The Rochester Americans will try to halt a difficult stretch when they host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Blue Cross Arena.
Rochester enters at 4-4-0-1 after losing three of its last four games, but all four of its wins this season have come on Fridays, the team reported.
Halloween activities accompany the matchup
The Amerks have outscored Friday opponents 17-5. Lehigh Valley arrives at 4-3-1-0 with wins in four of its last five games.
The Halloween-themed Sweets N’ Suites night includes trick-or-treating on the suite level during intermissions. Fans are encouraged to wear costumes. The first 1,000 fans younger than 14 will receive an Amerks tote bag, and 1,000 “Mini Moo” plush toys will also be distributed.
Pregame coverage begins at 7 p.m. on WGR Rochester and AHLTV on FloHockey. This is the first of two meetings between the clubs and Lehigh Valley’s only visit to Rochester this season.
Shots and special teams are in focus
Rochester lost 3-2 to Hershey Wednesday after falling behind 3-0 early in the second period. The Amerks scored twice in that period but managed only four shots in the third.
The team is averaging 27.1 shots per game, ranking 22nd in the AHL. That figure has dropped to 22.5 over its last four games. Rochester has averaged nearly 30 shots in its wins and 25.4 in its losses.
The power play has gone 1-for-17 over the recent four-game stretch, after starting 7-for-30. Rochester has allowed a league-high three shorthanded goals, according to the preview.
Its penalty kill has stopped the last 10 opposing opportunities and is 33-for-39 overall, an 84.6% success rate tied for 11th in the league.
Lehigh Valley beat Belleville 2-0 Sunday after a 7-2 loss to Syracuse. Forward Jacob Gaucher was reassigned from Philadelphia Thursday; he has four goals and four assists in seven AHL games. Alex Bump scored seven goals in five games before his recall to the Flyers.
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