TACO BELL WRAP-UP: AMERKS BEING BATTLE TESTED

Pair of points act as silver lining to challenging week of competition

Nov 18, 2024

By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48

The Rochester Americans (7-5-2-0) earned two points in three games over a week that saw them face the top team in the North Division twice, followed by playing a Toronto team on short rest Sunday evening.

After a 3-2 overtime loss to Laval Wednesday, the Rocket returned to Blue Cross Arena Saturday evening to take a 4-1 decision from the Amerks. On Sunday, Rochester rallied down 1-0 in the third period to pick up a point, but ultimately fell on the wrong end of a 2-1 final to the Marlies. Despite the winless week, the Amerks’ recent six-game win streak allotted them some wiggle room, as the team remains in playoff positioning entering the penultimate week of November.

Between transactions and injuries, the Amerks had a week that saw several shifts in the lineup. On Wednesday, veteran defenseman Ethan Prow made his season debut after missing the start of the year due to injury. Prow, a 10^th-year pro, has skated in 448 professional games, including four in the NHL. Across his AHL career, the Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, native has amassed 52 goals and 225 points. Prow has been an Amerk since the 2021-22 season.

Over the weekend, Tyson Kozak rejoined the lineup after missing four games with a lower-body injury. The third-year pro has already matched his career high in goals (5) and did so in 33 fewer games. Staying on offense, the Amerks also said goodbye to Jiri Kulich, who was recalled to the Sabres following four games with Rochester, where the 20-year-old scored two goals and an assist. Kulich appeared in eight games with the Sabres before being reassigned to Rochester, then played in his first game back with the Sabres Saturday against Philadelphia.

In goal, the Amerks released Matt Vernon from his Professional Tryout (PTO) once Felix Sandström got cleared to dress for the weekend. Sandström backed-up Michael Houser Saturday, then made his first start in nine days Sunday in Toronto, making numerous quality saves to help the Amerks earn a point while making 27 saves in his sixth start as an Amerk.

Houser started two of Rochester’s three games last week, turning in 41 saves and an 0-1-1 record. Houser, 32, appeared in four straight games for the Amerks prior to Sunday and is 4-3-1 through nine games. He is six minutes shy of having already exceeded his…