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AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Can Make Rochester History With Two Wins This Week

November 9, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... The surging Rochester Americans enter the week just two wins away from breaking their franchise record 11-game winning streak set back during 1984-85 season. The Amerks, who have won 10 straight, remain atop the American Hockey League standings and prepare for three games in the next five nights.

The Amerks will be reinforced with the additions of forwards Jeff Taffe and Michal Repik after the Florida Panthers assigned the duo to Rochester Sunday afternoon. Repik and Taffe each skated in two games with each other for the Panthers during their recall, with Repik scoring his first NHL goal of the season in Florida's 7-4 loss to the Washington Capitals Saturday night. During that same game, Rochester forwards Victor Oreskovich and Kenndal McArdle tallied their first NHL points each with an assist. McArdle help set up Repik's second-period goal for the Panthers.

In order to accommodate space for the arrival of Taffe and Repik, the Amerks released forward Ernie Hartlieb from his 25-game professional tryout. Hartlieb, 30, rejoins the Florida Everblades of the ECHL where has five points (3+2) in 11 games this season. He made his Amerks debut Saturday night, his first AHL contest since the 2004-05 season with Grand Rapids, and scored Rochester's first goal in the teams' 4-1 win over the Toronto Marlies. In 132 AHL games with Rochester, Grand Rapids, Lowell (Lock Monsters) and Worcester (IceCats), the 6-foot-2, 210-pound forward has tallied 60 points (25+35).

Rochester closes out its three-game homestand on Tuesday, November 10th as the Hamilton Bulldogs make their first trip across the border to The Blue Cross Arena this season. A win over the Bulldogs will give the Amerks their 11th consecutive win and will tie the longest winning streak in the 54-year history of the franchise set from October 11th to November 2nd during the 1984-85 season, the last time Ted Nolan wore the Amerks crest. The 7:05 matchup will be the first of eight meetings this season between the divisional foes and can be heard live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. Fans can also tune in to watch the game live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet Channel 26. Last season, the Amerks posted a 3-3-0-2 record, which included a 2-1-0-1 record at home, in the season series with the Bulldogs. Rochester owns a 63-50-9 all-time record against the Montreal Canadiens' affiliate.

The game falls on a Veteran's Day Special. In conjunction with the United States Marine Corps, the Amerks are offering a buy one, get one ticket special to all active military members and veterans. The buy one, get one offer is good for any seating area and can be purchased at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office with the presentation of a Military ID, VA Card or an American Legion or VFW membership card. For more details, please call the Amerks office at (585) 454-5335.

In honor of Veteran's Day (November 11th), the Amerks will have a United States Marine Corps Color Guard present the colors for the singing of the American National anthem. Additionally, the Marines will have a table setup in the upper atrium lobby where fans can pick up information and promotional items. Fans can also watch a video during the game of The Amerks Moose completing training exercises with members of the Marine Corps.

After having Wednesday off, the Amerks return to action on Thursday, November 12th as they take on the Portland Pirates for the first time in 10 years since the 1999-00 season. The 7:00 p.m. contest will be played at HSBC Arena, home of Buffalo Sabres and Portland's National Hockey League affiliate. The matchup will be the first of four meetings this season between the two teams and will be carried live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The Amerks are 4-5-1 all-time against the Pirates. With a win over Hamilton and another over Portland, the Amerks could re-write history and set a new franchise record for 12 straight wins, in addition to extending their road winning streak to six games.

The Amerks conclude the weekend on Saturday, November 14th as they travel to Van Andel Arena to battle the Grand Rapids Griffins. Faceoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. and can be heard live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The game will be the first of six encounters this season between the North Division rivals. Rochester is 17-20-3 lifetime against Grand Rapids.

Rochester (11-1-1-0, 23 points) enters the week currently first overall in the AHL with a three-point lead over the Manchester Monarchs, Hershey Bears and Hamilton. The Amerks are in the midst of a 10-game winning streak, which includes seven straight at home, after collecting two more wins over the weekend. The last time the Amerks started the season with 11 wins and 23 points was during the 2006-07 campaign. Rochester earned seven consecutive wins to kickoff the season and were victorious in 14 of the first 15 games.

The Amerks began the weekend with a 4-3 overtime win over the Syracuse Crunch Friday at The Blue Cross Arena. Veteran forward Chris Taylor netted the game-winner on the power play with just over a minute left in the extra frame to keep Rochester's win streak intact. The Amerks clinched their 11thwin and 10 th straight on Saturday night with a 4-1 defeat over the Toronto Marlies. David Brine netted a pair of goals and defenseman Clay Wilson help set up two as rookie goaltender Alexander Salak earned his eighth straight win with a solid 24-save effort.

Brine's two-goal output Saturday night propelled him into the team lead in that category with a team-high seven. His seven goals, two of which have been shorthanded, currently rank him tied for third in the league, while his nine points overall put him in a three-way tie for fourth overall on the team.

Taylor, coming off a six-game point streak of two goals and seven assists, continues to pace Rochester's offense with a team-high 10 assists and 13 points. Taylor, who has 12 points (3+9) in his last nine outings, is on pace averaging a point per game and is tied for seventh in the league in overall point production. The 18-year pro sits just two assists away of surpassing Dick Gamble into the No.4 spot on the franchise's all-time list. Additionally, Taylor sits just four goals and 10 points away from moving ahead of Craig Charron and Norm "Red' Armstrong for 15th and seventh on the all-time list, respectively. The power play extraordinaire has accumulated four of his 10 helpers on the man advantage, tying him with fellow special teams line mate Mike York for fifth best in the league in that very category. Wilson sits tied for fourth in the power play assists table after picking up his fifth over the weekend.

Salak, who was named the AHL's Reebok/AHL Rookie of the Month for October, shows a flawless 8-0-0 record with 248 saves in just nine games. His 1.72 goals-against average and.943 save percentage are currently sixth and fifth among league netminders, respectively, while his eight wins are presently a league best. Salak has started the last six games for Rochester, posting a perfect 6-0-0 record in that time with 176 saves and just nine goals against. In just nine games, Salak has only allowed 15 goals.

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