GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS LOOK FOR EIGHTH STRAIGHT ROAD WIN IN BRIDGEPORT
First-place Amerks make lone visit to struggling Islanders
Jan 4, 2025
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
With five straight wins and seven consecutive road victories, the red-hot Rochester Americans (20-9-3-0) roll into Total Mortgage Arena Saturday evening to face-off against the Bridgeport Islanders (7-19-2-2).
Rochester faces Bridgeport for the first of two meetings on the season and the only time on the road. The teams will conclude their season series on March 28 at Blue Cross Arena. Last season, the Amerks and Islanders split their season series with each team winning in the other’s home building beyond regulation. Bridgeport spoiled Rochester’s home opener with an overtime win, then the Amerks returned the favor late in the season with a shootout win in April.
LAST TIME OUT
Riley Fiddler-Schultz scored twice and Brett Murray’s league-leading ninth power-play goal of the season served as the game-winner in Rochester’s 5-2 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds Friday night to kick-off the new year. Brendan Warren found the back of the net along with Lukas Rousek, who scored an empty-net goal late to secure Rochester’s fifth straight win and its seventh consecutive road win. Devon Levi stopped 33 shots for his 11th win and 10th over his last 11 starts.
Bridgeport returns to the ice after being idle for seven days following the team’s 7-5 win over Springfield last Saturday. Second-year pro Matt Maggio led the way with a career high four-point game (2+2), while Liam Foudy scored twice as well. Goaltender Henrik Tikkanen secured his first win of the season with 31 saves.
OH, FIDDLESTICKS
For the second time in three games, Fiddler-Schultz posted two goals, scoring his sixth and seventh goals of the season Friday night against the Thunderbirds. The sophomore Amerk has found his name consistently in the lineup after serving as a healthy scratch through the first month of the season.
The Edmonton, Alberta, native has eight points (6+2) over his last seven games. Fiddler-Schultz has been one of the anchors on the road for Rochester, posting points in five straight contests away from Blue Cross Arena. Fiddler-Schultz’s 10 points through 14 games help him rank fourth on the team in points-per-game (0.71).
ON ANOTHER LEVI(L)
Levi’s win Friday keeps the second-year sensation unbeaten in road play with Rochester this season. The recently turned 23-year-old is 7-0-0 on the road, with his 33-save performance Friday marking a season-high in saves for the Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec City, native. Over his two seasons as an Amerk, Levi is a remarkable 15-2-2 in 19 road games.
Levi has earned the Amerks points in 32 of his 40 career games with Rochester. His 2.19 goal-against average ranks eighth in the AHL, while Levi is 13th in the league with a .914 save percentage. His 11 wins place him fourth across all goaltenders.
A HELPING HAND
Amerks defenseman and alternate captain Zachary Metsa distributed three assists for the second time in his career Friday night against Springfield. Metsa leads all Amerks blueliners in points with 23 (2+21). His 21 assists are tied for second-most across all AHL defensemen, while his 23 points tie him for third.
Metsa skates into Bridgeport with a four-game assist streak for the first time in his career, logging six helpers over that span. The former Quinnipiac University captain has recorded 10 points (1+9) over his last eight games.
LOST ON AN ISLAND
The Amerks prepare to face an Islanders team tied with Utica and Manitoba for the fewest wins in the AHL. The New York Islanders’ affiliate has won just two of its last 10 games while giving up more goals than any other team in the Eastern Conference with 118. Additionally, the team has the second-lowest penalty kill in the league, operating at 73.2%.
Despite their struggles collectively, the forward trio of Alex Jefferies, Chris Terry, and Brian Pinho are all having respectable seasons, with each Islander posting 20 or more points.
Pinho leads the way with 24 (15+9). His 15 goals tie him with Brett Murray for sixth-best in the AHL. Four of his 15 goals have come over the last eight games. On opening night last season, Pinho posted a career-best four assists in the team’s win against Rochester.