The Rochester Americans laid to rest ghosts of playoffs past with series win over Toronto
The Buffalo Sabres might have just missed out on a spot in the NHL postseason, but the next generation showed that they are made of grittier stuff with a sparkling 3-0 series sweep of the Toronto Marlies to clinch the AHL North Division.
The Amerks will play the Hershey Bears in the Eastern Conference Finals, the first time they have appeared at this stage since 2004. The winners will go on to face the Western Conference champions in the 2023 Calder Cup Finals.
In last night’s Game 3 at the Blue Cross Arena, the Amerks thumped the Marlies 8-4 after winning the first two games of the series in Toronto. Rochester are on a hot streak now picking up their sixth straight win after going down 2-0 in the previous round against Syracuse Crunch.
Prospect Jiri Kulich leads the Amerks in goals scored in the playoffs, notching his sixth in six games last night while Lukas Rousek and Mason Jobst have been hot as well, with the former ending up with a goal and three assists while the latter added two assists to bring his postseason total to two goals and nine assists to lead the Amerks in playoffs scoring. Goalie Malcolm Subban made 34 saves and is now 6-2 in the playoffs, having started with the two losses against the Crunch.
Rochester is 6-1 all-time in playoff series against Hershey, but the two franchises have not met in the postseason since 2000. The conference finals is a best-of-seven series and starts next week with the Bears hosting Games 1, 2, and if necessary, 5 and 7 while the Amerks will host 3, 4, and 6 if needed.
Game 1 | Tuesday, May 23 – Rochester at Hershey | 7:00 p.m. at GIANT Center
Game 2 | Thursday, May 25 – Rochester at Hershey | 7:00 p.m. at GIANT Center
Game 3 | Saturday, May 27 – Hershey at Rochester | 7:05 p.m. at Blue Cross Arena
Game 4 | Monday, May 29 – Hershey at Rochester | 6:05 p.m. at Blue Cross Arena
*Game 5 | Wednesday, May 31 – Rochester at Hershey | 7:00 p.m. at GIANT Center
*Game 6 | Friday, June 2 – Hershey at Rochester | 7:05 p.m. at Blue Cross Arena
*Game 7 | Monday, June 5 – Rochester at Hershey | 7:00 p.m. at GIANT Center
*if necessary
Ticket sales for Games 3 and 4 are scheduled for the general public at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 22, with a special presale online-only offer for those who sign up for presale access at www.amerks.com/playoffs starting tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 19.