The Rochester Americans conclude their six-game road trip in Manitoba tonight and tomorrow before returning to Blue Cross Arena to face the Syracuse Crunch on Friday and the Hamilton Bulldogs on Saturday.

Despite droping two to Grand Rapids this last weekend and losing 3 of their last 5, the Amerks remain in first place in the North Division, eight points ahead of Hamilton and Manitoba.

The Amerks won their past two meetings against the Moose this season, and are 12-10 all-time against Manitoba. The two games start at 8:30 eastern and you can listen live on the Amerks website at www.amerks.com.

Clarke MacArthur leads the Amerks in scoring with 9 goals and 14 assists (23 points). Michael Ryan also has 9 goals on the season, despite playing in four fewer games than MacArthur. Drew Stafford was returned to the Amerks by the Buffalo Sabres, he scored his second NHL goal on Saturday in the Sabres loss to the Washington Capitals. Stafford has 5 goals and 4 assists (9 points) in 11 games this season with the Amerks.

Craig Anderson and Dennis Adams have been splitting time in net for the Amerks, and the trend will likely continue through the next two games. Anderson, a Panthers prospect who has seen time in the NHL has a 2.33 GAA on the season with a .923 save percentage in eight games, while the Sabres' Dennis has a 2.56 GAA with a .925 save percentage in nine games.

Anderson has a 6-2-0 record, while Dennis has a 6-3-0 record.

The Vancouver affiliated Moose are lead by Jason Jaffrey (14 g, 11 a) and Brad Morgan (11 g, 14 a) with 25 points each.

Former Panther prospect Wade Flaherty has a handled the bulk of the Moose netminding and has a 6-5-0 record with a 2.91 GAA and a .886 save percentage. Partner Drew MacIntyre, who played last season for the Griffins, has a 3-5-2 record with a 2.92 GAA and a .897 save percentage.

Manitoba lost dropped to this weekend, one to the Hershey Bears and one to the Philadelphia Phantoms, both by the score of 2-5, and have lost 3 of their last five. The division leading Amerks have 4 games in hand over the 2nd placed Moose.

In NHL action the Sabres take on the Lightning in Tampa Bay tonight at 7:30, while the Panthers will try their luck at Pittsburgh against the Penguins. The Panthers are last in the Southeast Division, and only 1 point ahead of last placed Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings. They trail the Lightning by seven points, and both Philly and the Bolts have one game in hand on the lowely Panthers.

Henrik Tallinder and Tim Connolly remain out of the line up for the Sabres. Derek Roy is expected to play tonight. Tampa Bay is without forward Rob DiMaio.

Joe Nieuwendyk is expected to miss tonight's game for the Panthers, forward Jurij Kolnik is doubtful and Todd Bertuzzi remains sidelined indefinitely following back surgery. Mike Ouellet is day to day for the Pens, and defensemen Eric Cairns, Mark Eaton and Ryan Malone all remain on Pittsburgh's disabled list.