***This Week’s Top Storylines***
*The Amerks enter the final week of November looking to get back on the winning track after seeing their skid reach six games over the weekend. Saturday’s game in Albany began a stretch in which Rochester will play six of its next seven games on the road with its lone home game over that span set for this Friday when the Amerks host the Toronto Marlies on Star Wars Night at The Blue Cross Arena. The following night, the Amerks begin a season-long four-game road swing Saturday in Syracuse.
*Second-year forward Nick Baptiste has been Rochester’s leading point-getter since returning from his most recent NHL call-up on Nov. 18. A third-round pick of Buffalo in 2013, Baptiste totaled nine points (8+1) over a career-long six-game point streak before seeing it halted Saturday in Albany. He compiled three multi-point outings over a five-game span during the stretch, including back-to-back two-goal games in between recalls to Buffalo. He’s currently tied for third in the AHL with a team-best nine goals and is tied for sixth with four power-play tallies through just 11 games this season. One of three Amerks players averaging more than a point-per-game, Baptiste is on pace to best the 13 goals he scored in 62 games during his rookie campaign.
*The Amerks own the fifth-best power-play in the AHL to begin the week after converting on 19 of 78 power-play opportunities for a 24.4% efficiency rate. Rochester has scored at least one power-play goal in five of its last six matchups, going 7-for-26 over that span. The power-play unit is most effective on home ice, where the Amerks have scored 13 times on 41 man-advantage opportunities for a 31.7% success rate.
