GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS HOST COMETS IN FIRST HOME GAME OF 2025
First-place Amerks try for seventh straight win
Jan 9, 2025
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (21-9-3-0) continue rolling as one of the AHL’s hottest teams into the new year and will attempt to extend their winning ways as they host the intrastate rival Utica Comets (8-17-2-2) Friday night at Blue Cross Arena.
The game is one of four home contests for the Amerks in the month of January and serves as the first home game of 2025. Rochester has won six of the previous seven meetings against Utica this season. Tonight is round eight of 12 in the season series.
LAST TIME OUT
A two-goal output from Mason Jobst, along with a season high 36-save performance from Felix Sandström guided Rochester to a 6-3 win on the road in Bridgeport Saturday night. The weekend was a success across the board, as the Amerks dispatched of Springfield via a 5-2 final the evening prior. Rochester has now won eight straight games on the road and remain on pace to pass the all-time franchise record for road wins in a single season set by the 1998-99 and 2018-19 teams at 25 wins.
Overall, the Amerks have won six straight games, including a weekend sweep of Utica Dec. 27-28 to close out 2024. The win streak is the longest active in the AHL and Rochester’s 45 standings points place them in a tie for second across the league. During this win streak, the Amerks have outscored their opponents, 26-13.
While the Comets have struggled all season, the team did snap a five-game point streak for Syracuse Wednesday night, as Utica emerged on its home ice for just the second win of the season at Adirondack Bank Center with a 5-1 win against the Crunch. Simon Nemec posted his third goal of the season to go with his three-point night, while Isaac Poulter recorded 20 saves for the win in net.
Utica went 1-for-4 on its man-advantage, which has been its strong suit during the 2024-25 campaign as it ranks sixth-best in the AHL. Six of the Comets’ eight wins this season have come on the road, including their lone win of the season series against the Amerks on Nov. 23.
THE KIDS ARE BACK
Friday should see the return of both forwards Anton Wahlberg and Konsta Helenius.
The pair have missed the last three weeks of games for Rochester as they were both named to their respective national junior teams for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. Wahlberg, who represented Team Sweden, finished third on the team and tied for fourth in overall scoring with eight points (4+4) in seven games. His four goals tied Detroit prospect and first-round pick Axel Sandin-Pellikka for the team lead. The Swedes finished in fourth place, and it was the first time in four international events Wahlber failed to earn a medal.
On the Finnish side of the ice, Helenius captured silver, reaching the World Junior Championship finals against Team USA. The 18-year-old led his country in assists with six while subsequently finishing second in points.
With Rochester, Wahlberg owns four goals and 10 points through 25 games, while fellow rookie Helenius leads all first-year Amerks with 17 points (6+11).
ALL-STAR BOUND
It was announced earlier this week that Amerks goaltender Devon Levi along with forward Isak Rosén will represent the North Division at the AHL All-Star Classic next month at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California.
Levi, 23, is fourth in the AHL with 11 wins, which leads all North Division goaltenders. His 2.19 goals-against-average ranks ninth in the league, while his .914 save percentage is 13th best. The Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec City, native has won 10 of his last 11 starts and is a perfect 7-0-0 away from Blue Cross Arena.
In his third season with the Amerks, Rosén leads the team in scoring with 13 goals and 27 points through 30 games played. Since Dec. 11, Rosén has amassed 10 points in as many games (6+4). The former first-round pick from the Sabres’ 2021 draft class is fifth in scoring amongst North Division skaters.
Levi is 2-0-0 in the season series against Utica, while Rosén leads Rochester in scoring when facing the Comets with seven points (3+4) in six games.
DAVID vs. GOLIATH
It will be the best versus the worst of the North Division Friday night, as the Amerks are already 25 points clear of the Comets ahead of the midway point of the season. While Rochester has won six straight and 13 of its last 15 games, the Comets have dropped seven of their last 10, including a pair of losses in late December during a home-and-home weekend with the Amerks.
Brian Halonen has four goals and five points in the season series against Rochester, with four other Comets having four points each when facing the Amerks. Through the previous seven meetings, Rochester has outscored Utica, 28-16, however, three games have been decided by one goal with two going past regulation.
Since the start of last season, the Amerks have dominated the season series, yielding a 14-4-1-0 mark over the last 19 games.