The Rochester Americans kick off a six-game homestand tonight against the Syracuse Crunch at the Blue Cross Arena.

The Amerks remain without Daniel Paille, who remains in Buffalo, as well as Drew Larman and Rob Globke, who are with the Florida Panthers. The Panthers also re-assigned goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier to Adler Mannheim of the German Elite League last week.

Clarke MacArthur remains the Amerks leading scorer with 25 points (10g, 15a) in 23 games. Mark Mancari jumps to second place with 19 points (9 goals, 10 assists). The Amerks Brandon Smith and Florida's Martin Lojek are both +13 on the season.

The Amerks are 1-1 against Syracuse this season, suffering a 5-0 shut out at the Onodaga County War Memorial at Oncenter, but rebounding the following night at home for 2-1 win. The Amerks won both preseason games against the Crunch earlier this season.

Joe Motzko leades the Crunch in scoring with 20 points (6 g, 14 a). The fifth year player has appeared in 4 NHL games with the Columbus Blue Jackets since signing with the team out of St. Cloud State University. Center Goeff Platt, who appeared in three games with Columbus earlier this year, has 15 points on the season (11 g, 4 a).

Former Panther prospect Filip Novak has 12 points on the season for the Crunch, most coming on assists (11) for the defenseman. Novak was returned to the Crunch yesterday after a stint with Columbus.

The Crunch are in last place in the North Division and trail the Rochester Americans by 24 points. They have lost 6 of their last 10 games, but defeated the Toronto Marlies in their last outing.

Ty Conklin and rookie Tomas Popperle have been splitting the netmind chores for Syracus, Conklin has a 3.51 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 13 goals with a 2-9-1 record, while Popperle has a 4-6-0 record, has a 3.72 GAA and a .865 save percentage in 10 games.

The Amerks have their Toys for Tots campaign underway. Bring a new, unwrapped toy with you to Blue Cross arena and receive a free $16 ticket.

Amerks host Cruch tonight
Amerks return to Rochester in high spirits

The ECHL Florida Everblades take on the Ice Pilots in Pensacola tonight and tomorrow, both teams receiving a bit of a makeover from their last meeting.

Florida acquired help on the blue line, receiving Franklin MacDonald from the Amerks (in exchange for Jeremy Swanson) and re-signing Ryan Van Buskirk, who played with the Blades in the 2003-04 season.

Pensacola shipped brothers Derek and Jordan Krestanovich off to the Victoria Salmon Kings in exchange for forwards Adam Taylor and David Wrigley.

The Blades did catch a bit of a break though, as Pensacola will be without netminder Mike Mole, who was recalled to Bridgeport of the AHL Thursday.

Florida is short on forwards, so head coach Gerry Fleming will be looking for defenseman Chris Lee and Brett Peterson to swing some two way shifts on a checking line for this weekend's games.

Veteran Brent McDonald leads the Blades in scoring with 18 points (7 g, 11 a); Florida prospect Dustin Johner has 16 points (7 g, 9a) in 15 games.

Carolina's Craig Kowalski leades the Everblades netminding duo with a 6-5-0 record, a 2.27 GAA and a .929 save percentage in 11 games. Rookie David Shantz, a second round draft pick by the Florida Panthers, is 6-2-1 on the season with a 2.72 goals against average and a .905 save percentage.

Mike Wirll leads the Pilots gunners with 19 points (11 g, 8a), 10 of which (5g/5a) he has recorded with Pensacola. Colin Hemingway has 18 points (12 goals, 6 assists) in 19 Pilot games this season.

Mike Ayers will likely handle the Pilots net with weekend, he is 2-3-1 in six games this seson with a 3.17 GAA and a .912 save percentage.

The season is 1-1 between these two teams, with Pensacola winning the last meeting on the road at Germain Arena.

Ice Pilots hot, host cool Blades
Pilots goaltender Mole recalled to Bridgeport Sound Tigers of AHL

The Carolina/Colorado affiliated Albany River Rats take on the Tampa Bay affilated Springfield Falcons tonight in Albany. The Rats are in fifth place in the East division with an 11-11-2 record, good for 24 points. The Falcons are in fifth in the Atlantic Division with a 13-11-0 record. They are 7-3-0 in their last ten, but dropped their last game.

The Grand Rapid Griffins host the Toronto Marlies, Hartford visits Worcester, Norfolk is at Binghamton, the Chicago Wolves invade Philadelphia, Portland tangles with the Baby Bruins in Providence, the Penguins are at Hamilton, Peoria takes on the Moose at the MTS center and Lowell and Manchester tangle at the Verizon Wireless Arena.