The Buffalo Sabres sent Casey Fitzgerald, Peyton Krebs, and Mattias Samuelsson to the Rochester Americans for the AHL Playoffs.
The Buffalo Sabres are giving three players who secured a spot on their main roster playoff experience, and they will help their AHL affiliate complete a quest to win the Calder Cup. In last night’s win over the Belleville Senators, Krebs and Fitzgerald were arguably the greatest contributors in the come-from-behind win.
It wasn’t the easiest adjustment for Krebs, who noted the AHL game is more of a random bag of tricks. However, the Rochester Americans were not winning Game 1 against Belleville without him.
The Amerks found themselves down 3-0 when the third period commenced. And Krebs helped create two of Rochester’s three goals. But Krebs was not alone in the scoring effort. Defenseman Casey Fitzgerald gave the Amerks much-needed production too.
Key Buffalo Sabres talent shining for the Rochester Americans in the Calder Cup Playoffs
Fitzgerald contributed with one goal off of assists from Krebs and J.J. Peterka, another Sabres prospect who saw playing time in the NHL and will likely make the full transition next season. Krebs and Fitzgerald also hooked up for assists on a Jimmy Shuldt goal a the 13:19 mark in the third period.
The effort from the duo helped the Amerks force overtime and for the period’s first 16 minutes, neither Rochester nor Belleville could find twine. Finally, Arttu Ruotsalainen scored the game-winning goal at the 16:54 mark with assists from Josh Teves and Ethan Prow.
Without Krebs’ and Fitzgerald‘s presence, odds are the Amerks are facing a 1-0 deficit to the Senators. But given the experience the duo, plus Mattias Samuelsson when he returns to the ice, have at the NHL level, the AHL game gives them an opportunity to build further on-ice chemistry.
Not just among themselves, but also with teammates like Peterka and Jack Quinn. The latter of whom won the AHL’s Most Outstanding Rookie Award and is a shoo-in to become a regular member of the Sabres roster.
(Statistics provided by Amerks.com)