GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS OPEN DECEMBER TONIGHT IN BELLEVILLE
Dec 1, 2023TONIGHT'S GAME OVERVIEW
The Rochester Americans’ (10-5-2-0) three-game road swing continues north of the border tonight with the first of back-to-back meetings against the Belleville Senators (7-8-1-1) at CAA Arena. The 7:00 p.m. matchup will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV.
The Amerks and Senators, who enter their seventh season in the AHL and first full under head coach David Bell, will meet eight times during the 2023-24 regular season, with this weekend being the first and second of the season series. After this weekend, the North Division rivals will meet six more times over the final three months of the regular season.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS AGAINST BELLEVILLE
Dating back to the 2021-22 season, Amerks forward and captain Michael Mersch has recorded 15 points (7+8) in 12 career games against Belleville. He comes into tonight on a six-game point streak against the Senators, showing eight points (4+4) over that span. Mersch has notched at least one point in 11 games while also recording at least one shot in 10.
Since Belleville entered the league in 2017-18, Rochester has an all-time record of 15-17-2 against the Senators. The Amerks, who have earned at least one point in 12 of the first 17 games on the road against Belleville, have posted a .500 winning percentage or better in four of the first five seasons in the head-to-head series.
Both teams have winning records against North Division opponents this season. Rochester is 9-4-1-0 while Bellville boasta a 5-2-0-1 mark thus far.
LAST TIME OUT
In a game totaling 64 shots, 32 penalty minutes and nine goals as part of a special teams’ battle, the Amerks came up short in a 5-4 loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Saturday at PPL Center.
Brandon Biro (1+1), who’s since been recalled to Buffalo, recorded his third multi-point effort in the last four games as he netted a goal and an assist in the loss. Lukas Rousek, Tyson Kozak and Damien Grioux all scored once. Jeremy Davies, Linus Weissbach, Justin Richards, Mason Jobst, Kale Clague, Nikita Novikov, and Viktor Neuchev each notched an assist.
Goaltender Dustin Tokarski (4-2-1) stopped a season-high 44 shots in his seventh appearance of the season against his former team.
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 have 11 and 10 points, respectively, through Rochester’s first 17 games of the season.
Davies, who scored a career-high 11 goals last season, including three game-winning tallies, ranks sixth amongst all AHL blueliners with a team-high 49 shots. He’s recorded at least one shot in all but two 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 16 games this season, never going more than three straight games without a point.
Clague, meanwhile, is tied for 10th among all rearguards with 10 assists in 15 games. Clague opened the campaign with three multi-point performances and enters the weekend with assists in back-to-back games.
DYANMIC 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 on Nov. 22 against Laval, scoring his team-leading 11th goal in just his 15th game. Kulich, whose 24 goals last season were the second-most ever by an 18-year-old in league history, is currently tied for fourth in the AHL in goals. The second-year 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 Oct. 18, Rosen is eighth in the in AHL in scoring with 19 points depsite currently being on recall with the Sabres.
This past Saturday, Kulich, who has since returned to Rochester, and Rosen both made their NHL debuts with the Buffalo Sabres against New Jersey Devils.
The duo has combined for 119 points (57+62) in 158 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 LOANED TO ROCHESTER
Earlier this week, the Buffalo Sabres assigned rookie goaltender Devin Levi to the Amerks. Levi, 21, is the only goaltender drafted in 2020 or later to appear in an NHL game this season. He is 3-4-1 with an .876 save percentage in nine appearances
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.
Should Levi appear in a game this weekend and make his Amerks/AHL debut, he’d become the fourth different goaltender to skate 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.
SCORING IN BUNCHES
The Amerks come into December with the AHL’s second-best offense, averaging 3.82 goals per game through their first 17 games of the season. Their 65 goals scored are tied for second-most in the AHL.
Rochester has put up at least four goals in 10 of its first 17 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 second in the AHL with 21 first-period tallies this season.
WORKING OVERTIME
Last Friday’s overtime win over Laval was the second straight game and the fourth during the month of November that went beyond regulation. Overall, the Amerks have gone to extra time seven 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 seven games decided beyond regulation this season. Dating back to last season, 15 of Rochester’s previous 31 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 13 games this season, the Speedway, Indiana, native has already half as many goals (7) and nearly a third in points (12) from his career-highs fromlast 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 37 points over his previous 50 games, which includes two hat tricks, both of which have come on home ice. He comes into tonight with eight goals and 10 assists over his previous 21 games and has only been held with a point in back-to-back appearances once over that span.
Jobst has totaled 63 points (25+38) in 100 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.
SCOUTING THE SENATORS
The Senators are currently sit in fifth place in the seven-team North Division to begin December as they show a 7-8-1-1 mark and 16 points.
Belleville hosts the Amerks for the first time this season fueled by forward Angus Crookshank's team-leading seven goals and 14 points in 17 games. After starting the slate with one point (1+0) through his first five appearances the North Vancouver, British Columbia, native has responded with six goals and seven assists over his last 12 contests.
Crookshank has not be held without a point in back-to-back games since October and has posted points streaks of four and five games, respectively, during that same span.
A fifth-round selection (126th overall) of the Ottawa Senators in 2018, forward Egor Sokolov, who’s in his fourth season with Belleville, has posted amassed 143 points (58+85) in 186 career games for the Sentators.
Rochester Americans vs Belleville Senators: Head To Head Stats
Summary
|
Description |
Result |
|
| Head to Head Record 2023-24 Regular Season | Rochester 0-0-0-0 | Belleville 0-0-0-0 |
| Head to Head Record 2022-23 Regular Season | Rochester 3-4-0-1 | Belleville 5-1-2-0 |
| Last 5 Years record between teams | Rochester 10-8-2-2 | Belleville 12-6-4-0 |
| Rochester vs. Belleville Last 5 Years record at Rochester | Rochester 4-4-2-1 | Belleville 7-3-1-0 |
| Rochester vs. Belleville Last 5 Years record at Belleville | Rochester 6-4-0-1 | Belleville 5-3-3-0 |
How the two teams match up
|
Belleville |
Rochester |
|
| Team Record | 7-8-1-1 -- 16 points | 10-5-2-0 -- 22 points |
| Division Ranking | 5th North | 3rd North |
| Conference Ranking | 12th Eastern | 5th Eastern |
| League Ranking | 22nd | 11th |
| Past 10 Games | 4-5-1-0 | 5-4-1-0 |
| Streak | 1-0-0-0 | 0-1-0-0 |
| Last Game | 6-3 W @ Utica (Nov 29 2023) Final | 5-4 L @ Lehigh Valley (Nov 25 2023) Final |
| Home Record | 4-4-0-1 | 5-1-2-0 |
| Away Record | 3-4-1-0 | 5-4-0-0 |
| GF | 47 | 65 |
| GA | 61 | 72 |
| PP (Overall) | (11/69) 15.9% | (14/58) 24.1% |
| PP (Home) | (6/36) 16.7% | (5/25) 20.0% |
| PP (Away) | (5/33) 15.2% | (9/33) 27.3% |
| PK (Overall) | (17/64) 73.4% | (18/63) 71.4% |
| PK (Home) | (8/32) 75.0% | (6/26) 76.9% |
| PK (Away) | (9/32) 71.9% | (12/37) 67.6% |
| PP vs. Opp. | (0/0) 0% | (0/0) 0% |
| PK vs. Opp. | (0/0) 0% | (0/0) 0% |
| Leading Rookie | Ostapchuk (3-2-5) | Novikov (0-8-8) |
| Most PIM | Reinhardt - 25 | Cecconi - 30 |
| Team PIM/GM | 12.4/Game | 11.1/Game |
| Leading Scorers | Crookshank (7-7-14) | Rosen (8-11-19) |
| Guenette (2-11-13) | Kulich (11-6-17) | |
| Pilon (4-6-10) | Jobst (7-5-12) | |
| Sokolov (3-6-9) | Biro (6-6-12) | |
| Highmore (2-5-7) | Davies (3-9-12) | |
| Last 5 Games | 6-3 W @ Utica (Nov 29 2023) Final | 5-4 L @ Lehigh Valley (Nov 25 2023) Final |
| 4-2 L @ Bridgeport (Nov 26 2023) Final | 3-2 W vs Laval (Nov 24 2023) Final OT | |
| 4-3 L @ Hartford (Nov 25 2023) Final OT | 4-3 W vs Laval (Nov 22 2023) Final OT | |
| 8-1 L vs Lehigh Valley (Nov 18 2023) Final | 7-5 W @ Cleveland (Nov 18 2023) Final | |
| 3-2 L vs Manitoba (Nov 17 2023) Final | 2-0 L @ Cleveland (Nov 16 2023) Final | |
| Leading After 1st | 2-2-1-1 | 6-1-0-0 |
| Leading After 2nd | 3-1-0-1 | 6-0-0-0 |
| Tied After 1st | 3-2-0-0 | 1-2-1-0 |
| Tied After 2nd | 3-1-1-0 | 2-1-2-0 |
| Trailing After 1st | 2-4-0-0 | 3-2-1-0 |
| Trailing After 2nd | 1-6-0-0 | 2-4-0-0 |
| Out Shooting Opponents | 1-2-0-0 | 4-2-1-0 |
| Out Shot by Opponents | 5-5-1-1 | 5-3-1-0 |
| 1-Goal Games | 5-1-1-1 | 8-1-2-0 |
| 2-Goal Games | 0-3-0-0 | 1-1-0-0 |
| 3-Goal Games | 2-3-0-0 | 1-0-0-0 |