The Buffalo Sabres sent help to their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. And so far, the Amerks have been authoring a Cinderella story.
It is official. The Buffalo Sabres affiliate will skate into the North Division Final of the Calder Cup Playoffs to face the Laval Rocket. During the run, Peyton Krebs and Casey Fitzgerald have so far helped the Amerks win their first playoff series since 2005 and first back-to-back series wins since 2004.
Over the first two rounds the dynamic duo has dominated, with Krebs scoring nine points in the playoffs and Fitzgerald, seven. Krebs’ points total is tied with J.J. Peterka’s while only Arttu Ruotsalainen (11) has scored more.
Key Buffalo Sabres Peyton Krebs, Casey Fitzgerald, highlighting their strengths in Rochester
In Buffalo this past season, Krebs was not well-known for his goal-scoring, finding twine just seven times in 48 games. The trend has continued in Rochester, but Krebs’ ability to find the open teammate has routinely contributed to the Amerks’ goal scoring effort.
Nine points in seven playoff games is a definite milestone. And if Krebs translates that success to the NHL when he enters his first full season with the Sabres, expect a healthy jump in production next season.
Fitzgerald had just six points in 36 contests this year in Buffalo. He is also known more for his physicality than his scoring. But things have changed in Rochester.
He joined the Amerks for their regular-season finale and put up three points. Seven games later, he scored an additional seven points, for 10 overall in eight games.
Unlike with Krebs, it will be challenging for Fitzgerald to translate this success to the NHL. He figures to play on the third pairing, and there is a chance that Fitzgerald factors in as a rotational piece rather than as a full-time player.
Regardless of Fitzgerald’s role, expect him to remain one of the Sabres most physical players who isn’t afraid to fight every now and again. Even if he doesn’t dress for every game.
(Statistics provided by theAHL.com)