AMERKS DAILY PRESS CLIPS

Saturday, M ay 15, 2021

Amerks Edged By Comets In Goaltending Duel By Staff Report Amerks.com

The (10-14-2-1) began their final homestand of the 2020-21 campaign on the short end of a 1-0 loss to the intrastate rival (16-10-0-1) in a goaltending duel Friday at The .

The matchup was the second of three get-togethers this week and the 10th meeting overall between the two teams this season. Rochester has earned at least one point in four of the last nine get-togethers thus far.

Forward Brett Murray, playing in his second game back with the Amerks following a brief two-game stint with the , and defenseman each registered four shots on net while , and all had three.

The Amerks successfully killed all three penalties tonight, including a five-minute major, marking the fourth straight game in which the club did not allow a power-play . Since the start of May, Rochester has gone 15-for-15 while being a man down.

In his second appearance with Rochester since making his NHL debut, Michael Houser (0-2-0) made 26 saves but was dealt with the loss. In two starts in the Amerks crease, Houser has stopped 60 of the 63 shots he faced while posting a 1.55 goals against average to go with a .952 save percentage.

With his fifth goal of the season, Curtis McKenzie tallied the lone marker in the contest from Nikita Alexandrov and . The goal, which gave Utica its third straight victory and fourth of the last five games dating back to May 7, was McKenzie’s second point in consecutive games for just the second time all season.

Rookie netminder Evan Fitzpatrick (2-0-0) stopped all 33 shots he faced to record his first-career professional shutout. Through his first three games with Utica this season, Fitzpatrick has allowed only four goals for a 1.65 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage.

After a scoreless opening 20 minutes of play, the Comets got onto the board as McKenzie steered in a Teves point at the 5:37 mark of the period. Alexandrov carried the puck up the right wall towards Teves and handed it to the defenseman just inside the blueline. Teves fired the shot that was seemingly going wide, but McKenzie extended his stick at the last second to redirect inside the far post past an unsuspecting Houser.

Despite Rochester outshooting Utica 22-16 through the first two periods, they trailed going into the final frame of regulation 1- 0.

During the third period, each team registered 11 shots on the opposing netminder but the made the saves to keep the score a one-goal game.

The Amerks, in a last-ditch effort to find the equalizer and force , pulled Houser for the extra attacker but Fitzgerald denied the chances to record the 1-0 shutout victory.

The Amerks continue their final three-game homestand on Saturday, May 15 as they close out their season-series with the at The Blue Cross Arena. Game time is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start and will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM ESPN Rochester as well as AHLTV. The North Division matchup will also be televised live on CW Rochester.

Amerks Score Late, But Come Up Short To Comets By Staff Report Amerks.com

The Rochester Americans (10-13-2-1) wrapped up the road portion of their 2020-21 regular season schedule with a 3-1 loss to the Utica Comets (15-10-0-1) Wednesday at the .

Despite the loss, however, Rochester has collected at least one point in 23 of the last 34 games against Utica dating back to the start of the 2017-18 campaign, going 17-11-2-4 over that span.

Rookie forward Brendan Warren (1+0) notched the Amerks lone tally of the night, while fellow rookie forward Dominic Franco (0+1) added the primary assist and defenseman Nick DeSimone (0+1) got the secondary helper.

Goaltender Michael Houser (0-1-0), fresh off a four-game stint with the Buffalo Sabres, got the loss as he made 34 saves on 37 shots he faced in his Amerks debut, becoming the fifth different netminder to appear in a game this season for Rochester.

Utica forward Vincent Arseneau (1+0) opened the scoring in the first period with his fourth of year, while defenseman (1+0) and forward John Stevens (1+0) rounded out the scoring for the Comets, who improved to 9-2-0-0 in their last 11 home games. Tyler Tucker finished with a team-high two assists.

Goaltender Michael DiPietro (3-1-0) earned his fourth straight start, extending his win streak to two games while fending off 33 shots from the Amerks.

Trailing 2-0 in the waning minutes of the third period, Rochester pulled Houser in favor of the extra attacker, but the Comets would capitalize despite being a man down. From in-between the bluelines, Stevens converted on a long rage shot with 2:33 remaining in regulation to give Utica its largest lead of the night.

It would take until there was just 1:16 left to go in the contest when the Amerks finally found the back of the net to spoil DiPietro’s bid for a shutout.

From between the face-off circles, Franco fired an initial shot that DiPietro turned aside. Waiting just to the left of the crease, Warren found the rebound and tipped the puck in for his third of the season to make it a 3-1 game.

Heading into the middle frame with a one-goal lead, Utica held off Rochester for another 20 minutes of play while finding its second marker of the contest.

On the rush, Nolan Stevens drove the puck through the neutral zone and connected with Woo before gaining the offensive zone. Once Woo retrieved the puck, the Comets defenseman boomed a shot from the top of the left circle towards the Amerks crease. As Woo’s chance skipped across the ice, the puck took a sharp bounce and flew over the stick-side of Houser and into the upper left corner at the 6:54 mark.

For the remaining 13:06 of the second stanza, Rochester was held to just three shots on goal heading into the final 20 minutes of play.

As the clock ticked down on the opening period, Utica held Rochester scoreless while getting on the board not even five minutes into the period.

As Cameron, who played four years of college hockey at Rochester Institute of Technology, eluded Amerks defenseman Ryan Jones from behind the net, he retrieved the puck back on a low cycle and made a feed to Arseneau, who was stationed to the left of the blue paint. The quick pass from Cameron enabled Arseneau to sneak the puck past Houser to put Utica in front 1-0.

Heading into the first intermission, the Comets held a slight 11-9 advantage in shots while both teams were unsuccessful on the power-play to begin the contest.

The same two teams exchange pleasantries again for the second time in three nights on Friday, May 14 as the Amerks kickoff their final homestand of the 2020-21 campaign with a rematch against the Comets at The Blue Cross Arena. Game time is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start and will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM ESPN Rochester as well as AHLTV. The North Division matchup will also be tape-delayed on CW Rochester beginning at 10 p.m.

Comets w in last home game as AHL affiliate of Canucks By Steve Jones Rome Sentinel

The Utica Comets went out with a win, beating the Rochester Americans 3-1 Wednesday in the last home game as the AHL affiliate of the Canucks at the Utica Aud.

The Canucks are relocating the affiliate to in the offseason. Utica will host the AHL affiliate of the in the 2021-22 season, and will retain the Comets name. This year’s team was a powerhouse at home, with an 11-2 record at The Aud.

“It was awesome,” said Utica head coach after the game. The coaches and players saluted the crowd before leaving the home ice one last time. “My goal as a head coach is to create a team that the fans can be proud of,” one with good work ethic that is worth the price of admission. His message before the game in the locker room was clear: “I want your best. I think the boys did a great job.” He added, “They knew I wanted this one. It’s the closest we’d get to a playoff game” this season. “I was a little choked up when I left the ice.”

Vincent Arseneau started the scoring, recording his fourth of the season 4:34 into the game. Shawn Cameron sent a backhanded feed to Arseneau from behind the net to where he was cutting to the crease. Arseneau beat goalie Michael Houser to make it 1- 0 Comets. Cameron earned his second assist of the season and Mitch Eliot was credited with his fourth assist.

“It’s pretty emotional,” Arseneau said after the win. He said scoring the goal motivated him the rest of the game. In the end it was Arseneau, a crowd favorite who spent four years in Utica, who came off the ice last. “I wanted to make sure I was the last one to step off at the end.” He said Utica has been “a great hockey town. It’s so much fun.” He added: “We just want to end it on a good note. And we did it.”

The Comets built the lead to two goals just under seven minutes into the second when defenseman Jett Woo carried the puck in on the right side, slammed on the brakes and fired a wrist shot that rung the inside of the post and went in. It was Woo’s third goal of the season. Assists went to Nolan Stevens, his 12th, and Tyler Tucker, his fifth.

John Stevens put the game away with an empty net goal for Utica with 2:33 left in regulation. It was his sixth of the season. Curtis McKenzie earned an assist on the goal, his eighth of the season.

The Amerks would eventually spoil Utica goalie Michael DiPietro’s shutout bid with a rebound goal by Brendan Warren with 1:16 left but Utica held on for a 3-1 win.

DiPietro, who had 33 saves in net for Utica to earn the win, said, “The end of the game was pretty emotional for me.” DiPietro, who joined the team last season, has made it a point to be a part of the local community. “You develop a connection.” He added of the fans:

“They care so much about us so we should care about them.” And those fans showed up Wednesday, even if The Aud could only allow 400 inside. “It was still loud. That shows you the passion. The fan base is something I’ve almost never experienced with how much they care.”

“I know New Jersey is lucky, that’s for sure,” Cull said of the incoming organization.

The Comets improved to 15-10-1 on the season. They wrap up the season with road games in Rochester at 7:05 p.m. Friday and 5:05 p.m. Sunday.

Hofer called up by the Blues

Goalie Joel Hofer was called up from Utica before the game Wednesday.

Hofer, 20, recorded the shutout in the Comets’ 3-0 win over the Syracuse Crunch Monday, his second of the season. In 10 games with Utica this year, he was 4-6 with a .898 save percentage and a 3.33 goals-against-average.

Comets earn emotional w in over Amerks in final home game as ' affiliate By Spencer Davidson WKTV

In a moment that brought the past eight years full circle, the Utica Comets topped the Rochester Americans 3-1 in the team's final game at the Adirondack Bank Center as the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, Wednesday.

Utica's first win in its inaugural season with the Canucks was on November 23, 2013, a 2-0 victory over the Amerks in the team's tenth home game at the Aud.

After getting some potential nerves out on the first couple of shifts, the Comets took control of the game 4:34 into the opening period. From behind the Amerks' net, Shawn Cameron fed a centering pass in front to Vincent Arseneau who put a one-timer inside the far post to put Utica on the board. Mitch Eliot also assisted on the play.

In the second, Jett Woo, the hero of Monday's overtime thriller against the Syracuse Crunch, joined the rush and fooled Michael Houser on a shot off the wing to extend the Comets lead to 2-0. Nolan Stevens and Tyler Tucker notched the helpers on the goal.

After a stalemate most of the third period, Rochester pulled the goalie for an extra attacker while on a power play with just over three minutes remaining. Late in the kill, with 2:33 remaining in the game, John Stevens scored an empty netter to all but ice it. Tucker and Curtis McKenzie registered assists on the effort.

Brendan Warren scored for Rochester with 1:16 left in the game to end the shutout bid, but the Comets were still able to celebrate one final victory on home ice with the limited 400 fans in attendance.

Michael DiPietro was stellar in goal making 33 saves in the game, as the Comets closed out the home portion of the season with a dominant 11-2 record at the Aud.

The Comets and Amerks wrap-up the 2020-21 season with two games in Rochester on Friday and Sunday.

Utica will then begin a 10-year affiliation with the New Jersey Devils in the 2021-22 season.

Sabres make moves, send five players to Amerks By Bill Hoppe Amerks.com

Goalie Michael Houser, who started four games for the Buffalo Sabres last week, was among five players the team sent to the Rochester Americans this morning.

The Sabres also assigned defenseman and forwards Steven Fogarty, Brett Murray and C.J. Smith to their AHL affiliate.

The Amerks have four games left this season, starting with Wednesday’s road contest against the Utica Comets.

Houser, 28, looked impressive in his first NHL action, compiling a 2-2-0 record with a 3.46 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage.

Sabres Notebook: aiming to become a 'better goal-scorer' By Lance Lysowski Buffalo News

Victor Olofsson isn’t a complete player yet.

The 25-year-old has routinely acknowledged that fact when speaking to reporters since he made his long-awaited debut on March 28, 2019, almost five years after he was drafted as an undersized in the seventh round by former Tim Murray’s scouting staff.

A dynamo on the power play, Olofsson is still searching for ways to make an impact for the Sabres at 5-on-5. Of his 35 goals in 116 games since reaching the NHL, only 15 have occurred at even strength. An exit interview with GM on Tuesday provided some insight into how Olofsson can be more productive in the final year of a contract that will count $3.05 million against the salary cap.

“I just had a great talk with Kevyn about that and I feel like, I probably, I’ve got to play a little bit more on the inside and be good around the net and find ways to score more goals around the net,” said Olofsson, a restricted free agent in the summer of 2022. “I know I can score from the outside, I know I have a good shot and I’m going to get my opportunities and score goals from the outside. … I think that’s the biggest key for me to take the next step and become a better goal-scorer overall.”

Olofsson finished second on the team in goals (13) and points (32) while playing in all 56 games during this shortened season. He was the top goal-scorer on a power play that ranked third in the NHL through Feb. 28. Watch Now: It's a springtime winter wonderland in Wyoming

Since making his NHL debut, Olofsson ranks eighth in the NHL in power-play goals, only three fewer than Alex Ovechkin entering play Tuesday. As much as Olofsson has taken too many shots from the perimeter – particularly in the final weeks of the season when he shot just 7.6% under interim coach – he is still generating chances when the Sabres don’t have a man- advantage.

Though only six of his goals this season occurred at even strength, Olofsson’s individual shot quality at 5-on-5 ranked fourth on the team, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

Only Jeff Skinner, and had better opportunities to score in those situations. Now Olofsson wants to drive to the net more often, which will require improved awareness when the Sabres have the puck.

“I would say it’s more look at video, look at the areas, what I can do differently, just the timing of it, maybe finding that open ice on the back door,” Olofsson said when asked how he can improve. “Just got to be better and read the game a little bit better in the offensive zone and come to the inside a little bit more and find opportunities.”

Reinforcements

With their season over and exit interviews concluded, the Sabres assigned the following players to the Rochester Americans on Tuesday: goalie Michael Houser, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson and forwards Steven Fogarty, Brett Murray and C.J. Smith.

The Amerks have four games remaining, beginning Wednesday night at Utica.

The most significant addition is Houser, a 28-year-old who won his first two games in the NHL for the Sabres last week. He finished with a .901 save percentage in four games, capped by a 22-save performance during the season finale in .

Hall backs Eichel

Former Sabres winger Taylor Hall threw his support behind his former teammate and , , following the ’ 3-2 win over the Islanders on Monday night.

“I know Jack is frustrated,” Hall said after scoring two more goals. “Jack and I became really, really good friends during our time in Buffalo and I support him. I know he’s gone through some stuff with the medical staff there and ultimately, Jack has to worry about himself. There’s teams that they’re going to worry, just like he said, about what’s best for them. And Jack has to do what’s best for him.

"And I know he’s got an injury that he feels he can take care of with a surgery and there’s a little bit of a disagreement. But I support Jack and he was nothing but a great teammate and a really good friend when I played with him.”

Entering Tuesday, Hall had eight goals with six assists for 14 points in 16 games since his trade from Buffalo to Boston last month. He had only two goals and 19 points in 37 games with the Sabres.

Amerks Auctioning Off 65th Anniversary Jerseys On Dash By Staff Report Amerks.com

The Rochester Americans announced today that the team will auction off the special-edition red sweaters worn on select game- nights throughout the 2020-21 season as part of its 65th anniversary celebration. All proceeds raised will benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester.

Fans will have the opportunity to purchase the set of autographed game-worn and game-issued jerseys through an online auction on DASH, a sports-focused online auction platform and partner of the Rochester Americans.

To access the auction, visit https://amerks.co/3f078Jr or text “DASH” to 66866, click on the download link and install DASH on your mobile device. Fans can then create their own personal profile and select the Amerks as their favorite team to start bidding.

Bidding is open now through 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 16. Winners will be contacted directly.

The sweater was inspired by one worn during the team’s first championship season of 1964-65. The timeless red jerseys pay tribute to the early years of the franchise and feature the classic stars and stripes shield on the front outlined in black, with a thicker black border enveloping the right side of the crest to create a shadow effect.

Six white stars adorn the shoulders, with three on each side, symbolic of Rochester’s six Calder Cup championships. Each arm features a thick royal blue stripe with a thinner white band at the top and bottom, and a white lace-up also accentuates the neckline.

Amerks auctioning off special edition sw eaters By Staff Report WHEC-TV

The Rochester Americans Monday announced they will be auctioning off the special-edition red sweaters worn on select game nights throughout the 2020-21 season as part of its 65th-anniversary celebration.

All proceeds will go to Golisano Children’s Hospital.

The auction will be on DASH, a sports-focused online auction platform.

Those interested in bidding can visit the website or text “DASH” to 66866. Bidding will last through 8 p.m. Sunday, May 16.

Winners will be contacted directly.