Weekend watch list: Mar. 8-10

Patrick Williams, TheAHL.com Options Author

The long-standing rivalry between the Rochester People and Syracuse Crunch resumes this weekend will loads of potential postseason implications.

The groups open their home-and-home collection tonight in Rochester earlier than Saturday’s rematch in Syracuse. Tonight would be the groups’ 324th regular-season match-up for the reason that Crunch joined the AHL in 1994.

Syracuse has gone 10-0-2-1 in its previous 13 video games dealing with Rochester, together with a 6-0-1-0 mark this season. The Crunch carry a four-game profitable streak into the weekend and are inside three factors of Cleveland for the North Division lead. Additionally they maintain a sport in hand on the Monsters.

Syracuse’s blue line took a success final night time when All-Star defenseman Jack Thompson departed in a commerce with the San Jose Sharks group that introduced Anthony Duclair to Tampa Bay. Thompson’s 32 factors (5 targets, 27 assists) in 46 video games led all Crunch defenders. Syracuse did add Tyson Feist in a commerce with the Chicago Wolves; Feist has a objective and 4 assists in 23 video games with the Wolves after skating in six video games with the Crunch as a professional rookie in 2022-23.

The Amerks are in their very own standings battle, sitting fifth within the North with 58 factors however trailing third-place Belleville by simply three factors; nevertheless, Rochester can also be attempting to fend off stress from Laval (54 factors) and Utica (53 factors). After they end their home-and-home collection with the Crunch, they return residence to face the Comets on Sunday.

Rochester added defenseman Calle Sjalin earlier right this moment, acquired by the Buffalo Sabres within the deal that despatched Kyle Okposo to Florida.

Cleveland ahead Trey Repair-Wolansky will take a six-game objective streak – tied for the longest within the AHL this season – into tonight’s go to to Laval.

Repair-Wolansky, an AHL All-Star final month, has moved into third in AHL scoring with 54 factors (23 targets, 31 assists) in 51 video games. Tonight would be the Monsters’ first contest towards Laval this season, however Repair-Wolansky gave the Rocket loads of hassle final season, particularly at Place Bell the place he amassed 10 factors (six targets, 4 assists) in 4 video games.

The Monsters, who will keep in Laval to complete their two-game set with the Rocket on Saturday afternoon, noticed their weekend get off to a very good begin when the guardian Columbus Blue Jackets acquired veteran goaltender Malcolm Subban from the St. Louis Blues earlier right this moment. Subban had spent this season with Springfield after taking Rochester to the Jap Convention Finals in 2022-23.

Tonight might additionally function the debut of newly acquired Laval ahead Jacob Perreault. The 21-year-old was acquired by the Montreal Canadiens from Anaheim for ahead Jan Myšák. Perreault involves the Rocket after spending his first 4 professional seasons with San Diego, the place he had 18 factors (seven targets, 11 assists) in 31 video games with the Gulls this season. He was chosen twenty seventh general by the Geese within the 2020 NHL Draft.

One other one of many AHL’s oldest rivalries might be on show when the Windfall Bruins go to the Hartford Wolf Pack within the AHLTV Free Sport of the Week tonight (7 ET/6 CT).

Tied with Milwaukee for third general within the AHL with 73 factors, the P-Bruins’ 19 street wins additionally give them a share of the league lead, and produce a five-game street profitable streak into the XL Middle. Bruins goaltender Michael DiPietro has gone 3-1-0 with a 1.50 goals-against common and .953 save proportion in 4 appearances towards the Wolf Pack this season, together with shutouts in Hartford on Nov. 11 and at residence on Feb. 18.

Wolf Pack rookie ahead Brett Berard continues to shine. The 21-year-old Rhode Island native and Windfall School product has 15 factors, together with 9 targets, in his previous 16 video games and is tied for third amongst all AHL rookies with 19 targets general. Berard was chosen within the fifth spherical of the 2020 NHL Draft by the guardian New York Rangers.

An AHLTV account is required to look at the AHLTV Free Video games of the Week, however no subscription is required. Go to AHLTV.com for particulars.

TheAHL.com options author Patrick Williams has been on the American Hockey League beat for practically 20 years for shops together with NHL.com, Sportsnet, TSN, The Hockey Information, SiriusXM NHL Community Radio and SLAM! Sports activities, and was most lately the co-host of The Hockey Information On The ‘A’ podcast. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his excellent protection of the league in 2016.