AHL Rochester Americans

Game Night: Amerks Host Portland At Blue Cross Arena

Published on February 20, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


Tonight, the Rochester Americans look to snap a three-game skid as the Portland Pirates journey west to The Blue Cross Arena for the first of two get-togethers on back-to-back nights. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will feature the return of former Amerks Mark Mancari, Derek Whitmore, Marc-Andre Gragnani and 2010 AHL All-Star defenseman Mike Weber. The matchup will be the first between the Pirates and Amerks in Rochester in 10 years since the 2000-01 season. Fans can tune in for the live broadcasts on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The game will also be shown live on Channel 98.

Promotions:

It's Wendy's Buy One, Get One Night. Pick up your coupons while supplies last at any participating Wendy's location. Fans can take advantage of the Amerks' Family Fun Pack, which includes four tickets for 200-End seating, four T-shirts, four hot dogs and four sodas for the low price of $52. It's also Star Wars Night. Fans can purchase light sabers and take part in a Stars Wars costume contest, with the winner taking home a ski trip for two at Hunt Hollow, courtesy of Bodine Unlimited Tours.

Amerks One Win Away From 2,000:

Rochester enters the contest closing in on history just one win shy from capturing its 2,000th win in the 54-year history of the franchise. The Amerks will become just the second team in the American Hockey League and only the eighth team in North American hockey history to collect 2,000 wins. In addition to all the founding original six members of the National Hockey League, the only other AHL team to accomplish the feat is the defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears.

York Returns to Amerks:

After missing 33 games with personal leave and injury, veteran forward Mike York returned to the Amerks lineup last night against the Manitoba Moose, scoring one goal. Prior to last night, York's last game was against Manitoba back on December 2nd in Winnipeg, his 100th career American Hockey League contest.

Taylor Passes Ehman, Nears Garwasiuk:

Veteran forward Chris Taylor recently surpassed Gerry Ehman for the third on the all-time assist list (283) this week against Manitoba. The only two ahead of him is Bronco Horvath and Jody Gage. Further, the 18-year pro sits just a mere four goals away from moving ahead of Ron Garwasiuk for 13th on the all-time goals list.

Home is Where the Wins Are... Not So Much the Road:

With just the final quarter of the season right around the corner, home ice advantage has been beneficial for the Amerks. After earning their first regulation loss of the season at home, the Amerks are now 18-10-2-0 on home ice. Conversely, 14 of Rochester's 24 losses in regulation thus far this season have been away from the friendly confines of The Blue Cross Arena.

Head-to-Head:

The matchup will be the first between the Pirates and Amerks in Rochester in 10 years since the 2000-01 season and only the second of four scheduled meetings of the campaign. The last time the two teams met this season was back on November 12th when the Pirates denied Rochester its franchise-record 12th consecutive win in a 6-3 loss at HSBC Arena in Buffalo. The Amerks are 0-1-0-0 this season and 4-6-1 all-time against the Buffalo Sabres' affiliate.

Amerks Notes:

Rochester (31-24-2-0, 64 points) enters the game presently in the midst of a three-game losing streak after falling short in a 4-3 decision to the Manitoba Moose last night at The Blue Cross Arena. The setback was also Rochester's eighth consecutive Friday night home loss. The Amerks, however, remain in second in the North Division and tied for 11th overall with the Albany River Rats in the American Hockey League standings.

Seventh-year pro Jamie Johnson, coming off a four-game point streak (2+2), continues to pace Rochester's offense in all offensive categories in goals (21), assists (34) and points (55). Averaging just under a point per game, Johnson is seventh in the AHL in overall point production after collecting 20 points (7+13) in his last 18 outings. Further, his 21 goals and 34 assists rank him tied for 13th and ninth in each category among the AHL's top scorers, respectively.

Veteran defenseman Clay Wilson, also coming off a four-game point streak (2+3), has a team-best 18 assists on the power-play this season, good enough for fourth in the AHL in that category. Wilson continues to be Rochester's top scoring defenseman with 41 points (10+31) and remains tied in second in scoring among league blueliners.Additionally, Wilson is tied for 12th in the AHL with 31 assists. Amerks tough-guy and former Portland Pirate Jimmy Bonneau is first on the team and 12th in the league with a team-high 145 penalty minutes.

Rookie goaltender Alexander Salak, who has started 14 of the last 18 games for Rochester, boasts a 23-12-0 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and a.913 save percentage in 37 games. His save percentage is currently 20th among league netminders, respectively, while his 23 wins are tied for fourth best.

Portland Notes:

Portland (31-16-5-2, 69 points) comes into the matchup looking for its franchise-record 11th consecutive win after a 3-2 victory over the Albany River Rats last night at the Times Union Center gave the Pirates their 10th straight, tying the franchise record. The Pirates rallied from a 2-1 deficit and used a pair of third-period goals to steal the win from the Rats.

Portland comes to the Flower City fueled by rookie forward Tyler Ennis, the AHL's top point-getter among all first-year skaters. Ennis, who shows two goals and five assists for seven points in his last three games, has a team-high 35 assists and 53 points. Performing at roughly a point-per-game pace, Ennis leads all league rookies in all offensive categories in goals (18), assists (35) and points (53). His 35 helpers are eighth best in the league, 18 of which have come on the man advantage, good enough for fourth in the AHL. Additionally, his 53 points overall tie him for ninth in the league.

Mancari, in his second season with the Pirates, is first on the team and tied for 13th in the league with 21 goals. The power-play extraordinaire has potted nine of his 21 tallies this season on the power-play, good enough for eighth in the league.

Second-year netminder Jhonas Enroth has seen the majority of time between the pipes this season for the Pirates. The Stockholm, Sweden, native boasts a 24-14-1 record with 1,034 saves in 39 games. His 2.38 goals-against average and.918 save percentage currently rank him seventh and 11th among league goaltenders, respectively, while his four shutouts are tied for third. Further, his 24 wins are tied for second best.

Next Game:

The same two teams meet again on Sunday, February 21st to close out the two-game set on Hall of Fame night. The 3:00 p.m. matinee will be carried live on SportsRadio 1280 WHTK and FM 107.3, Rochester's Sports Talk. The matchup will also be televised live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet Channel 26. Prior to the game, the Amerks will induct Randy Cunneyworth, Jim Wiemer and Kent Weisbeck as the 46th, 47th and 48th members enshrined into the club's prestigious Hall of Fame as the Class of 2010.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 20, 2010


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