduled for Wednesday, March 24 vs. the Rochester Americans (AHL Game #179) has been postponed.

A make-up date has not yet been determined.

Amerks Get Back To Work After Covid-19 Stoppage By Ryan Harr Amerks.com

After erasing a two-goal deficit before eventually falling in a shootout to the Utica Comets on March 10, the Rochester Americans were eager to return to the Flower City for what would have been their first of back-to- back games of the season on the weekend. However, after three players and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19, causing an unexpected stoppage and the postponement of four games, the Amerks finally got clearance to the resume full-team activities on Friday afternoon.

With last Friday’s game already postponed, the fourth straight, Rochester is eyeing Wednesday night to return to the to face the Comets. The Amerks, who have played 10 their first 32 games this season, boasting a 6-3-0-1 record over that span, will play 22 contests over the final month and half.

Appert focused on Rochester

Following the organizational shake-up with the Buffalo Sabres last week highlighted by the departure of and assistant coach Steve Smith, general manager put immediate plans into motion for the Sabres.

Among those include naming Don Granato as the interim head coach, with former Amerk and Dan Girardi both going to serve as assistant coaches.

With Girardi having to serve his quarantine requirements and the Amerks idle due to COVID-19 protocols, Amerks head coach found himself on Buffalo’s bench during the team’s contest against the last Thursday, helping with the Sabres’ defensemen.

After returning from his brief call-up, Appert said Friday afternoon that his focus is and remains in Rochester with the Amerks. The first-year head coach felt it was important to his team that his voice is not only heard by his players, but he is also seen in person.

Staying active during time off

With the Amerks being shutdown due to the COVID-19 protocols, the players were not permitted inside The Blue Cross Arena except to be tested. Therefore, the players had to keep active on their own while trying to stay in hockey shape.

Some players used the time to not only rest the body from the daily grind of hockey, but they also used it as an opportunity to shut off their minds and use the break as a reset going into the next stretch of games.

Taking advantage of the opportunity

Late last week, the Sabres made a pair of goaltending moves that resulted in Rochester also making one of its own. Following the Amerks signing netminder Stefanos Lekkas to a Professional Contract (PTO), Buffalo inked Michael Houser to an NHL Contract for the remainder of the 2020-21 campaign.

Lekkas, 25, joins the Amerks after starting the 2020-21 season with the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL), posting a 6-1-2 record with a 1.96 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage in nine games. The 6-foot, 200-pound netminder currently leads all ECHL rookie goaltenders in goals-against average while ranking third in wins and fourth in save percentage.

Prior to turning pro, the Elburn, , native completed a four-year collegiate career at the University of Vermont (H-East), where he finished with a 45-69-20 career record and made 3,913 saves, the most in history and fifth-most in NCAA history. As a junior, he appeared in all 34 games while posting a 2.27 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage en route to earning Hockey East Second All-Star Team honors.

He left Vermont after 134 games with the Catamounts, the second-most in program history by a goaltender, ranking first in save percentage (.918), third in goals-against average (2.61) and fourth in wins (45) and (7).

Prior to joining Vermont, Lekkas played three seasons with the of the United States Hockey League, backstopping the team its second Clark Cup championship in 2015 after leading league with nine postseason wins.

Additionally, Saturday afternoon, Buffalo acquired a sixth-round selection in the 2021 NHL Draft from the Avalanche in exchange for former Amerks goaltender and reigning team MVP Jonas Johansson.

As a result of the trade, Houser was reassigned to the Sabres’ taxi squad, leaving Rochester with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Lekkas.

Lekkas has had three practices with the Amerks since joining the team and admits that having started this season with Fort Wayne, the same team he made his pro debut with toward the end of last season, has allowed his transition to the American Hockey League that much easier.

“Getting that little bit of pro experience is something I’m taking with me here and has helped a lot,” said Lekkas following Monday’s practice.

But, like any player making the jump to the next level, he also understands the need to make adjustments as well as the overall difference in the pace of play.

“I think just having a little more patience in net. Shots are coming a little harder and the speed is a little quicker at this level. I knew there was going to be a little of an adjustment in moving up levels, just like it was from the NCAA to the ECHL, but it’s a step that I’m ready to take.”

Appert said Monday afternoon how great of an opportunity it is for other guys to get in the lineup while Lekkas deserves a chance to get a crack in the American Hockey League.

“I’m pretty familiar with his game,” said Appert, “and his track record from midget hockey, to the USHL, to NCAA and to the ECHL, says he deserves to get a crack in the American Hockey League. He has earned his way here. He’s always been doubted because of his size and he keeps proving people wrong.”

Looking ahead

The Amerks begin a busy three-game week as they look to even the season-series with the Comets on Wednesday, Mar. 24 when they face-off against Utica again for the sixth time of 14 scheduled meetings this season at Adirondack Bank Center. Game time is slated for a 7:00 p.m. and will be carried live on The Sports Leader AM 950/95.7 FM ESPN Rochester as well as AHLTV.

Wednesday’s Comets-Amerks game postponed By Staff Report TheAHL.com

The American Hockey League today announced that due to league COVID-19 protocols affecting the Utica Comets, their game scheduled for Wednesday, March 24 vs. the Rochester Americans (AHL Game #179) has been postponed.

A make-up date has yet to be determined.

Sabres reassign Luukkonen to taxi squad By Jourdon LaBarber Sabres.com

The Buffalo Sabres have reassigned goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen from the Rochester Americans to the taxi squad, the team announced Tuesday.

Sabres interim coach Don Granato said after practice on Tuesday that the team plans to dress Dustin Tokarski and Michael Houser as its two goaltenders against the on Wednesday. Teams are required to carry at least one goaltender on their taxi squad this season.

Read more on the situation in net, including updates on Carter Hutton and Linus Ullmark, in Tuesday's practice report.

Luukkonen, 22, was selected by the Sabres during the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft. He has a .904 save percentage in eight appearances with Rochester this season.

Sabres' Linus Ullmark returns to practice; Dustin Tokarski to start W ednesday By Lance Lysowski Buffalo News

As the Buffalo Sabres await word on Carter Hutton’s status, good news finally arrived for interim coach Don Granato with goalie Linus Ullmark successfully completing a practice Tuesday afternoon in PPG Paints Arena.

Ullmark, 27, faced shots from teammates for the first time since he suffered a lower-body injury during the first period of a 4- 3 loss to the New on Feb. 25. However, Ullmark will miss a 14th consecutive game Wednesday when the Sabres face the Penguins in PPG Paints Arena, as he still has benchmarks to complete before returning to Buffalo’s lineup.

Sabres interim coach Don Granato expressed hope to the media Tuesday that Ullmark will be ready for the second game of the back-to-back Thursday night.

“That would be great if he could, and will, with goalie coach Mike Bales and the training staff, push him as hard as they feel that is good and is a healthy push,” said Granato. “And then we’ll get that information, obviously, upon return. So, you can’t rule anything out, I would say. The next couple days we’ll be looking at the potential of that. Certainly, we want him back as soon as we can, and I think Linus wants to be back as soon as we can, but the information’s not there yet to know the date on that.”

Dustin Tokarski, a 31-year-old who spent last season with the Penguins’ American Hockey League affiliate, will start Wednesday and Michael Houser will backup, said Granato. Tokarski 33 of 37 shots in relief Monday, taking a 4-3 loss to the Rangers in his first NHL action since Oct. 28, 2016. Houser is a 28-year-old who has never appeared in an NHL game.

Hutton flew back to Buffalo for further medical evaluation after a lower-body injury forced him to exit the game in the first period Monday night. The 35-year-old pending unrestricted free agent is 1-10-1 with an .886 save percentage in 13 games this season.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, the Sabres' top goaltending prospect, was assigned from Rochester to the taxi squad. Luukkonen, 22, has not played a game since March 10 because of the Amerks' two-week Covid-19 pause. He's also barely skated since exiting quarantine.

The Sabres (6-20-4), whose 16 points are the fewest in the NHL, carry a 14-game winless streak into their second stop on the three-city road trip. The Penguins (19-11-2) are without center , but they rank 11th in the league in 5-on-5 goals scored and still have an exceptional top six, led by .

It’s the sort of matchup fit for Ullmark, who has emerged as the Sabres’ unquestioned starter in net the past two seasons. The former sixth-round draft choice is 22-18-5 with a .916 save percentage in 46 games during that span, including 5-4-2 with a .919 save percentage in 2020-21.

The injury occurred when Ullmark made a series of saves to fend off the , capped by a -handed stop in which he did a split and needed to be examined by a team trainer. Ullmark finished the first period and was replaced by Hutton.

“It’s frustrating obviously to be on the sidelines and watching the boys struggling, but I just gotta control what I can control,” said Ullmark. “We had a good plan right from the get-go and I feel like we’ve taken the necessary steps to always improve. ... For now, there’s no set timetable for me; it’s more of a day-to-day basis. We have to check off a couple of those checkmarks along the way.”

The Sabres’ top three goalies at the start of this season won’t be available to Granato on Wednesday: Hutton, Ullmark and Jonas Johansson, who was traded to Colorado in exchange for a sixth-round draft choice. Another loss would make the Sabres’ winless streak the longest in the NHL since the Phoenix Coyotes dropped 15 games in a row from Feb. 21 to March 21, 2004.

Though goaltending depth is an issue, Ullmark’s presence at practice Tuesday was one of the few encouraging moments for the Sabres amid all the losing.

“You don’t get anywhere in this league without great goaltending,” said center . “From what I’ve seen of Linus … he’s a great goalie. Obviously, we missed him a lot. Missed him dearly. He was real solid for us, gave us a chance every time he was in the net and instills a lot of confidence in our team. When you’re missing that it’s difficult.”

Other injury updates

Neither defenseman Colin Miller nor were able to practice Tuesday as both carry day-to-day injury designations, according to Granato. The Sabres are hopeful Miller can be in the lineup Wednesday after he suffered what appeared to be a shoulder injury Monday in Madison Square Garden.

Rieder, though, is more of a “question mark,” according to Granato, and the Sabres will know more about each player’s status when the team skates Wednesday morning in PPG Paints Arena. Winger remains out with an upper-body injury and there is not a timeline for his return.

Schedule change

The Rochester Americans will have to wait at least two more days to resume play following a two-week Covid-19 pause. The Amerks’ game scheduled for Wednesday night at Utica was postponed because league Covid-19 protocols continue to affect the Comets.

The Amerks’ past five games have been postponed and three of their players tested positive for Covid-19. Their last game was March 10 at Utica and they are scheduled to play at Syracuse on Friday. The Amerks (6-3-1) practiced Tuesday in Rochester’s Blue Cross Arena.

Utica Comets postpone fifth game in a row due to COVID protocols By Staff Report WKTV

The Utica Comets have postponed their fifth game in a row, putting off the match against the Rochester Americans that was scheduled for Wednesday, March 24.

Last week, the Comets confirmed with NEWSChannel 2 that someone in the program tested positive for coronavirus. At that time, two weekend games were postponed so the team could follow procedures for COVID-19 contact tracing and quarantining.

This is the third game against the Americans that has been postponed this season. The other two were against the Syracuse Crunch.

The teams have not yet rescheduled Wednesday’s game.

The Comets are scheduled to play the Crunch on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Syracuse.