AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Play Crunch at HSBC Arena

February 23, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


On The Ice: The Rochester Americans (23-22-8-4, 58 points) will play an old "friend" and two important divisional games this weekend. The Amerks will play their first regular season game in Buffalo since 1998 this Sunday, when they faceoff against the Syracuse Crunch at HSBC Arena.


Friday, February 27, 2004 7:35 p.m.
Hershey Bears at Rochester Americans
The Blue Cross Arena; Rochester, NY
The Bears (26-23-8-4, 64 points) arrive in Rochester for their only visit this season. The oldest current rivalry in the AHL, this will mark the 426th time these two teams have battled. Although the Bears lead the all-time series 195-177-53, the Amerks defeated the Bears 4-2 on October 25th in Hershey. Jason Pominville scored two first period, power-play goals for the Amerks and Ryan Miller made 26 saves to earn the win in goal. So far this season, Eric Perrin leads the way for Hershey with 59 points (20+39). Perrin's totals are second in the AHL in scoring and first in the assist column (39). Goaltender Tom Lawson (11-10-2) leads the Bears with 2.23 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. The Bears are 15th in the AHL in scoring, averaging 2.46 goals-per game. The team is 17th, in goals against with a 2.66. The team is also 16th in the power-play department with a 14.3 % (42 for 294) and 21st in penalty-killing (265 for 314).

Saturday, February 28, 2004 7:00 p.m.
Rochester Americans at Cleveland Barons
Gund Arena, Cleveland, OH

The Amerks will look to take the lead in the season series against the Cleveland Barons (27-19-5-5, 64 points) in this key North Division matchup. The series is tied at 2-2-2-0. On January 16th, the Amerks defeated the Barons 4-3 in Rochester. Domenic Pittis has seven points against Cleveland this season (1+6), while Miroslav Zalesak has five points (3+2) to lead Cleveland The Amerks still hold the all-time series lead with a 13-8-3 mark. The Barons offense has been solid this season with two players among the top five scorers in the AHL. Miroslav Zalesak leads the AHL in scoring with 64 points (30+34) and Brad Boyes is fourth with 56 points (24+32). Defenseman Garrett Stafford leads all AHL defenseman in scoring with 35 points (9+26). Goaltender Seamus Kotyk (11-7-4) has a 2.36 GAA and a .931 save percentage. The Barons are ranked second in the AHL in goals per game, averaging 3.02, but the team is 21st in the league allowing 2.80 goals per game. The Barons power play is currently tops in the league with an 18.5% success rate (42 for 227).

Sunday, February 29, 2004 6:05 p.m.
Syracuse Crunch at Rochester Americans
HSBC Arena; Buffalo, NY

The Amerks will play an important divisional game on Sunday against the Crunch (26-17-8-4, 64 points). The game will be played at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo. This will be the first time the team has played a regular season game in Buffalo since 1998. On February 20th, the Amerks defeated the Crunch 5-1, behind two goals by Paul Gaustad (2+1). The Crunch lead season series 4-3-0-0, with both teams capturing wins on their home ice. Overall, this will be the 108th time the Crunch and Amerks have faced each other. The Amerks lead the all-time series with a 53-41-13 record. Crunch forward Tim Jackman has seven points against Rochester (5+2). Forward Donald MacLean leads Syracuse in scoring this season overall with 50 points (21+29), which is seventh in the AHL among scoring leaders. Goaltender Karl Goehring has been solid in goal for the Crunch. Goehring has posted a 2.34 GAA and a .923 save percentage. Syracuse currently owns the AHL's second best power-play unit at 18.3%, going 53 for 289. The Syracuse penalty-killing unit remains at 19th in the league with an 85.2% success rate, killing off 248 of 291 attempts. Overall, the team is averaging 2.89 goals per game, which is good for fifth in the league. The Crunch are giving up 2.73 goals per game, which ranks 19th in the league. Ticket information for the game at HSBC Arena can be found below in the At The Box Office section of the Amerks newsletter.

Around the Boards:
· The Amerks are ranked 11th defensively in the AHL, allowing 2.46 goals per game, and have dropped to 20th in goal scoring averaging 2.32 goals per game. The team has the league's fourth best power play unit with a 16.5% (47 for 289) and the sixth ranked penalty-killing unit with an 87.7% success rate (243 for 277). Rochester has the AHL's top power-play unit on home ice with a 19.6% rate (28 for 143). The Amerks are 17-10-3-0 on home ice this season and 6-12-5-4 away from The Blue Cross Arena.
· Despite missing the past 11 games with an injury, Amerks forward Jason Pominville still leads the AHL in power-play goals with 15.
· The American Hockey League announced today that Manchester Monarchs left wing Noah Clarke has been named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week for the period ending February 22, 2004. In three games, Clarke recorded four goals and one assist as the Monarchs climbed into a second-place tie in the AHL's Atlantic Division standings.

2004 Calder Cup Tour Visits Rochester and Buffalo: The American Hockey League's Calder Cup 2004 Tour will make stops at Rochester Americans games on February 29th and March 14th during its 49-day excursion around the AHL. The first visit is at HSBC Arena in Buffalo on Sunday, February 29th for the AHL 6:05 p.m. game between the Rochester Americans and the Syracuse Crunch. Rochester will welcome the Calder Cup to The Blue Cross Arena on Sunday, March 14th. That night, the Amerks host the St. John's Maple Leafs at 6:05 p.m. The Calder Cup will be displayed in the upper atrium lobby of The Blue Cross Arena. Fans can see one of the oldest trophies in North American sports when gates open at 5:05 p.m. The Cup will be accompanied by a display, highlighting the excitement of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Special 2004 Calder Cup posters will be displayed in the Amerks team store. The Calder Cup's eighth tour will cover 11,000 miles and hit 19 cities. The tour begins in Winnipeg on February 22nd and concludes on April 10th in Cincinnati. The Cup will make appearances at games, schools, area sponsors, local TV and radio stations and various other community events. Rochester has won the coveted league championship trophy six times in its history (1965, 1966, 1968, 1983, 1987 and 1996). The Amerks last captured the Calder Cup in 1996, defeating the Portland Pirates in seven games. Such notable Rochester Americans that have won the Calder Cup include Gerry Cheevers, Al Arbour, Don Cherry, Jody Gage, Randy Cunneyworth, Dick Gamble and Jim Jackson.

CALDER CUP STOPS AT AMERKS GAMES Sun., Feb. 29 at Buffalo - Syracuse vs. Rochester, 6:05 ET Sun., Mar. 14 at Rochester - St. John's at Rochester, 6:05 ET



"3 Star Investment Award" brought to you by the Doyle, Moll, Spencer Group at Morgan Stanley: The "3 Star Investment Award" brought to you by the Doyle, Moll, Spencer Group at Morgan Stanley will be given to the player that accumulates the most points during the 2003-04 season. Through 30 home games, forward Domenic Pittis now leads goaltender Ryan Miller (14) with the most three star nominations with 15. The winner of the award will receive two round trip tickets to anywhere in the continental United States, courtesy of the Doyle, Moll, Spencer Group at Morgan Stanley.

Shooting Stars:
After 57 games, the following players lead the Amerks in statistical categories:
Skaters: Goals- Jason Pominville (20); Assists- Domenic Pittis (34) Points- Domenic Pittis (45); Shots- Domenic Pittis (143); Penalty Minutes- Sean McMorrow (176)
Goaltending: Wins- Ryan Miller (17); Minutes- Ryan Miller (2486:18); Saves- Ryan Miller (1136); Goals-Against Average- Ryan Miller (2.29); Save Percentage- Ryan Miller (.923)


Amerks on the Dials:

Television- Friday's game against Hershey will be televised tape delay on Time Warner Cable Channel 98 on Saturday, February 28th at 12:30 p.m.

Radio and Webcast: Friday and Sunday's games will be broadcast on WHTK 1280-AM. Saturday's contests will be broadcast on WHAM 1180-AM. All three games will also be available on webcast on the Official Website of the Rochester Americans at www.amerks.com.

Faceoff- Catch the latest episode of "Faceoff", the Amerks and Knighthawks weekly highlight and talk show this Saturday, February 28th at midnight and Sunday, February 29th at 11:30 a.m. only on the WB16.


AMERKS GAME SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
Friday, February 27 HERSHEY BEARS 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, February 28 at Cleveland Barons 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 29 SYRACUSE CRUNCH 6:00 p.m. in Buffalo
Friday, March 5 BINGHAMTON SENATORS 7:35 p.m.
Saturday, March 6 at Cleveland Barons 7:30 p.m.
***Home Games in Caps

At the Box Office:

AMERKS BATTLE SYRACUSE AT HSBC ARENA: The Rochester Americans will travel to Buffalo to host the Syracuse Crunch at the HSBC Arena on Sunday, February 29th at 6:05 p.m. The American Hockey League game is the first Amerks regular season home game in Buffalo since January 4, 1998, when the Rochester War Memorial was undergoing renovations. Tickets for the event are $15.00 for sections 102-108, 114-120 and 200-206. The $10.00 tickets are located in sections 109-113, 121-123 and 300-327. Amerks season ticket holders can save $5.00 off the $15.00 tickets and $2.00 off the $10.00 seats. Youth hockey players can get a ticket for as low as $5.00 in the 100 Level as part of Amateur Hockey Night. Go to Tickets.com for complete pricing. Seats can be purchased at Tickets.com, all Tops Friendly Markets locations and at HSBC Arena. For single or group ticket information, call the Amerks Ticket Department at (585) 454-5335.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Night: On Friday, February 28th, all Blue Cros/Blue Chield members can receive $3.00 off tickets by showing their ID at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office or by contacting the Amerks Group Sales department at (585) 454-5335.


Amerks Weekly Schedule:

Monday, February 23, 2004 Practice at BCA 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, February 24 Practice at BCA 10:00 a.m.


Wednesday, February 25 Practice at BCA 10:00 a.m.

Thursday, February 26 Practice at BCA 10:00 a.m.

Friday, February 27 Game Day Skate 10:00 a.m. at BCA
7:35 p.m. game vs. Hershey
Tape Delay on Time Warner Cable Channel 98
Replayed on Saturday, February 28th at 12:30 p.m.
WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com

Saturday, February 28 7:00 p.m. game at Cleveland
WHAM 1180-AM & amerks.com

Sunday, February 29 Game Day Skate 10:00 a.m. at HSBC Arena
6:05 p.m. game vs. Syracuse at Buffalo
WHTK 1280-AM & amerks.com



SABRE TALK:
Sabres Climbing To Playoffs: The Buffalo Sabres are 7-2-1-0 in their last 10 games, to close within three points of the Montreal Canadiens for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Sabres are currently in fifth place in the Northeast Division with 63 points (28-27-6-1).

Leader Board: The Sabres are led by forward Daniel Briere with 49 points (21+28). Miroslav Satan leads the team in goal scoring with 24. Briere leads the team with 28 assists. Mika Noronen (11-13-2) leads the goaltending crew with a 2.13 GAA and a .920 save percentage. Martin Biron leads the duo with 17 wins (17-12-4).

Upcoming Games: The Sabres will travel to New Jersey to face the Devils on Wednesday (February 25) before returning home on Friday to face the New York Islanders (February 27). The team will then hit the road to face the Ottawa Senators on Saturday (February 28) in the first game of an extended home and home series next Wednesday (March 3).

Check out the Rochester Americans Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2004


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