**This Week’s Storylines**
**After opening the season with back-to-back wins, the Amerks enter the week in the midst of a three-game skid on the heels of 5-2 and 5-1 losses to Charlotte and Utica this past weekend, respectively. Rochester currently sits in fifth in the AHL’s North Division standings.
**Newcomer C.J. Smith enters the week tied for 17th among all AHL rookies in scoring with a team-high four points (2+2) through his first five games of the season. The first-year pro scored Rochester’s lone goal in Saturday’s 5-1 loss to Utica.
**The Amerks remain without the services of veteran defenseman Zach Redmond, who was recalled to the parent Buffalo Sabres early Saturday morning. He becomes the third different Amerk to earn a call-up to the big club this week, joining leading goal-scorer Justin Bailey and fellow defenseman Taylor Fedun. Acquired just before the start of the season, Redmond currently leads all Rochester defensemen with three points (1+2) in four games after scoring his first goal of the season – and first as an Amerk – on the power-play in Friday’s 5-2 loss to Charlotte. He also shows seven points (3+4) in his last nine games dating back to last season as a member of the St. John’s IceCaps.
**Rochester embarks on a busy stretch of three game in four nights this week, beginning with a home-and-home series against the Laval Rocket, new affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. Following Wednesday’s inaugural matchup at Place Bell in Laval, the series shifts to Rochester on Friday night as the Rocket make their first-ever trip to The Blue Cross Arena.
