A few random updates… News of the day is that the Buffalo Sabres have more injuries with Nathan Gerbe and Patrick Kaleta are out injured so Corey Tropp has been called up from the Rochester Americans.

As for the loss on Friday night, the Amerks got out to an early 2-0 lead and then the game went downhill from there.  They managed to go ahead 3-2 after Houston scored two goals but the Aeros pulled ahead and won 4-3.  For more information on the game you should read Kevin Oklobzija’s post titled: Aeros exploit Amerks’ inexperience; loss to learn from?

This was a game against one of the top teams in the league and it really exposed the holes in the Amerks lineup that have been known since the beginning.  For the most part the Amerks have played against teams in a weak North Division.  Better teams will figure out other teams and be able to adjust play.  Better teams will be able to setup plays instead of relying on fast breaks to the net.  But it’s still early in December and the Amerks are still in the top eight of the conference missing the better half of the lineup.

On Friday night the Amerks drove to Hamilton after their game for tonights game against the Bulldogs.  After the game they’ll bus to Albany for a game at 4pm against the Devils.  A long stretch of three games in three nights.  Drew MacIntyre will be in net for the Amerks tonight and looking to regain the starting position he had earned before the call up.

Here’s the box score from Fridays game:

Houston Aeros 4 at Rochester Americans 3 – Status: Final
Friday, December 2, 2011 – Blue Cross Arena

Houston 0 3 1 – 4
Rochester 2 1 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Rochester, Morrisonn 2 (Szczechura, Crawford), 2:21 (PP). 2, Rochester, Rankin 1 (MacKenzie, Voakes), 13:12. Penalties-Bagnall Hou (interference), 1:21.

2nd Period-3, Houston, Broda 3 (DiSalvatore, Rau), 0:44. 4, Houston, Foucault 5 (Rau, Genoway), 3:16 (PP). 5, Rochester, Rankin 2 (Voakes, Fienhage), 3:47. 6, Houston, Fontaine 5 (Foucault, Reed), 12:27. Penalties-Biega Rch (delay of game), 1:18; Legault Rch (charging), 7:29.

3rd Period-7, Houston, Broda 4 (Prosser), 5:24 (SH). Penalties-Medvec Hou (slashing), 4:39; Peters Hou (interference), 15:18.

Shots on Goal-Houston 7-9-10-26. Rochester 11-7-8-26.
Power Play Opportunities-Houston 1 / 2; Rochester 1 / 3.
Goalies-Houston, Kuemper 1-0-0 (26 shots-23 saves). Rochester, Leggio 7-6-0 (26 shots-22 saves).
A-4,494
Referees-Darcy Burchell (42).
Linesmen-Fraser McIntyre (94), Brian Lemon (25).