Amerks’ Varone focuses on finer points

• The fourth-year centerman ranks third in AHL scoring with 5 goals, 13 assists and 18 points
• His 13 assists are second-most in the league
• Scoring is a big part of what he does but he’s trying to prove there’s much more to his game

The numbers say Phil Varone is off to a great start for the Rochester Americans.

That knack for threading a pass between skates, past a leg and onto a linemate’s stick at the goal mouth is still keenly acute.

So, too, is his ability to somehow see, and then connect with, the point man sneaking in from the blue line, without ever tipping off the defenders of the impending blitz.

Through 16 games, Varone sits third in American Hockey League scoring with 5 goals, 13 assists and 18 points. A year ago, he finished 14th with 18-43-61 in 69 games.

“The more I’m scoring, the better it is for the team, I guess,” the fourth-year centerman said. “But we’re not winning now (1-6-1 in the past eight games) so either I’m not scoring enough or I’m not keeping it out of our net enough.”

Varone has always been a pretty tough critic of his own play. He doesn’t need to be told if he isn’t producing enough or paying attention to defensive details. He knows.

He also knows that leading the Amerks in scoring in two of his three AHL seasons hasn’t exactly vaulted him to the top of the “next in line for a recall” depth chart.

So he’s trying to adapt a bit. The 23-year-old Vaughan, Ontatrio, native doesn’t want to reinvent his game, but he is intent on showing he’s more than just a scorer.

“I’m trying to be a little grittier,” Varone said.

That means more desperation on the board battles. More snarl in front of the net at both ends. More going through defenders instead of trying to dance around them.

He’s part of the Amerks penalty killing units. He’s very proud of his ability to win defensive-zone faceoffs, and that many of his shifts start in the defensive zone.

The best part about it all: nothing has changed when it comes to point production. The worst thing would be to become a better two-way player while producing fewer points and then have teams look at him and say, “Why isn’t he scoring like he used to?”

He admits that it’s a bit of a Catch-22. He’s willing to take the chance, though. To reach his goal of the NHL, something quite likely needs to change.

“The thing about Phil that I’ve always liked is that he’s one of those guys that really studies the game,” Amerks coach Chadd Cassidy said. “He understands the nuances.

“If you tell him something on the bench once, like a slight change in the forecheck, he understands right away. A lot of guys really struggle with that because it’s so engrained.”

Perhaps even more important: Varone thrives on helping the team.

“He wants to be the guy with the puck,” Cassidy said. “His competitive nature is second to none.”

Varone is doing his best to make sure everyone else knows it, too.

KEVINO@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/@kevinoDandC

Hockey night

The matchup: Amerks vs. Utica Comets (affiliate of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks).

Time/place: 7:05 p.m. Friday/Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester Community War Memorial.

Tickets: $13, $21, $23, $25.

Records: The Amerks are 7-8-1-0. Utica is an AHL-best 12-2-2-0.

Amerks update: Center Justin Kea was recalled from ECHL Elmira. Right winger Brayden Irwin (upper body injury) was cleared to play. Defenseman Drew Bagnall (upper body) and right winger Zac Dalpe (upper body) remain out.

Radio: WHTK-AM (1280).