AHL Rochester Americans

First-Place Amerks In Seventh Heaven

Published on October 26, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY)... After finishing a rigorous four-game in five-night stretch with eight more points, the surging Rochester Americans have moved atop the American Hockey League standings as the team readies itself for a rare one-game weekend.

Rochester's lone contest of the week is scheduled for Friday, October 30th as it travels to Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena to take on the Binghamton Senators. The Amerks are in search of their eighth straight win, a feat the team has yet to accomplish since the 2004-05 campaign (January 25th to February 8th). The 7:05 p.m. non-divisional matchup will be the second of 10 meetings between the intra-state rivals this season and will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The Amerks snagged a 4-2 victory in the first clash with the B-Sens on October 21st at The Blue Cross Arena. Rochester is 1-0-0-0 this season and 23-27-5 all-time against the Ottawa Senators' affiliate.

The Amerks will be without the services of Michal Repik and Kenndal McArdle this week after the pair of forwards were recalled by the Florida Panthers earlier this morning. Repik departs for South Florida as Rochester's top point-getter with 11 points (6+5) in nine games. The recall is the first of the season and third of his career for Repik. In five NHL games with the Panthers, to 20-year-old Vlasim, Czech Republic, native has scored two goals. McArdle leaves Rochester for the first time this season after recording six points (2+4) and a team-high 54 penalty minutes in 10 games with the Amerks. The Toronto, Ontario, native made his NHL debut last season with the Panthers, appearing in three games.

Rochester (8-1-1-0, 17 points) enters the week currently first overall in the AHL in the midst of seven-game winning streak after collecting wins over Binghamton, Albany and a pair against Syracuse this past week. The last time the Amerks started the season with eight wins and 17 points was during the 2006-07 season. Rochester earned seven consecutive wins to kickoff the season and were victorious in 14 of the first 15 games.

After skating past Binghamton Wednesday night, Rochester left Albany Friday night with a 2-1 win over the River Rats. The victory was the Amerks' first against Albany on the road since the 2004-05 season.

On Saturday night, the Amerks earned their second come-from-behind win of the season with a 3-2 OT decision against Syracuse. Repik netted the game-winner with just 30 seconds left in the extra frame to cap another late-game rally for the Amerks. After facing an early 2-0 deficit in the first period, Rochester's Jimmy Bonneau and Jamie Johnson scored their first goals of the season to jumpstart the rally before Repik completed the comeback with his team-leading sixth goal of the season. The win was also Rochester's first in Syracuse since the 2006-07 campaign, snapping a 12-game losing streak after going 0-12 against the Crunch on the road the past two seasons.

                                                                        The Amerks had their best outing in last night's 3-0 whitewash over the Crunch in game two of the home-and-home series between the longtime regional rivals. Rookie goaltender Alexander Salak, in his third consecutive start, backstopped the Amerks with a season-high 34 saves to log his first AHL shutout to improve to 5-0-0 on the young season. Veteran forward Graham Mink opened the scoring just 2:35 into the first period and Johnson netted his second goal in as many nights. Shawn Matthias capped the scoring with his first tally of the season on the power play. The win Rochester's fifth straight at home, dating back to October 9th against Lake Erie.

The Amerks, who are tied for first in the AHL with four shorthanded goals, have outscored their opponents 25-11 in the last seven games and have allowed the second fewest amount of goals in their division with 22.

 

Despite currently being on recall, Repik continues to pace Rochester's offense with a team-high six goals and 11 points in just nine games. The second-year pro has registered nine points (5+4) in his last seven appearances. He also currently ranks tied for fourth in overall points and tied for third in goals in the AHL. Teammate Jeff Taffe is tied for fifth in the league with four goals.

 

Veteran forward Chris Taylor, presently on a four-game point streak, (1+4) earned his team-leading seventh assist in last night's win to move within five assists of surpassing Dick Gamble on the all-time list. The 18-year pro also leapfrogged former defenseman Doug Janik into the No. 12 spot on the franchise's all-time games played list after skating in his 377th game as an Amerk last night. Additionally, Taylor sits just five goals away from moving ahead of Craig Charron.

 

McArdle is first on the team and tied for second in the league with 54 penalty minutes, with Bonneau a close second with 44. Bonneau, who presently ranks tied for sixth in the AHL in PIM, has dropped the gloves six times in his last four games, including a pair in each game against Syracuse's Jon Mirasty over the weekend. Defenseman Clay Wilson picked up his fourth assist on Sunday to reign as Rochester's top scoring defenseman with six points total and is currently tied for fifth in scoring among league blueliners.

 

Salak, who was named the AHL's Reebok/AHL Player of the Week today, shows a flawless 5-0-0 record with 160 saves in just six games. His 1.60 goals-against average and .947 save percentage are currently sixth among league netminders, respectively, while his five wins tie him for second best. During Rochester's most recent four-game in five-night stretch, Salak posted a perfect 3-0-0 record with 88 saves and just three goals against. In just six games, Salak has only allowed nine goals. In his five starts, he's even better, showing a 1.18 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage.

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