HAMILTON, Ont. -- Here's some quick thought on the Rochester Amerks' 5-2 loss to Hamilton in their season opener.
1). Their best defenseman was none other than Shaone Morrisonn, who has accepted his assignment to the AHL for now. He has nearly 2.1 million reasons to play here and not pout, Uh-huh.
"I was having fun out there. I got to play, have some ice time," he said. "I haven't been in a game since the playoffs last year. I had a lot of fun. I felt good in camp, and we'll see what happens the next couple weeks.
"If I can't do the NHL this year, you want to play in the best league as possible. Buffalo has my rights and it's up to them. Wherever they put me I'll work hard. It makes you stronger mentally. It's fun playing with these young guys again. I got lots of minutes and felt great out there."
Added coach Ron Rolston: "He's a professional. He came down and has worked extremely hard in practice. It's tough when that happens but he's done a really good responding to the situation and trying to get better for us. It's a tough situation, given where your expectations are and where you want to be. You have to give him a little time to respond to the situation. He was real good in practice and he showed nothing that he was going to have a different attitude."
2). Drew Schiestel left with a knee injury in the third period. Status TBA. Dennis Persson put a puck into his own net on a deflection. Alex Biega and T.J. Brennan were uneven. Same for Brayden McNabb, who got away with a first-period elbow that would net him two or three games from Brendan Shanahan.
3). Zack Kassian got better as the game went on. Skated well, created some chances. Marcus Foligno was invisible. Colin Stuart had eight shots on goal, one goal and looked good.
4). David Leggio was terrific. Forget about five goals. One was an own goal, two were tap-ins, one was totally screened and the fifth was a penalty shot. Leggio and Drew McIntyre should really make for a good combination in the AHL.
5). Liked Rolston's attitude postgame. "There's 75 more of these to go," he said. Chipper, positive, ready to work with a young team.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
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