As the season winds down and many teams around the American Hockey League are scrambling for points in the final games to make the playoffs, the Rochester Americans are hoping to finish the last seven games strong to stay out of last place.
The Amerks are currently at 56 points, trailing the Lowell Devils and Norfolk Admirals each with 59 points. The Amerks and Devils each have seven games left, the Admirals have six. The Amerks are currently on a three game winning streak.
The biggest obstacle in the way of the Amerks is there schedule. Three games remain against the Syracuse Crunch, the first is tonight in Syracuse. The Crunch have not lost a game in regulation since February 18th. In the season series the Amerks have only won two out of nine games played, both wins came in October.
The Grand Rapids Griffins are one of a few teams the Amerks have had success all season against, five of the Amerks 23 wins all season have come against the Griffins, the two teams have played seven games. The two teams play on Saturday April 5th at 7:35pm at Blue Cross Arena.
The Hamilton Bulldogs are another team the Amerks have had a winning record against, also winning five out of seven games played between the two teams. The Amerks travel to Hamilton on Wednesday. The Bulldogs are trying to clinch a playoff spot so it should be a good game.
The Amerks travel to Toronto on April 12 to play the Toronto Marlies who have clinched the North Division in the Western Conference. The Amerks have only beaten the Marlies once out of seven tries, that one win came the last time the two teams played in Toronto when Adam Dennis shut them out 3-0.
The Amerks close out the season on Sunday April 13th at home against the Lake Erie Monsters at 6:05 at Blue Cross Arena. The Amerks have won two out of five games against the Monsters.
It’s a tough schedule to end the season, as long as the Amerks continue to play hard and give a solid effort like they have been, there’s still a chance they won’t end up in last place. It will also require some help from the Devils and Admirals.
And that’s what we have left to play for to end the season.