AMERKS REPORT CARD FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
Feb 28, 2023By Suzie Cool
February went by in the blink of an eye, especially since it was full of action for the Rochester Americans as their 2022-23 campaign slowly starts to dwindle down.
However, just because February is the shortest month of the calendar year, doesn’t mean it wasn’t jam packed for the Amerks. Rochester closed out the month with 20 goals over its final three games, rookie forward Jiri Kulich had himself a weekend, goaltender Michael Houser was signed to another NHL contract for the remainder of the season, and more.
Let’s take a further look at the Amerks five fast facts from the month of February.
FINISHING FEBRUARY WITH A LOT OF GOALS
The Amerks had arguably their best weekend of the season to close out the month of February, winning three straight games in as many days while outscoring the opposition 20-6 to begin a stretch of six games over a nine-day span.
After opening the weekend with an 8-4 win over Laval on Friday, Rochester scored seven straight unanswered goals, including three on the power-play, on their way to a dominating 7-1 win over Springfield on Saturday. The Amerks then put the finishing touches on the 20-goal weekend by scoring four first-period goals and never looking back on their way to a decisive 5-1 win at Providence on Sunday.
KULICH ISN’T COOLING DOWN ANYTIME SOON
Ever since returning from the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, Jiri Kulich has emerged as one of the team’s most consistent point-getters. After scoring a goal in his second game back in the lineup on Jan. 14 against Toronto, Kulich went on to total 16 points over a 13-game stretch, including eight goals in 10 games during the month of February.
That same stretch also featured five multi-point outings highlighted by a season-high three-point effort against Laval on Feb. 24, which included his first multi-goal game and the first game-winning goal of his AHL career, becoming the first Amerks rookie this season to reach the 30-point mark.
Kulich led all Amerks skaters in scoring during the month of February with 12 points (8+4), recording at least one point in eight of 10 games while also never going more than one game without a point over that span.
During the Amerks three-in-three action this past weekend, Kulich produced three goals and three assists. For his weekend efforts, Kulich was named the Howies Hockey Tape/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending February 26, 2023.
HINOSTROZA BACK AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
On Sunday, right before the final game of another three-in-three weekend for the Amerks, Hinostroza was recalled to the Buffalo Sables ahead of the team’s afternoon game against the Washington Capitals.
With Rochester, Hinostroza recorded nine points on five goals and four assists through 11 games, including two game-winning goals, since joining the Amerks on Jan. 24.
The veteran forward went on to piece together a two-point performance with the Sabres on Sunday, including his first goal of the season at the NHL level.
HOUSER INKED TO ANOTHER NHL DEAL
On Monday, the Buffalo Sabres have signed goaltender Michael Houser to a one-year contract for the remainder of the 2022-23 season and subsequently placed him on waivers. This now marks the third straight year in which the Sabres have signed Houser to an NHL deal.
Houser, 30, signed a one-year AHL deal with the Rochester Americans in July and has compiled a record of 6-5-1 with a .903 save percentage and a 2.95 goals-against average in Rochester this season. He also has one assist, which came during a 24-save effort against Toronto on Feb. 17, and boasts a 3-0-1 record over his last four starts to close out the month of February.
In six career NHL games with the Sabres over the past two seasons, Houser is 4-2-0 with a .917 save percentage and a 2.97 goals-against average.
SETTING CAREER-HIGHS
Brett Murray and Jeremy Davies both set career-high in goals during the month of February while Mitch Eliot is on the bring of doing so.
Murray, one of six Amerks with at least 30 points on the season, has already established a career-high with his 16 goals. The fourth-year pro comes into this week with 22 points on 11 goals and 11 assists in his last 36 games.
Through 44 games this season, Davies has already established a career-high with his eight goals. Three of his eight goals this season have served as the game-winning goal, which is also a career high and includes two in overtime. Over his last five games, Davies native has collected two goals and three assists.
After opening the scoring Sunday in Providence with his third goal of the season, Eliot matched his previous career-high in 24 fewer games from last season.
LOOKING AHEAD TO MARCH
If you thought the Amerks were busy over the last couple of months, think again.
In the month of March, the Amerks are tasked with 15 games over 31 days. The month kicks off amid a season-long, eight-day road trip and ends with a home-in-home against the Utica Comets. Seven of the Amerks 15 matchups this month are on home ice, while eight games will be outside of the Flower City.
And…yes, there’s an extra home game in March thanks to the postponement on Dec. 23 against the Syracuse Crunch. The Amerks are making up that game against Syracuse on Tuesday, Mar. 21 at 7:05 p.m.
There are two Friday home games at The Blue Cross Arena on Mar. 10 and 24. Just a reminder that every Friday home tilt you can get $2 beers at the Genesee Brew House located in arena from 6-7 p.m.
Additionally, March is JAMPACKED with theme nights and promotional giveaways. The month will feature Irish Night on Mar. 10, Halfway to Halloween on Mar. 12, Women in Sport on Mar. 24 and to wrap up the March promo nights the Amerks are hosting Bills Day on Sunday, Mar. 26.
Irish Night features a giveaway, Halfway to Halloween features a ticket deal, Women in Sport has a pregame interactive panel and Bills Day is highlighted by, arguably, the Amerks best specialty jersey of the season.
As always, all games will be carried live on 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV, while the Sunday, Mar. 12 matchup against the Toronto Marlies (live) and the Friday, Mar. 24 game against the Hershey Bears (tape delayed) will be carried on CW Rochester.