RESILIENT AMERKS SHOW UP ON OPENING WEEKEND

Rosen, Kulich and Johnson each record three points as Rochester opens 68th season

Oct 16, 2023

By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48

The Rochester Americans opened their 68^th American Hockey League season with two games over the weekend, capturing three out of a possible four points. Both games saw the Amerks trail early and emerge from multi-goal deficits to earn standings points in the always competitive North Division. While Rochester was unable to secure the win on opening night, falling 4-3 in overtime to Bridgeport, the team more than made up for it with a herculean effort Saturday evening in Toronto.

Down 4-1 after 40 minutes, the Amerks rallied to score four straight unanswered goals, including the overtime winner from Jiri Kulich, successfully stunning the Marlies in their home opener with a 5-4 win.

It’s that same kind of resiliency that aided the Amerks in their run to the Eastern Conference Finals a season ago. That team won six games when trailing going into the final period of regulation. It’s not Seth Appert’s preferred recipe for success, but it’s a good sign of the team’s character to start the 2023-24 season.

“We showed a lot of resilience as a group, and I loved the togetherness of our team” said Appert when asked about the first two games of the season. “So much of it starts with your leaders. (Michael) Mersch was so good on the bench when we were down. He was willing guys back together. You could feel some of the core guys that have been through a lot here pulling teammates into the fight with them and that was great to see.”

Isak Rosen, Kulich, and rookie defenseman Ryan Johnson each registered three points through Rochester’s first two games. The trio of Sabres first-round draft selections rose to the occasion at critical moments in games. Rosen is the only Amerk with two goals on the season. His first came with three seconds remaining in the second period of opening night, helping Rochester erase its two-goal deficit. A night later, he scored the Amerks first goal of the game and assisted on Jeremy Davies’ game-tying marker late in regulation.

Kulich registered the game-winning-goal in overtime Saturday night and earned an assist earlier in the game. His other helper came on Rochester’s first goal of the season scored by Linus Weissbach Friday night at Blue Cross Arena.

“I think Kulich and Rosen were good and they…