GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS LOOK FOR REPEAT PERFORMANCE IN CLEVELAND
Rochester starts four-game road trip with rematch against Monsters
Oct 25, 2024
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (2-3-0-0) embark on a four-game road swing beginning Saturday evening when they take on the Cleveland Monsters (2-3-0-0) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
This marks the second consecutive game against Cleveland and second of eight scheduled encounters on the 2024-25 season. On Wednesday, the Amerks decisively topped the Monsters by a 6-1 final. Saturday is Cleveland’s home opener after the team opened the year with its first five games on the road. The Amerks look to string together consecutive wins for the first time this season.
Collectively, the Amerks have posted a 43-21-8-4 record against the Monsters since the beginning of the 2011-12 campaign.
A COMPLETE EFFORT
On Wednesday, 14 different Amerks skaters registered a point in the team’s 6-1 drubbing of the Cleveland Monsters at Blue Cross Arena, securing Rochester’s first win on home ice this season.
“I thought top to bottom, we played to our identity,” said Amerks head coach Michael Leone. “We’ve been playing a lot of really good hockey of late. Obviously, the outcomes haven’t always been there, but our process has been really good. We’re making it really hard on teams and it was nice to see the guys get rewarded for playing the right way. We did a great job early getting to the hard areas. Our penalty kill was outstanding. I just like our commitment when we were up just to block shots and to do this with such a young group; it was great to see.”
Nikita Novikov finished as the only player to record multiple points with two assists, while Graham Slaggert, Mason Jobst, Tyson Kozak, Isak Rosen, Zach Metsa, and Noah Ostlund each scored. Goaltender Michael Houser stopped 25 of 26 shots to earn his second win of the season and 199th of his pro career. The veteran of over a decade of pro hockey experience is 2-1-0 with a 1.69 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage.
DUNNE SET FOR HOMECOMING
Josh Dunne got the chance to face his former team of four seasons for the first time Wednesday. Now, the former Monster will get the chance to return to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, an arena he called home since 2021.
“This was circled on the calendar for sure just to see these guys back in that arena,” said Dunne. “This is a big one for me.”
From 2021-24, Dunne skated in 134 regular season games with Cleveland, scoring 36 goals and registering 65 points. In last year’s playoff run, the O’Fallon, Missouri native led the Monsters with seven goals and finished second on the team with 11 points as Cleveland fell in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
“It's not going to look great if I say, hey, I lost in Game 7 in the conference finals, but it's awesome just to know that I was part of a group that didn't quit like that and battled back and had an awesome run. It'll stick with me forever.”
Dunne finished as one of only nine players in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs to score more than six goals. Since arriving in Rochester, the now fifth-year pro has two goals in five games while serving as an alternate captain.
“I see a group that is very comfortable and open minded and open armed, and I think it's allowing guys to be themselves. I think when you when someone can be themself off the ice, they can be themself on the ice. It's really special to see guys can be themselves. And I think this group has the ability to do great things. We already have a pretty close group right now, so I'm excited to see where it goes, but I really like the guys. It's fun to come to the rink every day.”
MORE FROM KOZAK
Amerks forward Tyson Kozak scored five goals in each of his first two professional seasons. Now, just five games into the 2024-25 campaign, the hard-nosed winger/center leads Rochester with three goals.
“He’s a winning hockey player,” said Leone, who elected to move Kozak up to the team’s top line with Rosen and rookie prospect Konsta Helenius. “We think he could be a 15-goal scorer. We believe in him. He’s the straw that stirs the drink on any line he plays on. He’s a young kid and he’s a big part of our identity as a team. I know he’s a checker and he kills penalties, but I think there’s more there offensively. I really do. He had a big summer and got stronger. Hopefully he can stay healthy and continue to be a big part of our team.”
“Of course I want to score goals, but I’m more focused on playing a 200-foot game and doing everything to help us win as a team,” said Kozak. “I’ve been here for two years already, and I just feel more confident in myself this time around. Maybe that’s why I’m having a more productive start.”
UNMASKING THE MONSTERS
Cleveland boasts a lineup comparable to that of last year’s North Division winning club, led at the frontline by Luca Del Bel Belluz and Trey Fix-Wolansky. Both players recorded assists on Chris Wilkie’s lone Monsters’ goal Wednesday night. Fix-Wolansky has finished each of the last two seasons at above a point-per-game ratio, including the 2022-23 season where the sixth-year pro mashed 29 goals and 71 points to finish top 10 in AHL scoring.
The Monsters have also beefed up their blueline with Denton Mateychuk, Columbus’ first round draft pick in 2022, playing big minutes for Cleveland. The rookie Monster has four points (1+3) on the season and is one of only 11 defensemen in the AHL with four or more points.
Jet Greaves took the start Wednesday, but was chased from the net after surrendering two goals in seven seconds and four overall on 31 shots. An all-star last season, Greaves has given up 11 goals in his two starts to begin the season.