Goalie Salak learning quickly for Rochester Americans
As he talked about his seemingly instant adaptation to the North American game, Alexander Salak sounded a little Yogi Berra-esque when it comes to dealing with traffic and finding the puck.
Despite a forest of bodies that opponents have planted in front of his crease, especially on the power play, Salak has somehow maintained a sightline to the puck.
“It’s always better if you see the puck,” the Rochester Americans goalie said, stating the totally obvious.
Except not every goalie is able to find the puck through traffic, which is why the “no-kidding, Sherlock” statement is simplistic yet also sound advice for any goaltender.
“Even if you go a little bit out of position, if you see the puck, you have a chance to stop it,” Salak reasoned.
It helps, of course, to have great reflexes and explosiveness on skates. Not every goalie can dart from one side of the crease to the other the way Salak can.
There are cats that would envy his quickness.
“You think you have him beat and he’ll dive across and get a leg on it or a stick on it,” Amerks forward Jamie Johnson said. “Side to side he’s so quick.”
That agility, part of his one-of-a-kind style that really can’t be classified, is why Salak has a 5-0 record, 1.60 goals-against average and .947 save percentage.
The 22-year-old native of the Czech Republic won three games in three days on the weekend, giving up just four goals, to earn American Hockey League player of the week honors.
Amerks coach Benoit Groulx said three elements enable Salak to be successful.
He hopes the traits are visible again tonight when the Amerks take their seven-game winning streak and 8-1-1 record into the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena to play the Binghamton Senators at 7:05.
The adjustment to the North American hasn’t been that difficult for Salak. He played the past three years in Finland and said that helped immensely.
“The Finnish style is the most similar to the North American style, so I think that’s an advantage to me,” Salak said. “They try to play the same game as they play here.
“The rinks are smaller and shots are come from pretty much everywhere. But I have some friends who play over here and I talked to them. I knew what kind of hockey is played here.”
He was advised that opponents may be bumping into him. Binghamton players drove into the crease and bumped the Amerks other goalie, Tyler Plante, at least six times when the Senators played in Rochester on Oct. 21. Plante suffered a mild knee sprain, which is why Salak played all three games last weekend.
Salak faced traffic issues in Albany and Syracuse and he was pushing and slashing back. He says there’s not much he can do except adapt.
“What should I do about it? Should I say, ‘Hey, I don’t really like that,’” he said, laughing.
KEVINO@DemocratandChronicle.com
Taffe promoted
Amerks center Jeff Taffe was recalled by the NHL’s Florida Panthers.
The Panthers have won just twice (2-7-1) and are hoping to find a spark of any sort.
Taffe scored four goals, three assists and seven points in nine games with the Amerks, who play in Binghamton tonight.
