GDT: AHL – Amerks vs Marlies – Sat Dec 15 – 7:05PM ET

[Woodhouse]

AHL GDT: AMERKS (12-9-2) vs MARLIES (13-9-1) – SAT DEC 15 – 7:05PM ET – AHL Live, WHTK-AM

12.10 – Rochester Amerks' Jonathan Parker works hard through tough year (D&C – Kevin Oklobzija)

12.11 – Leggio lifts Amerks to win over Abbotsford (D&C – Kevin Oklobzija)

12.12 – Amerks feel good after win over Heat — as they should (D&C – Kevin Oklobzija)

12.13 – Amerks rally to beat Lake Erie (D&C – Staff Reports)

12.15 – Alex Biega an offensive threat for Rochester Amerks (D&C – Kevin Oklobzija)​

ROCHESTER AMERICANS (Beat Coverage)

Tonight's Lineup

71 Marcus Foligno - 19 Cody Hodgson - 28 Zemgus Girgensons
72 Luke Adam - 12 Kevin Porter (C) - 25 Mark Mancari (A)
91 Frederick Roy - 22 Phil Varone - 24 Jonathan Parker
74 Nick Tarnasky - 92 Kevin Sundher - 29 Maxime Legault

3 TJ Brennan (A) - 34 Jerome Gauthier-Leduc
7 Brayden McNabb - 4 Alex Biega
2 Joe Finley - 13 Mark Pysyk

33 David Leggio
49 Connor Knapp

Roster Notes

Nick Crawford (bruise), Brian Flynn (undisclosed), Matt MacKenzie (UBI), Evan Rankin (hand), Rick Schofield (hip),
Drew Schiestel and Corey Tropp (knee; season-ending) are scratched or out injured tonight for Rochester.


TORONTO MARLIES (Beat Coverage)

NHL Affiliate & Notables

Toronto Maple Leafs: 13 Nazem Kadri, 19 Jake Gardiner, 22 Joe Colborne, 23 Matt Frattin, 30 Ben Scrivens.

Tonight's Lineup

37 Brad Ross - 13 Nazem Kadri - 23 Matt Frattin
9 Nicolas Deschamps - 7 Mike Zigomanis - 8 Greg Scott
18 Carter Ashton - 22 Joe Colborne - 15 Spencer Abbott
39 Greg McKegg - 14 Will Acton - 25 Kenny Ryan

17 Paul Ranger - 21 Mike Kostka
2 Mark Fraser - 5 Korbinian Holzer
24 Simon Gysbers - 27 Jesse Blacker

30 Ben Scrivens
40 Jussi Rynnas

Roster Notes

Keith Aucoin, Jerry D’Amigo, Jake Gardiner (head, neck), Ryan Hamilton and Dylan Yeo are scratched or out
injured tonight for Toronto.​

A/V CLUB

12.07 – Highlights of Rochester's 3-1 win over Adirondack last Friday. <2:17>

12.08 – Highlights of Rochester's 4-3 loss in Toronto last Saturday. <6:00>

12.11 – Highlights of Rochester's 3-2 SOW over Abbotsford on Tuesday. <5:43>

12.13 – Highlights of Rochester's 7-6 win in Lake Erie on Thursday. <2:03>


GAMEDAY CHAT

IRC Server: irc.esper.net – Channel: #sabres – FAQ: Sabres Chat​

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[Woodhouse]

Thu Dec 13 interview with Eakins --> http://youtu.be/W7SdIfrdMP4

Sat Dec 15 interview with Rolston --> http://www.amerks.com/media/audio/20121215-Rolston.mp3

***

Hodgson (hand) will make his return tonight, as Rolston said as much in his pre-game interview. Pysyk (bruise) is also probable to return, while Rankin (hand) is probably not ready just yet:

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC
#Amerks C Cody Hodgson (broken hand) says he's ready to play. Last game was Nov. 2.

Link: https://twitter.com/kevinoDandC/status/279648500503957505

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC
#Amerks coach Ron Rolston says RW Evan Rankin "really close" to a return but probably won't play Saturday vs. #Marlies.

Link: https://twitter.com/kevinoDandC/status/279649475990003712

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC
Not that anyone cares right now but ... #Amerks D-man Mark Pysyk sat out Thurs. at LE with bruise (hand?). Will be good to go vs. #Marlies.

Link: https://twitter.com/kevinoDandC/status/279662532002721793

***

Marlies defenceman Jake Gardiner is dealing with concussion-like symptoms and will miss tonight's game:

The 22-year-old blueliner did not skate with the AHL team Wednesday, still shaken following a big hit in a game Saturday against Rochester.

Marlies coach Dallas Eakins says Gardiner is suffering symptoms consistent with a concussion, though the injury hasn’t been labelled as such.

“He’s got a bunch of issues in his neck and some headaches, so yes it could be symptomatic to a concussion or could be symptomatic to neck pain,†Eakins said at practice.

Gardiner, who missed Sunday’s game against Abbotsford, will not dress Saturday in Rochester.

 

[Rammstein816]

Something that stands out when looking over Toronto's lineup is that Toronto seems to choose players to play similar to how the Amerks fans would like Rochester to be done. Starting guys like Ryan Hamilton, Greg Scott, and Will Acton over "developmental" prospects like Greg McKegg and Kenny Ryan is interesting given the intense amount of pressure that Toronto's (parent Leafs) front office is under to put, at the bare minimum, a playoff team on the ice every season.

 

[Dex]

Huge December game against a team that pretty much owns them. A win would go a long way in shaping the rest of the season, IMO.

 

[Jacob582]

So who do you take out of the line up to make room for Hodgson?

Do you sit Parker who has 3 goals in the past week?

 

[tsujimoto74]

So who do you take out of the line up to make room for Hodgson?

Do you sit Parker who has 3 goals in the past week?

My guess would be that it's Sundher who sits. Or maybe Legault, ie:
Foligno-Hodgson-Flynn
Adam-Porter-Mancari
Girgensons-Varone-Parker
Tarnasky-Roy/Sundher-Roy/Legault

??

 

[Rammstein816]

So who do you take out of the line up to make room for Hodgson?

Do you sit Parker who has 3 goals in the past week?

It would make sense to start rotating out. Roy, Sundher, and Legault would likely be part of the rotation. Parker's ability to play wing or center can help here.

 

[sabrefan27]

Something that stands out when looking over Toronto's lineup is that Toronto seems to choose players to play similar to how the Amerks fans would like Rochester to be done. Starting guys like Ryan Hamilton, Greg Scott, and Will Acton over "developmental" prospects like Greg McKegg and Kenny Ryan is interesting given the intense amount of pressure that Toronto's (parent Leafs) front office is under to put, at the bare minimum, a playoff team on the ice every season.

The Marlies do it right. They sign top quality free agents (Aucoin and Zigomanis) and have a great coach. It's not surprising the Amerks haven't beat them in a long, long time.

 

[Woodhouse]

Something that stands out when looking over Toronto's lineup is that Toronto seems to choose players to play similar to how the Amerks fans would like Rochester to be done. Starting guys like Ryan Hamilton, Greg Scott, and Will Acton over "developmental" prospects like Greg McKegg and Kenny Ryan is interesting given the intense amount of pressure that Toronto's (parent Leafs) front office is under to put, at the bare minimum, a playoff team on the ice every season.

The Marlies rotate those guys in though. D’Amigo-Acton-Scott is their fourth line much like ours is Tarnasky-Schofield-Roy/Legault when healthy. McKegg rotates into the other lines typically, as do Ross and Ryan. The Marlies rotate practically everyone and last week it was no different as the vet Zigomanis took his turn and sat versus the Amerks. The next day versus Abbotsford each healthy scratch from our game played for Toronto, including Blacker, McKegg, Ryan, Yeo and Zigomanis.

 

[LaxSabre]

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - The #Amerks will welcome C Cody Hodgson back into the lineup tonight.
He missed 14 games with a broken bone in his hand. Last game: Nov. 2.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - While Cody Hodgson returns, the #Amerks will still be without RW Evan Rankin
and now RW Brian Flynn can't play (unsure of injury).

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - No RW Brian Flynn for the #Amerks. D Mark Pysyk back in, D Nick Crawford out.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - #Amerks D Nick Crawford was hit by a shot on Thursday at Lake Erie and is day-to-day.
Mark Pysyk sat out Thursday for the same reason.

 

[Jacob582]

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - The #Amerks will welcome C Cody Hodgson back into the lineup tonight.
He missed 14 games with a broken bone in his hand. Last game: Nov. 2.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - While Cody Hodgson returns, the #Amerks will still be without RW Evan Rankin
and now RW Brian Flynn can't play (unsure of injury).

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - No RW Brian Flynn for the #Amerks. D Mark Pysyk back in, D Nick Crawford out.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - #Amerks D Nick Crawford was hit by a shot on Thursday at Lake Erie and is day-to-day.
Mark Pysyk sat out Thursday for the same reason.

Thanks for the update.

Just bumps and bruises. A good way to rotate players in and out of the lineup.

So the answer is: Hodgson in, Flynn out.

It's interesting that we (many fans) would have wanted players like Adam, Sundher, Parker and Mancari to sit. They have started producing this week. Flynn has cooled off.

 

[LaxSabre]

On a delay penalty to the Amerks - Kevin Sundher - Mike Kostka of the Marlies scores on a shot from the point.
Marlies lead 1-0 - 3:17 in. Zigomanis, Ryan with the helpers.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - Just 1 referee tonight for #Amerks vs. #Marlies: Chris Ciamaga.
On Wednesday he worked #RIT at Niagara.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - And once again most idiodic penalty in the game is called: slashing on #Amerk Max Legault because Carter Ashton can't hang onto his stick. If the stick breaks, fine, call slashing. If a guy has it held so loosely that it
gets knocked out, it's his fault.

LS: Anyone else agree? count me as one.

Well now the Amerks get a slashing call their way....

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - An absurd slashing penalty called on #Marlies D Mark Fraser for a love tap on #Amerks LW Marcus Foligno. My, how soft this game has become.

Both goalies come up big late in the first. End of 1: Marlies 1-0 - SOG: 13-7 Marlies.

 

[Woodhouse]

Kostka's goal, TOR leads 1-0:

 

[Moskau]

Something that stands out when looking over Toronto's lineup is that Toronto seems to choose players to play similar to how the Amerks fans would like Rochester to be done. Starting guys like Ryan Hamilton, Greg Scott, and Will Acton over "developmental" prospects like Greg McKegg and Kenny Ryan is interesting given the intense amount of pressure that Toronto's (parent Leafs) front office is under to put, at the bare minimum, a playoff team on the ice every season.

Players don't develop in a losing environment. I don't understand why that is so hard for a lot of Buffalo fans to grasp (I'm not saying you don't, just that many around here don't). During the 2003 lockout it wasn't Vanek or Roy or Pominville leading in scoring. It was Chris Taylor. And I bet if you asked them who helped them the most that year they would say the extended coaching staff and Chris Taylor's veteran presence.

 

[Ralonzo]

How do you miss that...

 

[Ralonzo]

That's 4 in 4 for Luke Adam, with a line drive up the first base line. From Brennan and Varone, 1-1.

 

[LaxSabre]

Amerks tie it up on the PP - Adam swings home a rebound out of the air - Brennan and Varone with the assists.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - Luke Adam buries the rebound of a T.J. Brennan shot from the slot at 3:00.
#Amerks and #Marlies tied 1-1.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - The #Amerks power-play goal comes during the minor on #Marlies G Ben Scrivens.
Adam, his 6th, from Brennan and Varone.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - For Luke Adam, that's goals in 4 straight games and 4-2-6 in the past five #Amerks games.
Adam is the first #Amerk this season with goals in 4 straight games.

 

[NotABadPeriod]

Players don't develop in a losing environment. I don't understand why that is so hard for a lot of Buffalo fans to grasp (I'm not saying you don't, just that many around here don't). During the 2003 lockout it wasn't Vanek or Roy or Pominville leading in scoring. It was Chris Taylor. And I bet if you asked them who helped them the most that year they would say the extended coaching staff and Chris Taylor's veteran presence.

Detroit has been one of the models for player development...but their AHL team has sucked for quite some time now. It would seem to go against your argument.

 

[start winnin]

That's 4 in 4 for Luke Adam, with a line drive up the first base line. From Brennan and Varone, 1-1.

Good to see him get back on track, hopefully he keeps it going.

 

[LaxSabre]

Unfortunately for Adam, his stick tips a Acton shot and it beats Leggio to give the Marlies the lead - 2-1.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - Right off the draw the #Marlies score. Kevin Porter loses the faceoff.
Will Acton shoots from the top of slot at 10:06. #Amerks trail 2-1.

Amerks can't take advantage of a four minute powerplay.

End 2nd - Marlies lead 2-1. SOG 2nd: 7-4 Amerks - Total: Marlies 17-14.

 

[sabrefan27]

Players don't develop in a losing environment. I don't understand why that is so hard for a lot of Buffalo fans to grasp (I'm not saying you don't, just that many around here don't). During the 2003 lockout it wasn't Vanek or Roy or Pominville leading in scoring. It was Chris Taylor. And I bet if you asked them who helped them the most that year they would say the extended coaching staff and Chris Taylor's veteran presence.

It's like talking to wall trying to get that through to people here.

 

[Jacob582]

Interesting.....

Corey Pronman‏@coreypronman - Have liked #Sabres Gauthier-Leduc tonight more than earlier this season. Very good puck movement.

 

[sabrefan27]

Detroit has been one of the models for player development...but their AHL team has sucked for quite some time now. It would seem to go against your argument.

Grand Rapids is a historically good team. They've just had a couple tough years. Solid this year.

 

[Moskau]

Detroit has been one of the models for player development...but their AHL team has sucked for quite some time now. It would seem to go against your argument.

Detroit has been one of the models for AHL player development? That's news to me. Detroit was a model for late round overseas drafting. Just because Tatar, Nyquist and Smith should have been in the NHL last year doesn't make them a model for AHL player development. Those 3 players are also bonafide prospects that have been in the AHL for almost 3 years. They're doing something Luke Adam should be doing for Rochester but isn't.

 

[LaxSabre]

After what seemed like ten minutes of end to end action with no whistles - Pysyk ties it up - 2-2. Porter with the lone assist - 15:33.

Goal!!!! Amerks 3-2!!!!!!!!

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - Marcus Foligno with a tip of a Zemgus Girgensons snap shot. #Amerks go up 3-2 with 2:13 to go.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - The go-ahead goal comes 2:14 after Mark Pysyk gave the #Amerks their first lead of the game, picking the top right corner of the net.

****! Marlies tie it up at 3! goal with 10 secs left!

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - Matt Frattin, on his butt in the crease, gets a shot and roofs his own rebound after the David Leggio right leg save. Just 9.5 left.

Kevin Oklobzija ‏@kevinoDandC - #Amerks fan favorite Nazem Kadri and also Paul Ranger with assists on the Matt Frattin goal.