The Amerks were able to mess with Texas and pickup their first road win of the season tonight in a 2-1 shootout against the Houston Aeros. Jacob Micflikier scored the winning goal in the shootout and Mike Brodeur had another stellar game in goal.
Brodeur saved 26 of 27 shots through the end of overtime and then three of four Houston shots in the shootout. Could he be the answer we’ve been looking for to try and salvage the season? After playing in three games it sure does seem that way. Having a goalie the team can count on may give the defense some more confidence, now if only the offense can put the pack past opposing goalies.. we may start, dare I say it, a winning streak!
Dan Collins scored the Amerks only goal of the game and his fifth of the season at 17:30 of the first period, assists to Mike Duco and David Brine.
The power play goal by Maxim Noreau was the only goal of the game for the Houston Aeros. The Aeros were one for six on the power play. On the flip side, the Amerks had seven power play opportunities, including a five on three, yet they weren’t able to score. That’s a spot where Michal Repik may have helped. Repik has six goals this season with the Amerks, five of which are on the power play. Repik is currently on a call up to the Florida Panthers.
In order, Janis Sprukts, Jacob Micflikier, and Karl Stewart all scored for the Amerks in the shootout. Krys Kolanos was the only Aero out of four to put a puck past Brodeur.
At the end of the game Micflikier was announced as the first star, the but score sheet lists Brodeur.
The Amerks are leaving texas with a win and a loss. They lost on Tuesday night against the San Antonio Rampage by the final score of 3-2, goals credited to Stefan Meyer and Kenndal McArdle score. Mike Brodeur had 28 saves during the game. For more on the game checkout the writeup on Amerks.com.
The Amerks will return home on Friday to play the Peoria Rivermen. The Rivermen will be ending a three game in three night stretch, should be something the Amerks can take advantage of.
The Amerks hit the road again on Saturday, December 13th to take on the Lake Erie Monsters in a North Division showdown. The 7:30 p.m. faceoff is the second of six meetings between the two teams as Rochester looks to add another win against its Cleveland-based foes. The Monsters (7-11-1-2) are currently sixth in the North Division, with their 17 points just above the Amerks.
Rochester closes its busy weekend on Sunday, December 14th as the Amerks return home to face their longtime rivals, the Syracuse Crunch. The 6:05 p.m. matchup between the I-90 neighbors is the fourth of 12 meetings between the teams this season, with Syracuse ahead in the season series with three consecutive victories over the Amerks. The Crunch presently are in fourth place in the North Division standings with a 14-9-0-1 record and 29 points.
Other Notes:
- The second win this month makes December 2008 more successful than December 2007, and we’re only 10 days into the month! Last years team only had one win which came on December 30th against the Hamilton Bulldogs.
- It’s not likely we’ll get Michal Repik, Tanner Glass, or Shawn Matthias back from the Panthers before Fridays game. The Panthers currently have six top players out with injuries, all have returned to practicing but the chances of them returning to the Panthers lineup on Friday are “remote,” which probably makes it a very “remote” chance anyone will be sent back down.
- The team has a travel day tomorrow and will be back on the ice Friday for a game day skate, we’ll see what we can muster up to report.
