GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS END ROAD TRIP IN HARTFORD
Rochester looks to bounce back and go .500 on four-game road trip
Jan 25, 2025
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
Following a shutout loss in Providence, the Rochester Americans (23-12-3-1) aim to bounce back Saturday evening at XL Center as they take on the Hartford Wolf Pack (18-18-2-1).
Saturday sees the conclusion of the two-game season series between Hartford and Rochester, with the Amerks having won the previous encounter by a 6-3 final back on Nov. 8 at Blue Cross Arena. The win that night was Rochester’s 2,500th in franchise history. The Amerks have also won four straight against the Wolf Pack, dating back to the 2022-23 season.
LAST TIME OUT
For just the third time this season, the Amerks were unable to find the back of the net, dropping a 3-0 final to the Bruins to start their trip through New England Friday night.
Despite matching Providence in shots with 29, including a team leading-five shots from Zachary Metsa, Rochester was unable to solve Michael DiPietro, who pitched a shutout for a second straight game. Devon Levi sustained the loss in goal with a 27-save performance for just his second road loss of the season and fourth regulation loss on the road over his two seasons with the Amerks.
Hartford hosted the North Division’s top ranked-Laval Rocket Friday night in Connecticut. Trailing 3-1 going into the third, Brett Berard and Brennan Othmann scored to even the game, only for Laval’s Logan Mailloux to put the Rocket up once more with 36 seconds to play in regulation, dropping Hartford 4-3.
The loss snapped a two-game win streak for the Wolf Pack, who are second from the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings.
NEW YEAR NEUCHEV
A bright spot Friday night came with the sight of Amerks forward Viktor Neuchev returning to the lineup. Neuchev laced up the skates for his first game of the new year after missing the previous seven due to injury. The second-year pro finished 2024 with seven points (4+3) over his last seven games.
Neuchev is seventh in team scoring with 19 points (6+13), and prior to his injury, the Sabres prospect led all Amerks forwards in shots on goal. Buffalo’s 2022 third-round selection is nine points shy of his rookie totals, which earned him a co-winner of the Amerks Rookie of the Year Award, splitting the honor with Metsa at the end of last season.
Neuchev has a goal and an assist in three career games against the Wolf Pack. His goal against Hartford this past November is his lone tally against a team outside the North Division.
FELIX FLYIN’
Earlier in the week, Amerks head coach Michael Leone suggested it was likely that goaltender Felix Sandström would receive the start in Hartford.
The 28-year-old goaltender is coming off a 25-save victory against his former team in Lehigh Valley last Saturday and has won each of his last four starts for the Amerks. Sandström will be in search of a new career-high in consecutive wins, should he pull out the victory in Hartford.
The 10th year pro is 3-1-1 in six career appearances against the Wolf Pack. His most recent performance came against Hartford back in the Flower City, where Sandström recorded 14 saves for the win, but left the game early due to injury. His last full game against the team was also a win, with Sandström making 30 saves in a 4-1 win for the Phantoms on Jan. 12 of last year.
ALL HOWL AND NO BITE
After making it to the Atlantic Division finals a season ago, the Wolf Pack are at risk of missing the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Despite having a top-10 AHL team in terms of both experience (games played) and average age, Hartford finds itself ranking toward the bottom of the league in goals for (23rd), goals against (22nd), power-play (24th), and penalty kill (24th).
Alex Belzile leads the way for the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate both in seasons played (13) and points (12+24). The St. Eloi, Quebec City, native is operating at a point-per-game pace this season and has 280 points across his 416 AHL games.
In goal is another 13-year pro with Louie Domingue back for a third straight season with Hartford. Domingue, 32, is one win shy of 100 for his AHL career and has 215 games of AHL service to go with 144 NHL games under his belt.