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Buffalo Sabres affiliate ends a seventeen-year drought

By Sion Fawkes

LAVAL, QC - APRIL 08: A detailed view of the Rochester Americans logo during the second period against the Laval Rocket at Place Bell on April 8, 2022 in Laval, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Rochester Americans 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - APRIL 08: A detailed view of the Rochester Americans logo during the second period against the Laval Rocket at Place Bell on April 8, 2022 in Laval, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Rochester Americans 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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The Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, won a playoff series for the first time in seventeen seasons. 

Welp, now it’s the Buffalo Sabres turn to end their own drought after the Rochester Americans won their first playoff series since 2005. Put into greater context, the last time the Amerks won a playoff series, I was in eighth grade, so it’s been a while.

Of course, the Sabres drought isn’t as long, having last won a playoff series in 2007 in a Conference Semifinals matchup against the New York Rangers. But still, the NHL-record eleven seasons without a playoff appearance hurts.

Thankfully, the Sabres will have a few of those Amerks on their roster next season. Mattias Samuelsson, Peyton Krebs, and Casey Fitzgerald went down to Rochester to help in the playoffs, and each played well in Buffalo this season. Then you have Jack Quinn and J.J. Peterka, at the very least, heading to the NHL come October. Both received All-Rookie Honors this year.

Buffalo Sabres affiliate scores their first playoff series win in seventeen seasons

The Americans knocked out the Belleville Senators in an epic overtime thriller, their second in as many games. This time, the Senators stormed back from a 3-1 deficit, scoring two goals in the third period. However, Brett Murray, with assists from Arttu Ruotsalainen and Jimmy Schuldt, scored the game-winner at the 17:39 mark of overtime.

Ruotsalainen was on fire, with two goals and two assists, for a total of four points. Both Krebs and Fitzgerald contributed with an assist apiece, and Mark Jankowski tacked on a goal at the 5:41 mark in the second period.

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Now, the Amerks have a few days off before they pack ’em up and head on to Utica to face the Comets. An affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, the Comets won the North Division with 95 points. The Amerks, despite their struggles, split their season series with the Comets for a 6-6 record.

(Statistics provided by Amerks.com)

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