‘The love of being Amerks’ is a big reason why the playoff run continues.
By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA / Pickinsplinters.com
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The list of heroes ran deep for the Rochester Americans on Saturday night.
Then again, how could it not? No winner-take-all playoff showdown has ever been won by just one player.
Which is why the Amerks are moving on to the Calder Cup North Division finals. Their resiliency as a team, their undeniable resolve, has been a blossoming trait down the stretch, and enabled them to stare down elimination three times – and smile in the end.
After losing the first two games of the North Division semifinals to the Syracuse Crunch, it would have been easy to start packing the belongings and prepare for summer.
Instead, the Amerks rattled off three consecutive victories, 8-5 in Game 3 and 4-0 in Game 4 on home ice before going back on the road to complete the improbable “reverse sweep” with Saturday night’s 5-4 overtime thriller at Upstate Medical University Arena.
“We just took the approach we had to try to find a way to win one game,” captain Michael Mersch said.
They did just that – three straight times. And everyone within the group made a contribution, from overtime hero Lawrence Pilut, who scored the series-winning goal, to roster-extra Matej Pekar, pouring a celebratory beer into the mouth of Lukas Rousek as the players danced into the dressing room to rejoice.
“I really love coaching this team,” Amerks coach Seth Appert said. “They’ve grown so much. Last year’s team was fabulous too, but … this year’s team had to grow into this, and I’ve really come to love the grit and togetherness and the love of being Amerks that these guys play with.”
Which is why the Amerks mafia showed up by the hundreds on Saturday night in Syracuse — from newbies who have quickly become diehards to season-ticket lifers who fondly remember the Cup runs of the 1960s.
There were times on Saturday night when it was easy to wonder, “Whose house is this, anyway?”
“It was almost like a home game,” said rookie winger Isak Rosen, who set up both the first goal by Tyson Kozak and Pilut’s game-winner.
The first chorus of “Let’s Go Amerks!” began early, before warmups actually, and those LGA chants would continue throughout the night. Fans waved Amerk flags, held up LET’S GO AMERKS placards and proudly wore Amerks sweaters.
“That was special to see,” Appert said. “That’s a credit to our fans; that’s a credit to our players that they’ve earned that love from this fan base, because of the heart and character and the tenacity that this group has come to play with.”
We’re not talking a row or two of Amerks fans sprinkled about the arena, either. These boisterous chants were orchestrated by two full sections — front row to back wall, lower bowl right up through the upper level — and picked up by the scores of other Amerks fans that helped make a normally hostile road atmosphere feel downright welcoming for their players.
“It was crazy sitting in the locker room hearing our fans over their fans,” Pilut said.
He gave them plenty to cheer about in the end, too, when his shot from the high slot eluded screened goalie Hugo Alnefelt and ended the Crunch season 11:35 into overtime.
Mersch had the puck behind the net and, per his M.O., tried to bull his way out to the crease. He was met with resistance but, while falling, dished a pass to Rosen in the right circle. Rosen then quickly passed to the center point for Pilut, who surveyed the situation, stutter-stepped to freeze defender Simon Ryfors, then whipped a shot through traffic and into the left side of the net.
“I saw it go in and then I saw the guys skating out to me,” Pilut said of the on-ice party.
Rare accomplishment
This was just the second time in franchise history that the Amerks have overcome a 2-0 series deficit in a best-of-five series to win (1967 was the first).
There has been a rally from a 3-0 deficit just once in franchise history, in 1960.
Every play matters
The Crunch attempted to discourage the Amerks smallish, skilled forwards with a barrage of physicality in the series, but they weren’t deterred.
“I can’t lay on the ice after a big hit, I just have to get up and track back,” Rosen said.
Rosen said the biggest thing he learned throughout the series is that play in Game 1 may matter in the deciding game of a series.
“You have to play every little battle like it’s the last,” he said.
Kozak no longer unnoticed
Kozak scored the first goal, took key faceoffs throughout the night and was among the many taking part in a never-ending shot-blocking parade. The rookie center even blocked a shot in the third period with his hand.
“A little sore but not an issue,” he said with a smile.
He also delivered several big hits, willing to initiate early and often.
“He’s such a good hockey player,” Appert said. “Rosen and (Jiri) Kulich get a lot of praise, and they deserve it, but as good as Rosen and Kulich are in their offensive part of their game, Kozie is as good in his defensive game.
“For him to be one of our best penalty killers, one of best defensive players and physical players as a 19-, 20-year-old in this league is just incredibly impressive.”