GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS FACE MONSTERS IN FINAL WEEK OF REGULAR SEASON
Rochester owns 6-1-0-0 season series advantage over Cleveland
Apr 15, 2025
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (41-21-4-3) open the final week of the 2024-25 AHL regular season with a Wednesday night matchup against the Cleveland Monsters (35-23-5-6) at Blue Cross Arena.
It’s the eighth and final time the Amerks and Monsters face-off during the regular season, but they could find their way against one another come playoff time. The season series has been a one-sided affair thus far, with Rochester possessing a 6-1-0-0 advantage over the Columbus Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate.
Tonight is game three of four on the Amerks’ current homestand. Rochester needs one win to secure an above .500 home record for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
LAST TIME OUT
Ryan Miller’s Hall of Fame Induction ceremony channeled Cayden Primeau’s inner MVP-like form, as the Laval Rocket goaltender turned away 40 Rochester shots to rob the Amerks in a 4-2 final Friday night in downtown Rochester.
The win for Laval sealed up the North Division title, preventing the Amerks from finishing first in the division. Rochester has dropped three of its last four games.
Graham Slaggert and Konsta Helenius scored for the Amerks Friday. Vsevolod Komarov tallied his first multi-point game as a pro with two assists. In goal, Devon Levi stopped 15 shots on a light night of work for the 23-year-old AHL All-Star.
While Rochester was idle over the weekend, the Monsters and Marlies got together for a home-and-home series, ending with Cleveland emerging from the Great White North with a 6-5 shootout win Sunday evening.
Monsters’ leading scorer Trey Fix-Wolansky scored a goal and an assist, then went on to secure the shootout win with his game-winner. The sixth-year Monster is a point away from his third straight year of 60 or more points.
Pavel Cajan was recalled from the ECHL, making 25 saves through 65 minutes, then an additional three stops in the shootout to nab the win for Cleveland, earning them a weekend split after the team dropped a 4-1 final the night prior in Ohio.
SITTING ON 99
Alternate Captain Brett Murray scored his 99th goal as an Amerk last Wednesday and is trying to become the 20th player in franchise history to reach triple-digit goal totals. Earlier this season, the Bolton, Ontario, native passed Amerks Hall of Famer Steve Langdon for 20th on the franchise’s all-time goals list. Murray needs two more goals to tie former player and coach Randy Cunneyworth (101), and three goals to reach Ken Priestlay (102) for 18th all-time in goals for the Amerks.
Murray is amid a career season with a personal-best 26 goals, ranking second on the team behind only Isak Rosén. Murray is two points back of his career-best 49 (23+26) set during the 2022-23 season. The sixth-year pro has seven points (3+4) over his last seven games. Against Cleveland, Murray is tied for the team lead in scoring over the seven-game series, amassing four goals and three assists to operate at a point-per-game pace.
WHO'S THE MAN?
Yesterday the AHL announced its finalists for the for the 2024-25 Yanick Dupré Memorial Award, honoring the overall Specialty AHL Man of the Year. For a second straight season, the Amerks have nominated defenseman Zachary Metsa for the prestigious honor.
Metsa, now an alternate captain in his second year wearing the red, white, and blue, has established a connection with the Rochester community since his arrival in the spring of 2023, spearheading several of the team’s community outreach efforts. Metsa is being recognized for his outstanding commitment and contributions to the Rochester community during the 2024-25 season.
The former NCAA National Champion has not only impressed off the ice, but is also towards the end of wrapping up a strong season from the blueline. The Delafield, Wisconsin, native is third in team scoring and first amongst Amerks defensemen with 44 points (6+38). He is tied for eighth in scoring amongst all AHL blueliners.
Metsa puts up numbers against Cleveland more than any other team he has faced this season, sharing the season series lead in points with Murray via three goals and seven points. Two of his goals against the Monsters have been game-winning conversions.
FROM THE DEPTHS
Cleveland skates into the Flower City having lost its last three against Rochester and six of the seven on the year. Despite that, the Monsters will have a lot to play for Wednesday night as they can clinch a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second year in a row.
The Monsters need a win against the Amerks or for Belleville to lose in regulation to Laval. If the Monsters get a point in an overtime or shootout loss to Rochester, that can also secure a playoff berth as long as Belleville has the same result facing the Rocket.
The Amerks have outscored Cleveland 31-15 through seven games thus far. Each of Rochester’s three goaltenders have picked up wins against the Monsters this season, with Levi leading the charge with a 3-1-0 record, while Michael Houser is 2-0-0 and Felix Sandström picked up a win in his lone appearance against Cleveland this season.
Cleveland’s Fix-Wolansky is tied for ninth in league scoring with 59 points (26+33), while fellow Monster and veteran Rocco Grimaldi is tied for 13th with 58 points (17+41).
Both teams enter the night with points in seven of their last 10 games, winning six of those contests.