Jiri Kulich plays hero, helps Rochester Amerks even series versus Laval Rocket

ROCHESTER – It felt like only a matter of time before Jiri Kulich put his mark on the Americans’ hotly contested second-round series against the Laval Rocket. The center, after all, is now an NHL player, having spent nearly all season with the Buffalo Sabres.

Kulich, however, has returned to the AHL for one final run with the Amerks during the Calder Cup Playoffs. Having just about outgrown the minors, he’s expected to be a dynamic presence.

Sure enough, after a slow start Friday, the Czech got going late in Game 2, scoring the go-ahead power-play goal 12:07 into the third period to lift the Amerks to a 5-3 win before a noisy crowd of 9,126 fans in Blue Cross Arena.

The best-of-five AHL North Division final is tied 1-1. Game 3 is Wednesday in Laval.

“That’s why I’m here, to help the team win,” said Kulich, who has scored two goals and seven points in five postseason outings this year. “To be honest, I’m still not good enough, so (I) have to step up more.”

Kulich, as he has done so often throughout his career, utilized his wicked shot to score, going down on one knee and one-timing the puck past goalie Jacob Fowler from above the right circle.

“The NHL playoffs, your best players got to be your best players, and we need guys to step up,” Amerks coach Mike Leone said. “He stepped up in a huge moment.”

Amerks winger Lukas Rousek created the play by adroitly feeding Kulich from the other side of the ice.

Kulich, 21, will almost certainly graduate back to Buffalo next season. But these final few weeks in Rochester give him a special opportunity.

“That’s why I’m glad Buffalo made the decision to bring him here, because I believe when you play on teams that want to go far … and you’re in that environment and you understand what it looks like and the game’s on the line and you’re in pressure situations, it’s only good for your career,” Leone said. “And he’s playing in the moment. He’s been a great teammate. There’s a lot of guys that could’ve came here and pouted.”

Amerks defenseman Kale Clague opened the scoring on the power play 5:58 into the game.

In his first taste of the AHL postseason, Clague has been scorching, scoring once in each of the Amerks’ five games and compiling nine points. He also recorded an assist Friday.

Laval winger Laurent Dauphin tied it at 13:49 before winger Isak Rosen put the Amerks back up at 14:23 when he tipped defenseman Ryan Johnson’s shot in.

Captain Lucas Condotta knotted it again 4:41 into the second period before center Jared Davidson gave Laval is first lead at 13:14.

Rousek tied it again 19:20 into the second period.

After Kulich scored, Amerks winger Isak Rosen’s empty-net goal sealed the game.

“I thought we played great,” Leone said. “When we skate and we play with pace, we can overwhelm teams with speed, and I think you saw that tonight. Like, we believe in our group. We believe we’re a better hockey team.”

Amerks goalie Devon Levi made 16 saves. Fowler stopped 31 shots.