Prow - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Rookies Jiri Kulich, Lukas Rousek star as Rochester Amerks stay alive

In losing three straight games and moving to the brink of elimination from the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Rochester Americans suddenly had trouble scoring goals.

After scoring 41 times during a rollicking seven-game winning streak, they mustered just four goals against the Hershey Bears’ stifling defense.

Rookies Jiri Kulich and Lukas Rousek and captain Michael Mersch, three of the Amerks’ top forwards, combined for zero goals during that rough stretch.... Read the full article

Rochester Amerks implode late against Hershey, on brink of elimination; Matthew Savoie scratched

ROCHESTER – Having stared down elimination three times earlier in the Calder Cup Playoffs, it might be premature to write off the Americans.

When they faced a win-or-go-home scenario in the AHL North Division semifinals, they responded by rattling off seven straight wins.

They’ve thrived under adversity. So perhaps they can rebound from Monday’s emotional 4-2 loss to the Hershey Bears in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Still, following their third-period implosion, it’s ... Read the full article

Amerks stay hot, sweep Marlies as Jiri Kulich extends goal streak

ROCHESTER – It’s easy to forget after watching the Americans quickly dispose of the Toronto Marlies to advance to their first conference final since 2004, but they faced elimination three times earlier in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Since losing their first two postseason games, the Amerks have been downright dominant, rattling off six straight wins and scoring a whopping 36 goals.

In beating the Marlies 8-4 on Wednesday and completing a three-game sweep of the ... Read the full article

After stint with Sabres, Lawrence Pilut becomes elite defenseman for Amerks

TORONTO – Shortly after Christmas, following perhaps the best outing of his 86-game NHL career, the Buffalo Sabres waived defenseman Lawrence Pilut.

Having received two blueliners back from injury, Pilut, who had been passed on the depth chart by Kale Clague, lost his roster spot. He cleared and was assigned to the Rochester Americans, beginning another stint in the minors.

Today, Pilut, 27, ranks among the AHL’s elite defensemen. A strong argument can ... Read the full article

Brett Murray, Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen help Amerks stay hot, beat Marlies

TORONTO – Brett Murray won a puck battle along the wall, knocking Pontus Holmberg down and igniting a scoring chance for the Rochester Americans. A few seconds later, the winger parked his hulking 6-foot-5, 228-pound frame in front of Marlies goalie Erik Kallgren, providing a perfect screen for defenseman Ethan Prow’s point shot.

Murray redirected the puck past Kallgren 18:16 into Thursday’s first period, putting the Amerks up 2-1 in a game they would win ... Read the full article

At 18, Sabres prospect Jiri Kulich having ‘remarkable’ season in Rochester

ROCHESTER – Americans rookie Jiri Kulich positioned himself in the right circle during a power play, and when Ethan Prow adroitly delivered a pass into his wheelhouse, he quickly unleashed a wicked one-timer.

Kulich, 18, laughed a bit as he recalled his late tying goal, his team-leading 22nd score, in last Wednesday’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Cleveland Monsters.

As the Czech forward developed into a coveted prospect the Buffalo Sabres would draft 28th overall... Read the full article

Sabres trim roster, send Matt Savoie to junior, 21 players to Amerks

The Buffalo Sabres on Saturday assigned center Matt Savoie to his junior team and loaned 21 players to the Rochester Americans, their AHL affiliate.

They have 31 healthy players left in training camp. They must finalize their 23-man regular-season roster by 5 p.m. on Oct. 10.

The Sabres gave Savoie, the ninth overall pick this year, a long look during camp, awarding him three preseason games before sending to the Winnipeg Ice. Savoie, 18, was ... Read the full article

Sabres prospect Ryan Johnson, Erik Portillo could have futures in Buffalo

BUFFALO – Right now, Ryan Johnson acknowledged he’s leaning toward returning to Minnesota for his senior season. Still, the defense prospect hasn’t ruled out turning pro. He plans to use this week’s development camp to evaluate the Sabres.

“I could kind of see where the organization is,” said Johnson, a first-round pick in 2019, 31st overall.

Johnson, who turns 21 on July 24, said if he goes back to college, he could eventually sign with ... Read the full article

NHL Free Agent Tracker: Sabres sign goalie Eric Comrie, Ilya Lyubushkin

BUFFALO – The Sabres have landed their first free agents of the day, signing goalie Eric Comrie and defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin to two-year contracts.

Comrie’s deal is worth $3.6 million. Lyubushkin’s is worth $5.5 million.

The Sabres, of course, needed to find another goalie with NHL experience. They had just two – Craig Anderson and Malcolm Subban – under contract for the upcoming season.

... Read the full article

Amerks’ season ends with triple OT loss: ‘An extremely special group’

ROCHESTER – The Americans battled adversity and beat long odds for weeks, eking into the Calder Cup Playoffs on the last day of the regular season before beginning their deepest and most memorable postseason run in 18 years.

They rallied to win games, earned four overtime victories and triumphed in a do-or-die Game 5 against a top seed.

So when the Amerks dropped the first two games on the road against the Laval Rocket in ... Read the full article