AGD: Here Come the Americans
Kent Wilson
December 11 2012 04:33PM
Time: 5:00pm MST
Location: Blue Cross Arena, Rochester
Broadcast: teamradio.ca
The Heat got back into the win column against the Marlies on Sunday and look to continue their winning ways in Rochester this evening against the sabres AHL affiliate. Rochester has some decent firepower up front but nevertheless languish near the bottom of the Western Conference standings with a record of 10-9-2.
The Americans have scored 8 more goals than the Heat in two less games, but have also surrendered 19 more, so their weakness is obvious. Their goaltending duo of Connor Knapp and David Leggio has been mediocre, with both guys hovering below the .910 SV% mark. Combine that with the fact they give up the 7th most shots against in the league (32.29/game) and you have a club with problems in it's own end.
The Heat, on the other hand, are the best team in the league at deterring shots right now (25.48/game). They still aren't great at generating shots (27.61, 27th overall) but at least their shot differential is now positive, unlike earlier in the year. What helped is Abbotsford stopped taking so many minors per game. They are currently the 8th least penalized team in the AHL and have enjoyed almost 50 more minutes in terms of penalties drawn than they have taken so far.
The Lineup
Ben Walter joined Horak and Reinhart on a line last game and the trio combined for two goals, five points and the GWG on the PP. Horak's two pints moved him into a tie for second on the team in scoring with Sven Baertschi while Reinhart now has two points and 13 shots on net in his last three games. Seems like the kid is finally starting to find his legs with some better linemates and an improved role.
- Olson - Street - Kolanos
- Laing - Byron - Nemisz
- Horak - Reinhart - Walter
- Bancks - Estoclet - Ruesegger
- Brodie - Piskula
- Breen - McCarthy
- McKelvie - Callahan
- Brust
Greg Nemisz, on the other hand, has been shut out in five games and has a dismal seven shots on net. I haven't watched the games but some reports suggest his skating remains a going concern.
The Opposition
Foligno continues to pace the Americans with 20 points in 21 games. Right behind him is defender TJ Brennan who has already counted 9 goals and 18 points. Surprising 24 year old rookie Bryan Flynn is third on the club with 17 points.
- Foligno - Adam - Mancari
- Roy - Sundher - Parker
- Flynn - Porter - Legault
- Varone - Gauthier-Leduc
- Brennan - Biega
- Pysyk - McNabb
- Schiestel - Finley
- Leggio
The line-up looks strange because the team went with 8 defensemen and 10 forwards in their last contest (Gautheir-Leduc is usually a rearguard). I can only imagine that has to do with injury issues which have claimed a number of guys including former Canucks Cody Hodgson (he had 10 points in nine games before going down for the count).
Sum It Up
The Americans have some weaons up front but are worse than mediocre in their own end of the rink. If the Heat can shut down their top line players like Foligno, they should be able to outchance (and hopefully outscore) the bad guys tonight.
the Americans' defensive woes are hardly surprising given their young blueline. 3 of their top 4 is McNabb, Pysyk, and Brennan. Brennan is at least an experienced pro, by now, but still, that's a young blueline.
@Baalzamon
Yeah that probably doesnt help.
What about Girgensons (not in the line-up)? Isn't he supposed to be pretty good.
And I thought Luke Adam was supposed to be pretty solid too...wasn't he a desired piece in the Regehr trade that they didn't want to give up?
@mk
Girgensons is playing, but he's also 18 years old. I believe he has 4 points in 16 games or something this year.
@mk
Adam has had a really slow start to the year, but is (or was last game) centering the too line with Foligno, so who knows.
Well, there's Adam with a goal. :(
PS: This is my first time posting here, but I've been reading this stuff for a while. You guys do awesome work!
@mk
Cheers! Here's hoping we can actually write about NHL hockey this year...
Is Baertschi still out with concussion-like symptoms or is he eligible for the WJC and not dressed on that account?
The former. He's not eligible for the WJCs this year. I assume they're being especially cautious with him since it's 'just' the AHL, and nobody wants to be responsible for breaking the Flames' franchise saviour.
I think it's a strained neck from whip lash and not a concussion... but what do I know.
@thymebalm
that's what it says on twitter. Neck injury. *relief*
Ah nice. Word on the street until recently was concussion-related.
WHEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
* Celebrate good times come on, *
Relief!
@vowswithin
I'll admit the cynical side of me is suspicious of this "it's the neck and not a concussion" stuff. It could be that, yes, looking at the head they found he's actually suffering from a neck issue. On the other hand, moving the injury away from the brain saves the team from having to comply with exacting and annoying concussion protocol.
If that sounds ridiculous, well hockey culture still tends to view injuries - even concussions - as something to get around/play through more than anything:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/sports/hockey/hockey-coaches-defy-doctors-on-concussions-study-finds.html?_r=0
A friend of mine is an athletic trainer for high level hockey here in Calgary. He has told me numerous stories of having to repeatedly tell coaches/parents/players a kid CAN'T PLAY after suffering from major injuries. And this is with players who are 15 years old.
Now, this may not be true at all with the Flames in this instance. Just the malady going from "concussion symptoms" to "just a neck thing" is...odd. We'll see what happens though.
@Kent Wilson
the last thing we want is the dreaded "chronic concussion" issues. Sven had a concussion last year. 2 years in a row... shudder.
@Baalzamon
I agree. My interest is if teams are finding ways to minimize those issues by calling them something else. Cam Charron tells me today that the Leafs are coming out and saying Gardiners recent injury "may be concussion symptoms or may be symptomatic of neck pain..."
Uh-huh.