GAMEDAY NEWS AND QUOTES: OCT. 27 VS. LAVAL
Biro returns to the lineup, Metsa to make season debut as part of 11-and-7 lineup
Oct 27, 2023
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48
After another comeback win, the Rochester Americans aim to string together consecutive wins when they face-off against the Laval Rocket for what will be the third meeting in nine nights between these North Division foes.
“They play a very chaotic style and now we’ve seen it twice, so maybe there’s a little bit of understanding, but it doesn’t make it easier,” said Amerks head coach Seth Appert after morning skate. “The best way to take chaos out of the game is to not turn the puck over. If you turn the puck over against Laval, they are extremely dangerous in all three zones. We need to manage the puck better than we did last Friday in Laval.”
‘GOOD, BUT NOT GREAT’
Isak Rosen and Jiri Kulich each enter the weekend with eight points through the team’s first half-dozen games, with Kulich having five goals and three assists and Rosen carrying the opposite of those numbers. Rosen has registered a point in each game to start the 2023-24 campaign and owns the longest active point streak in the AHL. Kulich is tied for the league lead in goals with his five and posted a hat trick against the Rocket last Wednesday at Place Bell.
Still, Appert believes there is room for more.
“Good, but not great,” said Appert when asked about Rosen and Kulich’s play. “I’m happy with them, but I want more. They need to want more for our team, and they need to want more for themselves so they can be full-time NHL players. They’re great kids, but I don’t want to coach them forever. My job is to get them ready to help the Buffalo Sabres contend for a Stanley Cup.”
SECOND GAME FOR SAVOIE
Matt Savoie, Buffalo’s ninth overall draft pick in 2022, will get his second game of the week in Friday night. The 19-year-old prospect earned his first professional point on an assist Wednesday night with Michael Mersch’s power-play goal during the first period against Charlotte.
Savoie remains on a conditioning stint with the Amerks and can continue to play in Rochester up until the end of next week. That gives the skilled forward a maximum of five more games in Rochester before the Sabres must choose to either bring Savoie to the NHL for the remainder of the season or send one of their top prospects back to the WHL for another year of major junior experience.
“I came out with a lot of energy,” said Savoie following Wednesday’s 4-3 win over Charlotte. “I thought I played fast and it was just exciting every time I got to touch the ice because it had been so long since I got to play a game.”
Savoie skated on a first-round line with fellow top picks Kulich and Rosen. Each player found the scoresheet and Appert rewarded and showed trust in the teenage trio by giving them one of the last shifts in the game when Charlotte had its goaltender pulled for a six-on-five advantage.
“It’s huge,” said Savoie. “It’s a big thing to be a good two-way player and be good defensively at the pro level. I think that’s one of the bigger adjustments I’ll have to make at the pro level. In junior I was always out there protecting the lead, so I feel pretty comfortable out there.”
BIRO BACK
Appert confirmed at Friday’s morning skate that forward Brandon Biro will return to the lineup after missing the last two games.
“It’s nice to be at home and get back out there and play a team that beat up on us a little bit last week,” said Biro. “It’ll be good to hopefully get a little revenge. It’s different from a lot of other teams. This team likes to jump when they get the opportunity. They’re offensive-minded versus some other teams in the division that have historically played more defensive, but Laval is always looking to play offense. It’s definitely different from the other teams we see a lot.”
Biro recorded a point in his one game against Laval last week and has 13 career points (6+7) against the Rocket. On March 1 of last season, Biro scored three times for his first career hat trick in Laval.
“I think just being aware that they’re throwing it to the net a lot from a lot of different angles helps. If you take care of them defensively, you’re going to get odd-man rushes the other way, so taking advantage of when the chances come and being ready helps.”
METSA MAKES SEASON DEBUT
Rookie defenseman Zach Metsa will make his regular season debut as a pro for the Amerks Friday night. Appert has elected to play 11 forwards and seven defensemen against Laval, affording Metsa the opportunity.
“It’s refreshing,” said Metsa about seeing himself in the lineup. “I’ll do whatever I can when I’m not playing to get better and help the team in any other way, but it’s nice getting a chance to play and show your skill.”
The former Quinnipiac University captain burst onto the pro scene during Rochester’s Calder Cup Playoff run last spring, scoring a goal while adding two assists in 13 playoff games.
“Playoffs were one hell of a time last year. To have that experience and know what to expect a little bit gives me confidence. I know I can do it and I know I’m capable which helps going into this one.”
“He deserves to be in,” said Appert earlier this morning. “Metsa showed how good he is last year in the playoffs, but he also shows it every day in practice. In our mind in this organization, we view Zach Metsa as a prospect. These are young players. Jason Karmanos and Jeremiah Crowe do an amazing job at intentionally signing younger, depth players because there’s still growth in their game.”