GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS HOST CHECKERS TONIGHT IN LONE GAME OF WEEKEND
Dec 8, 2023TONIGHT'S GAME OVERVIEW
The Rochester Americans (11-6-2-0) step away from North Division as they kick off a four-game stretch against Atlantic Division opponents tonight against the Charlotte Checkers (10-9-0-0) at The Blue Cross Arena. The 7:05 p.m. matchup will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV. Additionally, the contest can be viewed locally on CW Rochester on tape delay Saturday afternoon.
Tonight’s matchup is the second of two in Rochester as the teams will conclude their season-series after the New Year, culminating with the Queen City Outdoor Classic on Saturday, Jan. 13 at Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights. The contest will be the first of its kind in Charlotte and the 12th outdoor game in league history.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS AGAINST CHECKERS
The Amerks are 7-14-0-0 all-time against. In the previous meeting back on Oct. 25, Rochester stormed back from a 3-1 third-period deficit by scoring three times in less than three minutes to come away with a 4-3 win.
Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Brett Murray (3+5), Brandon Biro (5+9) and Linus Weissbach (2+5) have combined for 10 goals and 29 points against the Checkers. Both teams come into the matchup with nearly identical records when leading after the second period.
Last season, the Amerks won the first two games of the season-series before dropping the final two in the Flower City. Rochester’s 4-2 road victory on Dec. 16, 2022 was the first over the Checkers in Charlotte since Jan. 20, 2018, snapping a six-game skid against the club.
LAST TIME OUT
Forward Jiri Kulich (2+0) scored both Rochester goals, but the Amerks were double upped by a 4-2 score in Saturday’s rematch against the Belleville Senators at CAA Arena.
While Kulich notched his second multi-goal outing of the season, Lukas Rousek, Kale Clague, Linus Weissbach and Michael Mersch all recorded an assist, with Mersch picking up his 200th professional assist.
Rookie goaltender Devon Levi (1-1-0) made 30 saves in the defeat while making his second straight appearance of the weekend. Levi, who has since been recalled by Buffalo, earned his first win as an Amerk on the strength of a 40-save effort in his American Hockey League debut last Friday.
THE BEST OFFENSE IS A GOOD DEFENSE
The Amerks own two of the league’s top scoring defensemen in Jeremy Davies and Kale Clague, who each have 12 points through Rochester’s first 19 games of the season.
Davies, who scored a career-high 11 goals last season, including three game-winning tallies, is tied for seventh amongst all AHL blueliners with a team-high 50 shots. He’s recorded at least one shot in all but three games this season. Davies, who closed out the month of October on a five-game point streak, has recorded at least one point in 10 of his first 18 games this season, never going more than three straight games without a point.
Clague, meanwhile, is tied for 13th among all rearguards with 11 assists in 17 games. Clague opened the campaign with three multi-point performances and enters the weekend with assists in three of his last four games.
DYNAMIC DUO: THE SEQUEL
Jiri Kulich and Isak Rosen both return for their second seasons in Rochester after putting up one of the most impressive and productive seasons as teenagers in the history of the AHL during the 2022-23 campaign.
Kulich continued his torrid start to the season last weekend against Belleville, scoring his team-leading 12 and 13th goals in just his 18th game. Kulich, whose 24 goals last season were the second-most ever by an 18-year-old in league history, is currently tied for second in the AHL in goals. The forward, who hasn’t gone more than three games without a goal this season, joined Luke Adam (2013-14) and Jack Quinn (2021-22) as the only other Amerks skaters to score nine goals through their first 11 games.
With six points over his last three games, which includes a career-best four point (2+2) effort in Cleveland on Nov. 18, Rosen is eighth in the in AHL in scoring with 19 points despite currently being on recall with the Sabres.
Back on Nov. 25, Kulich, who has since returned to Rochester, and Rosen both made their NHL debuts with the Buffalo Sabres against New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center
The duo has combined for 121 points (59+62) in 160 regular season games. Rochester boasts an impressive 20-3-2-1 record when they each record at least one point in the same game as well as a near-perfect 8-1-0-0 mark when they both score in the same game.
LEVI'S WEEKEND IN ROCHESTER
Last week, the Buffalo Sabres assigned rookie goaltender Devin Levi to the Amerks before recalling him this week. Levi, 21, is the only goaltender drafted in 2020 or later to appear in an NHL game this season. He owns 3-4-1 with an .876 save percentage in nine appearances
Levi made his AHL debut in last Friday’s 3-2 shootout win, making 40 saves while also becoming the fourth different goaltender to man the pipes for Rochester this season, joining Michael Houser, Devin Cooley and Dustin Tokarski. Rochester has used four or more netminders in each of the last three years since the 2020-21 campaign.
Levi won the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goaltender in men’s college hockey, for the second straight year following the 2022-23 season. Levi is the only two-time winner in the award’s history, which was introduced in 2014 and named in honor of former Wisconsin goaltender and Stanley Cup champion Mike Richter.
He led the nation again with a .933 save percentage, one year after he set the second-best mark in NCAA history with a .952 save percentage. He tied for third in the nation in both shutouts (6) and saves (1,183). Levi’s 16-career shutouts are a Northeastern University school record.
The Quebec native finished his two seasons at Northeastern with a 38-22-6 record. His resume includes a Beanpot title, a Hockey East regular-season championship and an NCAA tournament appearance. Levi was also named Hockey East Player of the Year for the second consecutive season in 2022-23 and was one of 10 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award.
Internationally, he helped Canada win a silver medal at the World Junior Championship in 2021 while earning tournament MVP honors and later added a gold medal at the 2023 World Championship. He was also on the Canadian roster at the Beijing Olympics in 2022.
SCORING IN BUNCHES
The Amerks come into the weekend with the AHL’s fourth-best offense, averaging 3.68 goals per game through their first 19 games of the season. Their 70 goals are tied for six-most in the AHL.
Rochester has put up at least four goals in 10 of its first 19 games, including six outings with five goals or more.
The Amerks are a perfect 6-0-0-0 this season when scoring five goals in a game. Rochester is tied for fifth in the AHL with 23 first-period tallies this season.
WORKING OVERTIME
Last Friday’s shootout win over Belleville was the third over Rochester’s last four games that went beyond regulation. Overall, the Amerks have gone to extra time eight different times this season, which includes each of the first three games of the campaign.
Never before in the near 68-year history of the franchise have the Amerks opened a season with three consecutive overtime contests.
Rochester is the only team in the league with eight games decided beyond regulation this season. Dating back to last season, 16 of Rochester’s previous 32 regular-season games have required overtime to determine a winner.
A JOBST WELL DONE
Mason Jobst is making the most with the Amerks as the fifth-year pro is in the process of duplicating his career year from 2022-23.
Through 15 games this season, the Speedway, Indiana, native has already half as many goals (7) and nearly a third in points (13) from his career-highs from last season, which included goals (14), assists (24) and points (38) in 61 games.
Jobst reached the 30-point plateau for the first time in his pro career last season, being one of 10 different Amerks to eclipse the mark. He also was one of 10 to score double figures in goals as he finished with a person-best 14 in 61 games.
Since the turn of the New Year, Jobst has amassed 18 goals and 38 points over his previous 52 games, which includes two hat tricks, both of which have come on home ice. He comes into tonight with eight goals and 11 assists over his previous 23 contests and has only been held with a point in back-to-back appearances just once over that span.
Jobst has totaled 64 points (25+39) in 102 career games with the Amerks dating back to the 2021-22 season.
TOKARSKI AMONG ELITE COMPANY
Veteran goaltender Dustin Tokarski, who missed the first eight games of the season due to an injury he sustained in training camp, made his season debut back on Nov. 3 against Utica.
In doing so, the two-time Calder Cup winner and AHL All-Star became just the 18th goaltender in league history to play in 400 career games, a list that also includes former Amerks Bobby Perreault (512), Michael Leighton (507), Drew MacIntyre (440) and Ed Chadwick (417).
Tokarski, who’s in his second stint with the Amerks and 10th different AHL franchise, went 1-1-0 during a brief two-game stint with Rochester as part of the COVID-shortnened 2020-21 campaign. He went 12-20-7 in 42 appearances with the Buffalo Sabres from 2021-23.
Currently in his 15th season, he joins Marcel Paille and Michael Leighton as the only goaltenders all-time to play at least 15 seasons in the AHL.
Tokarski, who’s 4-2-1 in his first seven starts, recently surpassed the 10,000-save mark for his AHL career following a 31-save effort against Utica on Nov. 10. He also reached the 12,000-save mark for his pro career the week prior when he made his season debut against the Comets.
Entering this weekend, the 34-year-old Tokarski is two wins away from tying Nick Damore for 12th all-time in career wins (208). He also ranks 18th all-time in games played (405) and will tie Yann Danis for eighth all-time with his next shutout.
In addition to being a two-time Calder Cup winner (2012, 2019), Tokarski won a Memorial Cup with Spokane in 2008 followed by a gold medal with Canada at the 2009 World Junior Championship.
Tokarski has reached the 20-win mark five times over his 15-year pro career, including a career-best 32 wins in 2011-12 when he backstopped the Norfolk Admirals to a professional hockey record of 28 straight wins while leading the club to its and only Calder Cup.
SERIES NOTABLES
Checkers captain Zac Dalpe scored 16 goals as part of a 28-point campaign with the Amerks in 2014-15, his only season in Rochester. He also appeared in 21 games for the Buffalo Sabres that season, recording three points (1+2).
Charlotte defenseman Casey Fitzgerald totaled 34 points in 79 games in four seasons with Rochester from 2018-22. He also appeared in 10 games for the Amerks during the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Along with Fitzgerald, Rasmus Asplund also makes his first trip back to Rochester after posting 62 points (13+49) in 111 games from 2018-2021.
Charlotte assistant coach Bob Sanguinetti patrolled the Rochester blueline during the 2015-16 campaign. In 40 games, he recorded 22 points (7+8).
Amerks goaltender Dustin Tokarski won his second Calder Cup with Charlotte in 2019, going 5-0 with a 1.74 GAA in the postseason that year.
Charlotte Checkers vs Rochester Americans: Head To Head Stats
Summary
|
Description |
Result |
|
| Head to Head Record 2023-24 Regular Season | Charlotte 0-1-0-0 | Rochester 1-0-0-0 |
| Head to Head Record 2022-23 Regular Season | Charlotte 2-2-0-0 | Rochester 2-2-0-0 |
| Last 5 Years record between teams | Charlotte 8-5-0-0 | Rochester 5-8-0-0 |
| Charlotte vs. Rochester Last 5 Years record at Charlotte | Charlotte 4-2-0-0 | Rochester 2-4-0-0 |
| Charlotte vs. Rochester Last 5 Years record at Rochester | Charlotte 4-3-0-0 | Rochester 3-4-0-0 |
| Previous Meetings This Season | Charlotte 3 @ Rochester 4 (Oct 25 2023) Final |
How the two teams match up
|
Rochester |
Charlotte |
|
| Team Record | 11-6-2-0 -- 24 points | 10-9-0-0 -- 20 points |
| Division Ranking | 3rd North | 7th Atlantic |
| Conference Ranking | 7th Eastern | 12th Eastern |
| League Ranking | 12th | 22nd |
| Past 10 Games | 6-4-0-0 | 4-6-0-0 |
| Streak | 0-1-0-0 | 0-3-0-0 |
| Last Game | 4-2 L @ Belleville (Dec 2 2023) Final | 5-2 L vs Hershey (Dec 2 2023) Final |
| Home Record | 5-1-2-0 | 6-6-0-0 |
| Away Record | 6-5-0-0 | 4-3-0-0 |
| GF | 70 | 54 |
| GA | 78 | 58 |
| PP (Overall) | (15/65) 23.1% | (12/82) 14.6% |
| PP (Home) | (5/25) 20.0% | (7/51) 13.7% |
| PP (Away) | (10/40) 25.0% | (5/31) 16.1% |
| PK (Overall) | (20/76) 73.7% | (10/80) 87.5% |
| PK (Home) | (6/26) 76.9% | (6/53) 88.7% |
| PK (Away) | (14/50) 72.0% | (4/27) 85.2% |
| PP vs. Opp. | (1/3) 33.3% | (2/5) 40% |
| PK vs. Opp. | (2/5) 60% | (1/3) 66.7% |
| Leading Rookie | Novikov (0-8-8) | Samoskevich (3-7-10) |
| Most PIM | Cecconi - 34 | Carlsson - 30 |
| Team PIM/GM | 12.2/Game | 12.4/Game |
| Leading Scorers | Kulich (13-6-19) | Carlsson (8-9-17) |
| Rosen (8-11-19) | Khodorenko (5-7-12) | |
| Jobst (7-6-13) | Kinnunen (2-10-12) | |
| Biro (6-6-12) | Asplund (3-7-10) | |
| Rousek (3-9-12) | Samoskevich (3-7-10) | |
| Last 5 Games | 4-2 L @ Belleville (Dec 2 2023) Final | 5-2 L vs Hershey (Dec 2 2023) Final |
| 3-2 W @ Belleville (Dec 1 2023) Final SO | 4-2 L vs Hershey (Dec 1 2023) Final | |
| 5-4 L @ Lehigh Valley (Nov 25 2023) Final | 4-1 L vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Nov 25 2023) Final | |
| 3-2 W vs Laval (Nov 24 2023) Final OT | 6-3 W vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Nov 24 2023) Final | |
| 4-3 W vs Laval (Nov 22 2023) Final OT | 5-2 L vs Cleveland (Nov 22 2023) Final | |
| Leading After 1st | 6-2-0-0 | 5-2-0-0 |
| Leading After 2nd | 7-0-0-0 | 7-1-0-0 |
| Tied After 1st | 2-2-1-0 | 2-2-0-0 |
| Tied After 2nd | 2-1-2-0 | 1-2-0-0 |
| Trailing After 1st | 3-2-1-0 | 3-5-0-0 |
| Trailing After 2nd | 2-5-0-0 | 2-6-0-0 |
| Out Shooting Opponents | 4-2-1-0 | 8-5-0-0 |
| Out Shot by Opponents | 6-4-1-0 | 2-3-0-0 |
| 1-Goal Games | 9-1-2-0 | 5-1-0-0 |
| 2-Goal Games | 1-2-0-0 | 2-4-0-0 |
| 3-Goal Games | 1-0-0-0 | 3-3-0-0 |
Charlotte Checkers
| # | Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Michael Benning | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 28 | Jake Wise | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | -1 |
| 9 | Rasmus Asplund | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -1 |
| 15 | Patrick Khodorenko | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | X Cameron Morrison | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Justin Sourdif | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 13 | Riley Bezeau | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Lucas Carlsson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 |
| 21 | Zac Dalpe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Casey Fitzgerald | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| 36 | Patrick Giles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Matt Kiersted | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Santtu Kinnunen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 30 | Spencer Knight | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Gerry Mayhew | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 |
| 23 | Ryan McAllister | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Evan Nause | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 25 | X Wilmer Skoog | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Alexander True | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| # | Player | GP | W | L | OT | MIN | GA | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | Spencer Knight | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 58:00 | 4 | 4.14 | 0.840 |
Rochester Americans
| # | Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Jiri Kulich | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | X Isak Rosen | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 52 | Aleksandr Kisakov | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | Michael Mersch | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 44 | Tyson Kozak | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 81 | Brett Murray | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 74 | Nikita Novikov | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | Lukas Rousek | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 93 | X Matthew Savoie | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Joseph Cecconi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 21 | Filip Cederqvist | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 56 | Kale Clague | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | Devin Cooley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Mason Jobst | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | X Ryan Johnson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 79 | Viktor Neuchev | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Ethan Prow | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 16 | Justin Richards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 61 | Riley Stillman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| # | Player | GP | W | L | OT | MIN | GA | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Devin Cooley | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 59:55 | 3 | 3.00 | 0.842 |