AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Host Grand Rapids Tonight at the Blue Cross Arena

Published on December 21, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


Game Notes: Tonight, the Rochester Americans look for their fourth straight win of the season as they host the Grand Rapids Griffins at The Blue Cross Arena. The 6:05 p.m. North Division contest will be the third game of a current four-game homestand for the Amerks and can be heard live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK, whtk.com and AHL Live.

Promotions: Fans can purchase the Zweigle's Family Four Pack of four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for just $55. Packages are available for purchase at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office. Call the Amerks at (585) 454-5335 for more details. Tonight is also Buy One, Get One Half-off night, where fans can purchase a ticket and get another for half the price in any seating section for any Sunday through Thursday game. Tickets can be purchased online through Ticketmaster.com. Further, it's Military Discount Night, in which active military and veterans can present a Military ID or an American Legion or VFW membership card and receive premium seating for just $10 or 200 End seats for $5, a savings of $12.25 per ticket. All tickets can be purchased directly at the Box Office window at The Blue Cross Arena. Lastly, it's the second night of the Amerks' Toy Donation. Fans who bring in a new and unwrapped toy to the Box Office will receive 100 or 200-level premium seating for $15. All toys are being donated to the American Red Cross and Rochester General Hospital's Children's Unit.

Head-to-Head: The matchup is the second of six scheduled meetings between the North Division rivals this season. Rochester dropped a 3-1 decision in the previous encounter with Grand Rapids on November 29th at Van Andel Arena. The Amerks are 0-1-0-0 this season and 16-17-2 lifetime against the Detroit Red Wings' affiliate.

Amerks Notes: Rochester (8-20-0-2, 18 points) enters the contest currently on a three-game winning streak after earning a 2-1 shootout win over the Lake Erie Monsters Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena. Michael Duco scored the lone goal in regulation while Michal Repik netted the only goal in the shootout to give Rochester's its third straight win over Lake Erie. Mike Brodeur, the reigning Reebok/AHL Player of the Week, turned away 31 of 32 shots to notch his fifth win of the season and collect second star honors.

Michal Repik (6+8), Janis Sprukts (6+8), Jason Garrison (2+12) and now Kenndal McArdle (5+9) are currently locked in a four-player tie for the team lead, all with 14 points apiece. Garrison has a team-high 12 assists and remains Rochester's top scoring defenseman. Duco's goal on Friday night ties him for the team lead with fourth-year left wing Stefan Meyer for a team-high seven, while Meyer's 13 points overall ties him for second best on the team. Duco continues to lead the team with 88 penalty minutes (PIM), good enough for 14th in the league. Brodeur boasts a 5-2-0 record with a 1.12 goals-against average and a .959 save percentage. The 25-year-old netminder has started in seven straight games for the Amerks, the longest of any Rochester goaltender this season, showing 189 saves while only allowing eight goals. Further, his two shutout ties him for third among American Hockey League goaltenders.

Grand Rapids Notes: Grand Rapids (16-7-3-3, 38 points) comes into the matchup after sweeping the Milwaukee Admirals in a two-game set, with the most recent victory coming in a 2-0 win in Game 2 of the mini-series last night on home ice. The Griffins have won three straight and four of their last five. The Griffins' offense is currently piloted by Ville Leino with a team-leading 23 points and 18 assists, while his plus-seven rating is also a team best. Darren Haydar has found the back of the net 11 times this season to pace the goal count despite owning a minus-14 rating, a team-worst. Six of Haydar's 11 tallies have come on the man advantage, tying him for fifth in the league. Downey leads the team with 52 PIM. Goaltender Jimmy Howard has seen the majority of time between the pipes for the Griffins this season, posting a 7-7-2 record with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage. Grand Rapids presently holds a third place standing in the AHL's North Division.

Next Game: Rochester closes out its four-game homestand as it entertains the Hamilton Bulldogs on Friday, December 26th at The Blue Cross Arena. The 7:35 p.m. North Division showdown will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK, whtk.com and AHL Live.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 21, 2008


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