Both Buffalo and Rochester were in action last night and while the Sabres are busy finishing out the schedule, the Amerks are fighting for a playoff spot.
Injuries have riddled the parent club to the point where 10 players are--their two starting goalies, three defensemen and five forwards.
The last injury to Marcus Foligno in the St. Louis game on Thursday forced the Sabres to recall F Luke Adam on an emergency basis. And he nearly didn't make it out alive as he took a Jamie McBain shot right to the jaw.
The Amerks went into last nights tilt vs. Binghamton with 20 yr. old Andrey Makarov in net, one top-pairing d-man in Mark Pysyk and a few top-six forwards in Phil Varone, Kevin Porter and Jamie Tardif.
In addition to Rochester's goalies on recall, four of the Amerks best players were in Buffalo--Adam, F Johan Larsson, D Chad Ruhwedel and D Rasmus Ristolainen.
What Chad Cassidy had last night a small core of quality skaters and a goalie in Makarov (with four AHL games to his resume') who ended up stealing the game. Makarov was so locked-in that at one point he made a glove save after losing both his stick and his blocker. (video from Kris Baker, of sabresprospects.com in his prospects recap)
With the game notted at three going into the third period Makarov withstood a barrage of 23 shots without allowing a goal. In one sequence he stopped six within close range as the Amerks were clinging to a one goal lead.
The Amerks held on for dear life against a Binghamton Senators team that had won six of seven vs. them this season. This time 'round, that small core-group of Amerks players carried the team.
In addition to Makarov's heroics, Pysyk was a rock on defense, Varone had a goal and an assist while
captain Kevin Porter scored the game winner.
The gutsy performance pulled Rochester to within one point of the final playoff spot and a season that once was fading fast now can be salvaged.
But they could use a little help from the big club.
The Sabres are off tonight and will take the ice tomorrow at Philadelphia and they'll play every other day until the season (mercifully) comes to a close with a back-to-back Saturday and Sunday.
The Amerks have an important game tonight at home vs. a Toronto Marlies team that has been a thorn in their side for years.
With Rochester's next game coming six days later, a bugle announcing the cavalry arriving would do them good.
Maybe Ristolainen and Larsson could be sent east for the night. Adam, who seems fit for the AHL would be a big boost as well.
The Amerks sit one point behind the 7th place Rockford Ice Hogs and one point behind Charlotte Checkers with one game in hand on the latter. They will not play either the rest of the season.
With the Sabres season in the tank and the organization in reset-mode, it would be a great thing for at least one of the teams to overcome a tough, tumultuous season and make it to the post season.
No comments:
Post a Comment