Amerks face must-win Game 3 on Friday

The Rochester Americans are looking for an answer.
Down 2-0 to the Syracuse Crunch in the North Division Semifinals of the Calder Cup Playoffs, they face a must-win Game 3 as the series shifts to Blue Cross Arena on Friday, April 28.
"We need to continue to be a really good, committed defensive team," Amerks coach Seth Appert said. "The recipe for success against Syracuse is not to try to win a 7-5 game. It's not the recipe for success."

Rochester battled back from one-goal deficits twice in Game 1 before falling in overtime 3-2. In Game 2, they were unable to overcome a two-goal first period on their way to a 3-0 loss. The Amerks missed a handful of prime scoring chances that could have given this series a different complexion.
"We missed a partial breakaway and two back-door one timers in the first period that you need to convert on," Appert said. "That's what we did on Friday. They score, we answer. It calms the game down, calms the bench down, calms the crowd down.
"We had three great moments to do that in the first period (of Game 2) when it was 1-0 and we didn't convert. At any of those points in the first or the second, if we convert and get it to 1-1 or 2-1, it's a different ballgame."

You can't live in the past

Due to the unique scheduling of the series, the Amerks have had five days between games. The time to recharge has given Rochester a chance to work on some strategy in practice while shifting their sights forward.
"I think because of the results, you get time to put it away," Appert said. "Learn from it, get a little bit ticked off by it but then also put it away and move forward."
Appert and his team were clearly disappointed by the outcomes of Games 1 and 2, but they're focused on the future. They used Monday to get in the right mindset facing a must-win Game 3 and set a tone for what they want to accomplish.
"All you do is control the next game, Friday night," Appert said. "Our whole focus is on giving us the best chance to win one game and just focus on one game. We take care of that and then we move on from there."

Play fast

In order to flip the script on the series in Game 3, Appert feels his team needs to play fast. Syracuse is a tough and structured team defensively, but it's not just about footspeed on the ice.
Time and space are at a premium on the ice and Appert said the Amerks didn't create enough offensive chances in Games 1 and 2. They reviewed tape with players and highlighted areas where quicker decisions could translate to more chances.
"We put ourselves in position to create more and we didn't take advantage of it," Appert said. "We need to play faster in our decision making, to try to catch them in the few moments that they're out of their structure."

Injury bug

Amerks forward Brandon Biro will miss the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury, Rochester coach Seth Appert revealed on Tuesday.
Biro has scored 51 points in 49 games this season but has been out since April 5. Biro initially suffered the injury on March 17 at Wilkes-Barre but finished the game. He missed the next eight games before returning to the lineup on April 5.
The talented 25-year-old center was initially expected to be out a minimum of four weeks. He underwent successful surgery and will now be out of action for the remainder of the season.
Jiri Kulich is probable for Game 3 after missing the first two games of the series. Kulich was out of the non-contact jersey and was a full participant in practice this week. Appert said Thursday he was more confident regarding Kulich's availabilty than he had been earlier in the week.
Filip Cederqvist is considered day-to-day with a lower-body injury after absorbing a knee over the weekend. Brendan Warren is listed as out for Game 3.

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Schedule

North Division Semifinals best-of-five series (Syracuse leads 2-0)
Game 3 - Fri., Apr. 28 - Syracuse at Rochester, 7:05 p.m. (AHL TV)
\Game 4 - Sun., Apr. 30 - Syracuse at Rochester, 3:05 p.m. (AHL TV)
\Game 5 - Sat., May 6 - Rochester at Syracuse, 7:00 p.m. (AHL TV)
\Denotes if necessary*