AHL News

GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS LOOK TO SNAP SKID TONIGHT AGAINST PENGUINS

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Jan 25, 2023

The Rochester Americans (19-14-2-1) kick-off a three-game homestand while also looking to halt a four-game slide tonight as they host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (19-14-2-3) for the only time this season at Blue Cross Arena. Game time is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start and will be carried on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV.

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Tonight’s matchup is the first of two meetings between the two teams this season and the only contest in Rochester. Both teams boast nearly identical records despite the Penguins having played two more games. Rochester has 10 home wins while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has 11 road victories.

After being swept in the two-game season-series in 2017-18 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Rochester has gone a perfect 7-0-0-0 in the seven meetings since, the team’s longest active win streak against any opponent.

The Amerks have scored 10 power-play goals in their last seven games against the Penguins dating back to the start of the 2017-18 season, going 10-for-32 (31.2%) with the man-advantage over that span. Conversely, Rochester’s penalty kill unit has successfully cleared 20 of the 21 shorthanded opportunities (95.2%) against in that same time frame.

Since the start of the 2017-18 campaign, Rochester has outscored Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 35-13, while also outshooting the Penguins 224-217. 

After falling behind 3-0, the Amerks were unable to generate any offensive firepower in a 4-1 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday at XL Center.

Sean Malone scored his ninth goal of the season from Isak Rosen and Michael Mersch. The contest was Malone’s first since Dec. 28 as he missed the last nine to due to injury. Mersch earned his 13th point (6+7) over his last 11 games, while Rosen was credited with his first assist since Dec. 17.

Goaltender Michael Houser (3-5-0) made his 10th appearance of the campaign and first since Dec. 9. He made 29 saves but suffered his fourth straight defeat.

After suffering a defeat in his season-debut on Nov. 18, Subban has gone 9-3-1 since, including seven straight wins between Dec. 10 to Jan. 14. The seven-game win streak was the longest of his pro career and the third-longest streak among all AHL goaltenders behind Toronto’s Joseph Woll and Calgary’s Dustin Wolf.

He was the first Amerks goaltender to post seven straight wins since Jonas Johansson won nine consecutive contests during the 2019-20…

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