The Amerks are on a five game losing skid and hoping to end it tonight with a win against the Hamilton Bulldogs at Blue Cross Arena. What the outcome will be around 8:30pm tonight is anyones guess. This is the final game this season between the two teams, the Amerks won the last game on February 27th by the final score of 4-1. The season series is 3-3-0-1 for the Amerks, so tonight should be an even game as the two teams have been competitive all season, unlike the Amerks and Marlies.
Reading about last nights 4-1 loss in Syracuse it appears as if Crunch goaltender Kevin Lalande was the deciding factor in the game, especially with the Amerks unloading 49 shots on goal. Lindsay Kramer of the Syracuse Post Standard has good writeups about the game here and here.
I’m expecting Tyler Plante to get the start in net tonight. Brodeur has been on the losing side for four out of the five straight losses and started in the last two games for the Amerks. They havn’t been entirely his fault, but something has to change.
Still out with injuries: Shawn Matthias (wrist), Jacob Mcflickier (ankle), Franklin MacDonald (foot), Tanner Glass (shoulder) and possibly Janis Sprukts (shoulder). Havn’t seen Sprukts around to really know how much longer he’ll be out.
Andrew Sweetland has been sent down to the Florida Everblades. In 48 games with the Amerks he has only recorded one goal and two assists. Sweetland has started in13 games for the Everblades and recorded four goals and eight assists. He was thought of highly after scoring 56 goals in 56 games for the Amherst Ramblers (MJAHL) in the 2006/2007 season. It still appears as if he’s not ready for the AHL.
Here’s my civic duty to also post the promotions for tonights game:
Promotions: The game features the next installment of the Amerks’ Red Hot Sundays. All fans who wear red to the game can receive tickets for as low as $5 for 200-end seating and best available seating for $10. As part of the festivities, the Amerks will be wearing their red jerseys.
Fans can take advantage of the Zweigle’s Family Four Pack, which consists of four tickets, four hot dogs and four sodas for $55. The package can be purchased through Ticketmaser.com or at The Blue Cross Arena Box Office. Call the Amerks at (585) 454-5335 for more details.
Fans can also enjoy the Buy One, Get One Half-off special. Purchase a ticket and get another for half the price in any seating section for any Sunday through Thursday game. Tickets can be purchased online only through Ticketmaster.com.
It’s also the next Tickets for Troops night. Active military and veterans can present a Military ID, VA Card or an American Legion or VFW membership card and receive premium seating for just $10 or 200 End seats for $5, at least a savings of $12.25 per ticket. All tickets can be purchased directly at the Box Office window at The Blue Cross Arena. Lastly, fans can head down to The Distillery on 1142 Mt. Hope Ave. immediately following the game for the Amerks’ official postgame party.
Tonight also marks the seventh night of the Amerks’ “Star Toss,†with all net proceeds of the promotion going toward the recovery of Rochester police officer Anthony DiPonzio. The promotion will run during the second intermission through the Amerks’ remaining eight home games. Stars can be purchased at any Amerks home game for just $1 each or in groups of six for $5. The 23 year old Officer DiPonzio was shot in the line of duty on January 31st. He faces a long recovery following brain surgery.
