Savoie to make AHL debut tonight in Game 2 of Eastern Conference Finals

Matt Savoie, the ninth-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, will make his AHL debut tonight for the Rochester Americans in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Hershey Bears.

"(I'm) really excited," Savoie said. "It's been a bit of a whirlwind the last couple of days."

Savoie's junior season ended in the WHL championship last week. He's logged nearly 3,000 miles in travel since then to join the Amerks on their run to the Conference Final. Savoie has been practicing with the team this week and watched from the pressbox as Rochester dominated in a 5-1 victory on the road in Game 1.

Now he gets thrust right into the action.

"He's a puck hunter," Amerks coach Seth Appert said. "That's what I'm expecting. I'm expecting him to play an extremely strong game."

The 19-year-old adds speed and skill to a lineup that is already embarrassingly rich with talent. Five Amerks have double-digit point totals this postseason. Jiri Kulich has scored points in seven-straight games, including a six-game goal streak. Isak Rosen is second on the team to Kulich with three power-play goals.

The game will air in New York State on MSG with faceoff from GIANT Center set for 7 p.m.

"I like to play a fast-paced game," Savoie said. "I'm at my best when I'm keeping my feet moving and attacking offensively."

The Amerks intend to stay on the attack against the Bears. It's when they're at their best and Savoie fits right into that game plan.

"We do not play well sitting back," Appert said. "It's just not who we are; it's not in our DNA."

Savoie's arrival in the lineup comes as Rochester looks to take a commanding 2-0 series lead. He recorded 29 points in 19 playoff games with Winnipeg and expects an intensity similar to what he experienced in the WHL Playoffs.

"I think playoff hockey is a different beast no matter what league it is," Savoie said. "In the Western League, you definitely saw how physical it got, how much quicker it got. Every play can cost you."

Watch: Youtube Video

A natural center, Savoie is also comfortable on the wing. Appert said they plan to take advantage of his versatility and play him in a variety of spots. His right-handed shot is also a luxury that the Amerks haven't had much of this season.

"It's funny how that has come into some stylistic things that we have to do differently," Appert said. "Whether that's puck battle structure, faceoff plays… Because we're all lefties. To have two of them is going to be nice."

Watch: Youtube Video

After a disappointing end to his WHL season, Savoie now has a clean slate. The Amerks are also treating Thursday night's Game 2 as a fresh start, despite their convincing win in the series opener. Momentum goes only as far as the next shift, and the Amerks are hoping for another strong start after scoring just 14 seconds into Game 1.

"If the first shift of the game isn't a good shift then you lose that momentum," Appert said. "If the first shift of the game is a strong identity-based shift then we can carry some momentum forward."

The series will shift to Rochester with Game 3 on Saturday and Game 4 on Monday. Tickets are on sale now.