From 2014-15 to 2016-17, the Rochester Americans missed the playoffs.

A three-year drought that was the longest in franchise history since the late 1960s.

A chaotic period of annual head coaching changes and player moves so numerous, pieces of tape sufficed for name plates.

Don’t look now, but Rochester’s storied AHL team has done an about-face and is streaking toward consecutive playoff berths under coach Chris Taylor.

With the regular season entering its final five-week push, the Amerks sport a 35-18-3-2 record, good for 75 points and a first-place tie with Syracuse in the North Division. After making a 24-point jump in the standings last season, Rochester is on a 46-win, 98-point pace, which would be its best since 2006-07.

Why the turnaround?

Captain Kevin Porter said there is a long list of reasons but said it begins with management. The parent Buffalo Sabres under general manager Jason Botterill and assistant Randy Sexton made rebuilding the organization’s farm system a chief goal when assuming the reins in 2017.

They saw the system work in Pittsburgh, where player development in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton helped the Penguins capture back-to-back Stanley Cups. At the core was assembling a roster where prospects didn’t have to carry the load and could prosper in a winning environment.

It's no surprise that Rochester’s original roster this season consisted of 11 Sabres’ draft picks and 11 veteran free agents.

“I’ve been on teams and it’s all young guys and draft picks,’’ said Porter, who was part of two Amerks playoff teams before a three-year stint in the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh organizations. “The key is management. They want us to win here, they want these young guys to learn how to win and I think a big part of that is bringing in some older guys who have been there before.’’

With 18 games to play starting Friday at home against Bridgeport, here are 10 reasons why the Amerks are good again:

1. The Sabres care

Former Buffalo GM Tim Murray tried overseeing both the Sabres and Amerks, virtually an impossible job. Botterill assigning Sexton, former GM of Ottawa and Florida of the NHL, as GM in Rochester puts a dedicated set of eyes on the team so small problems don’t become big ones.

2. A solid coaching staff

Taylor, the Amerks Hall of Famer and three-time MVP, has made a quick impact as a head coach. His rapport with players is behind the club’s winning chemistry but he’s quick to spread credit to his assistants, former Toronto Marlies head coach Gord Dineen (defense) and Toby Petersen (offense). Together, Taylor, Dineen and Petersen played in 3,553 professional games. When they talk, players listen. “We understand what the players are going through and our doors are always open,’’ Taylor said. “And we’re not going to B.S. them.’’

3. The chemistry is real

Some teams put 35 guys in a room and hope for the best, but this roster was assembled with talent and personalities in mind. At the start of the year, 16 players were returnees while newcomers Scott Wedgewood, Victor Olofsson, Wayne Simpson, Lawrence Pilut, Rasmus Asplund, Jack Dougherty, Will Borgen, Yannick Veilleux, Andrew Oglevie, Tyler Randell and Brandon Hickey have helped bring the team to the next level. The thread that binds? “We all want to win,’’ Porter said.

4. They’ve avoided slumps

The Amerks responded to an 0-2 start with a five-game win streak that did wonders for the club’s confidence. They have lost back-to-back games only five times, their longest losing streak is three games, and they have collected 29 out of a possible 42 points since mid-January.

5. They can score

The Amerks didn’t have a 20-goal scorer last season, just the second time in history that’s occurred. They’re on pace for five – Zach Redmond (21, record for a defenseman), Olofsson (20), Simpson (19), C.J. Smith (18) and Danny O’Regan (18). Taylor Leier has 13 goals.

6. They can defend

Veteran free agent goalies Adam Wilcox and Wedgewood have been solid in net, with Wedgewood becoming the workhorse. The former Albany Devils standout is a career-best 22-10-2 with a 2.70 GAA and .911 save percentage.

7. They're good in the clutch

In extra-session hockey, the Amerks don’t flinch. They’re 3-3 in overtime and 6-2 in shootouts. Redmond has nine game-wining goals and Olofsson has seven.

8. They are road warriors

The Amerks sport an 18-6-3-1 record (40 points) away from Blue Cross Arena. Only the Charlotte Checkers (20-8-2-1, 43 points) are better.

9. Special teams

Can’t be a great team without them and the Amerks are very good on the power play (20.8 percent), which ranks fourth-best in the AHL, and penalty kill (82.0 percent), which ranks fifth.

10. They shook things up

Whether it’s missing the playoffs three years in a row or getting swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Crunch last season, sometimes the drink just needs to be stirred. Over the past two years, Sabres trades have brought in Redmond (Nick Deslauriers), O’Regan (Evander Kane), Leier (Justin Bailey), Dougherty (Nick Baptiste) and Hickey (Hudson Fasching), along with Scott Wilson (2019 fifth-round pick) for a spell. Bailey and Baptiste, once promising Buffalo prospects, had a combined seven seasons in Rochester and needed a change of scenery. Losing defenseman Brendan Guhle (second round pick 2015) at the trade deadline was a blow for the Amerks but former Dallas Star Remi Elie, obtained on waivers last fall, is now in Rochester. Said Taylor of trades: “It can be OK, and it can be OK for both sides.’’

LROTH@Gannett.com

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