Let's just say this isn't the strongest Amerks lineup

Regardless of the league, players who aren't getting prime-time ice time always want more minutes.

As John Fogerty sang, Put me in coach, I'm ready to play.

Well, members of the Rochester Americans don't even need to ask. They'll be getting their chance.

The Amerks head into a stretch of three home games in four days with a significantly depleted lineup. Five of their top six scorers aren't playing Wednesday and aren't expected back for Friday either.

Phil Varone (the leading scorer with 8-21-29 in 35 games), Tim Schaller (tied for second with 10-13-23 in 34) and Mikhail Grigorenko (fourth at 7-15-22 in 30) are on recall to the parent Buffalo Sabres. Luke Adam (8-12-20 in 27) was traded and Joel Armia (8-10-18 in 23) is still hobbled by a lower body injury.

With what remains, the Amerks must attempt to rediscover their power play, which at the moment is anemic.

They've gone 24 straight chances with scoring and are 6-for-65 in the past 15 games (9.2 percent). The one tool that could help them overcome their offensive deficiencies doesn't have a power cord.

Of course, can you consistently produce on the power play if you don't have a true threat at the point? There's no cannon firing rockets from the blue line, ala T.J. Brennan or even Rasmus Ristolainen.

When teams don't fear the point shot, then it's pretty easy to take away everything down low and to also be willing to block the point shots.

The Amerks play the San Antonio Rampage at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, the Lake Erie Monsters at 7:05 p.m. Friday and the Oklahoma City Barons at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.

And then, they essentially say goodbye to their home rink for, oh, the rest of the season. When the week ends, the Amerks will have played 25 of their 38 home games. That's through 14 weeks of the 28-week schedule template.

They still have 25 road games to play, and their road record is horrible: 2-10-1, including 0-9-1 in the past 10 games.

No, this is not a rosy picture. And they'll attempt to stay afloat this week with a lineup that must rely on their goalies and team defense.

They've been wiped out at center by recalls, losing Varone, Schaller and Grigorenko. Left winger Johan Larsson, returned by the Sabres on Sunday, will shift back to center. Zac Dalpe could see some shifts at center as well.

Injuries also have weakened the lineup. Armia won't play this week. He should start skating next week but then he must regain game shape.

Defensemen Drew Bagnall (upper body) and Nick Petrecki (lower body) won't play this week. Bagnall aggravated his shoulder problem and needs recuperation time. "It will be like that probably all year," coach Chadd Cassidy said.

Without Bagnall and Petrecki, veteran Matt Pelech is becoming a permanent fixture on the blue line. He was brought in with the thought of having him play wing, but Cassidy said, "I think he's helped our back end a ton with his physical presence and his demeanor with the puck."

Winger Kevin Sundher, who would finally be getting real ice time after being scratched 13 of 18 games, is out with a health ailment.

Sundher (1 assist in 15 games) came down with an ear infection over the Christmas holiday while back home in British Columbia and hasn't been allowed to fly, Cassidy said. He's expected back this week, Cassidy said.

Now is clearly the time for a lot of other players to step up. Brodie Reid came up from ECHL Elmira just after Christmas and scored three goals in his first four games.

That's more than William Carrier has scored in 32 games (2 goals for the rookie winger) and matches Jordan Samuels-Thomas (3 in 28) and Dan Catenacci (3 in 30 games).

That said, Samuels-Thomas is starting to settle into a role as a banging, get-in-on-the-forecheck winger and has been much more effective of late. So, too, has Catenacci.

Cassidy said the Amerks plan to bring up another forward from the ECHL. They'll give Elmira a try first but could look elsewhere.

Andrey Makarov will start Wednesday, with Matt Hackett backing up. If Hackett continues to feel good in practice, he'll get his first start of the season either Friday or Saturday, Cassidy said.