GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS OPEN THREE-GAME HOMESTAND TONIGHT AGAINST HARTFORD
Mar 20, 2024TONIGHT'S GAME OVERVIEW
The Rochester Americans (29-21-6-2) begin a three-game homestand tonight against the Hartford Wolf Pack (29-20-7-2) at 7:05 p.m. All the action from The Blue Cross Arena will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV.
The Amerks, who have points in 17 of their last 25 games dating back to Jan. 17, currently lead the fourth-place Belleville Senators and Toronto Marlies by one point in the AHL's North Division standings. Rochester has won four of its last six games and have not suffered back-to-back regulation defeats since Jan. 31 and Feb. 2.
Hartford comes to Rochester for the first and only time this season with a 29-20-7-2 record having lost five straight and seven of its last 10 games.
SEASON SERIES SNAPSHOT
Dating back to the 2017-18 campaign, Rochester has earned wins in eight of the last 12 contests against Hartford while also recording at least one point in 13 of the previous 16 exchanges, going 10-3-1-2 over that span. The Amerks are also a perfect 4-0-0-0 on home ice in that same stretch.
In seven of the last 13 meetings, the visiting team has come away with the victory. Additionally, seven of the previous 11 tilts have been one-goal games
Both teams have no regulation losses and 18 wins this season when leading after the second period with Rochester showing a 18-0-0-1 record in that regard whereas Hartford is 18-0-2-0.
Rochester has won the last four meetings against Hartford on home ice.
LAST TME OUT
The Amerks fought their way back from a 2-0 deficit, but four third-period goals by the Toronto Marlies proved to be the difference in a 7-3 loss Saturday afternoon at Scotiabank Arena. The two teams split the home-and-home series with each winning in its home venue.
Forwards Brandon Biro (1+1) and Viktor Neuchev (1+1) both recorded two points for the Amerks while Mason Jobst also found the back of the net for the second straight game. Ethan Prow, who appeared in his 400th AHL game, Ryan Johnson, and Michael Mersch each tallied an assist.
Goaltender Dustin Tokarski (7-9-3) made his 20th appearance of the season and second start since Feb. 23. The veteran netminder, who is tied for 15th in AHL history with 419 games played, stopped 21 of the 26 shots he faced but took the defeat.
MURRAY MAKING HIS MARK
Back on Feb. 18 against Utica, Brett Murray became just the 36th forward in the 68-year history of the franchise to appear in 250 games for Rochester. Since joining the organization ahead of the 2019-20 campaign, the Bolton, Ontario, native has recorded 71 goals and 82 points for 153 points while also posting 16 points (7+9) in 24 postseason contests.
Murray, who is third amongst all Amerks this season in goals (15), is two points away from reaching the 30-point mark for the third consecutive season. Since Feb. 24, Murray has produced four goals and two assists for six points over his last 10 outings with the team while also totaling 19 shots over that span.
REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVE FROM JACKSONVILLE
Since March 11 the Amerks hade added forwards Damien Giroux, Riley Fiddler-Schultz, Olivier Nadeau, and goaltender Michael Houser from the Jacksonville Icemen of the ECHL.
Giroux has posted eight points (4+4) in 22 games with Rochester while also adding 15 points (7+8) in 17 appearances with the Icemen. The fourth-year pro has two assists over his last three tilts with the Amerks.
Fiddler-Schultz totaled 18 goals and 19 assists in 43 games with the Icemen while also scoring one goal in six appearance with Rochester.
In his first professional season, Nadeau has scored once in five appearances with the Amerks while also notching nine goals and nine assists in Jacksonville.
Houser, who's four wins away from 200 in his pro career, owns a 10-10-2 record and two shutouts with Jacksonville. The former ECHL Goaltender of the Year is also 2-1-0 in four appearances with Rochester this season.
NEW NEAR, NEW NEUCHEV
After producing just five points in his first 23 games, rookie foward Viktor Neuchev has unsurprisingly emerged as Rochester’s top scoring rookie through the middle of March.
Dating back to Dec. 29 and the turn of the New Year, Neuchev has erupted for 20 points on eight goals and 12 assists over his previous 24 games.
Neuchev has recorded at least one point in 13 games over that span, including a season-long six-game point streak from Dec. 29 to Jan. 20 which saw him score three goals and record eight points.
Buffalo’s third-round selection (74th overall) in 2022, Neuchev’s most impressive performance of the season came back on Jan. 27, finding the back of the net for the third time in four games with the game-winning goal while also adding two assists in the 7-4 win over Laval. Since Jan. 5, Neuchev has recorded six multi-point games, which includes a pair of three-point efforts.
Of Neuchev’s 10 goals this season, seven have been scored on home ice and three have come against Laval. Neuchev, who had a 40-goal season while playing for Russia’s junior league during the 2021-22 campaign, currently leads all Amerks rookies with 25 points (10+15) and 67 shots in 45 games.
WORKING OVERTIME
The 4-3 overtime win against Syracuse on Marc 8 was the fourth game over the last 13 for Rochester that went beyond regulation, with three of the four producing a 2-1 score. Overall, the Amerks have gone to extra time on 19 different occasions, the second-most by any team this season (Cleveland), including each of the first three games of the campaign.
Two of the last seven games against Hartford have required extra time to determine a winner, which include the Amerks overcoming a pair of first-period deficits.
Four of Jiri Kulich’s team-high five game-winning goals this season have come by way of overtime while Isak Rosen, Brandon Biro, Jeremy Davies, and Zach Metsa have each netted the clinching goal during the extra frame.
Never before in the near 68-year history of the franchise have the Amerks opened a season with three consecutive overtime contests.
Of Rochester’s 12 games in February, five were decided past regulation. The club was 1-3 in overtime in the month and showed an 0-1 record in the shootout.
Dating back to Jan. 20 of last season, 29 of Rochester’s previous 96 regular-season games have required overtime to determine a winner. Of the Amerks 45 wins during that same span, 16 have come came following the end of regulation.
The Amerks show a 8-6 record in overtime this season and are 3-2 in the shootout.
Rochester tied an AHL record with 29 overtime games in 2017-18, showing a 9-11 record in overtime and 3-6 in the shootout.
LEANING ON LEVI
Devon Levi has earned the start in 17 of the last 21 games since being reassigned to Rochester on Jan. 20, including five straight to open the month of February. Curently on NHL recall with Buffalo, he enters the week having won four straight and five of his last six dating back to March 1.
Levi, who boasts a 11-5-3 record in 19 appearances with the Amerks, totaled 130 saves on 136 shots he faced over a three-game win streak in February, boasting an impressive 1.95 goals-against average and a .956 save percentage over that span.
His career-high 52 saves in the Amerks overtime win at Toronto on Feb. 19 were the most by an Amerks goaltender since Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen had 54 in a 2-1 win at Syracuse on Feb. 25, 2022.
Levi, who ranks fifth among all rookie netminders with a 2.52 goals-against average, has held the opposition to three or fewer goals in 16 of his 19 starts. He’s 11-2-3 this season in those games.
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.
The only two-time winner in the award’s history, Levi led the nation again with a .933 save percentage, and tied for third in both shutouts (6) and saves (1,183).
TOKARSKI ON THE MOVE
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.
Shoud he earn his second straight start tonight, Tokarski will appear in his 500th pro game. He has played in 80 NHL contests and 419 AHL games.
Tokarski, who’s 7-9-3 in his first 20 appearances, 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 tonight, the 34-year-old Tokarski is only six wins away from tying Red Almas for 11th all-time in career wins (218). He’s also one game away from tying Jean-Francois Labbe for 14th all-time (420) and will tie Yann Danis for eighth all-time on his next shutout.
JOBST HAVING A CAREER YEAR
Forward Mason Jobst enters the contest with 27 points (11+16) over his last 27 games, the most by an Amerk since the turn of the new year. Jobst, who hasn't gone more than one game without a point over that span, recorded a career-best three-assist outing on Feb. 16 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and followed that up by scoring goals in three straight games, including his career-high 16th goal of the season against Belleville on Feb. 23.
Since then, the fifth-year forward has already surpassed his goal total in 18 fewer games this season and successfully reached the 40-point mark for the first time in his career with another three-assist effort last Wednesday in Syracuse to take over the team's scoring lead.
Jobst has totaled 93 points (36+57) in 138 career games as an Amerk and has amassed 118 points (47+71) over 212 career American Hockey League games with Rochester, San Jose, Bridgeport, and Binghamton.
SERIES NOTABLES
Amerks captain Michael Mersch enters the week having played 601 professional games. Mersch, who has 148 points (62+86) with the Amerks since the start of the 2020-21 season, became the 58th forward in franchise history to skate in at least 200 games back on March 1 at Belleville.
Amerks defenseman Ethan Prow comes into tonight's contest having played 400 career AHL games. Since the start of the 2015-16 campaign, the Sauk Rapids, Minnesota native has totaled 50 goals and 170 assists for 220 points while also logging 13 points (2+11) in 31 postseason contests with Rochester, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Springfield.
Rochester forward Justin Richards began his AHL career in Hartford. In 87 games with the Wolf Pack, the Orlando, Florida, native combined for 10 goals, 15 assists and 25 points from 2020-22.
Amerks netminder Dustin Tokarski spent part of the 2018-19 season with the Wolf Pack. The veteran goaltender, who went to win his second Calder Cup later that year with Charlotte, posted a 10-6-2 record and one shutout in 21 appearances prior to being traded to the Checkers.
Hartford forward Matej Pekar is in his first season with the Wolf Pack after appearing in 86 career games with Rochester from 2020-22. The former Buffalo Sabres’ fourth selection (94th overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft recorded four goals and 12 assists over three seasons with the Amerks.
Defenseman Zach Berzolla is in his second stint with Hartford after seeing four games with Rochester last season. The Howell, New Jersey, native scored once with the Amerks, the game-winning goal, at Syracuse on Nov. 9, 2022.
Hartford Wolf Pack vs Rochester Americans: Head To Head Stats
Summary
|
Description |
Result |
|
| Head to Head Record 2023-24 Regular Season | Hartford 0-0-1-0 | Rochester 1-0-0-0 |
| Head to Head Record 2022-23 Regular Season | Hartford 1-1-0-0 | Rochester 1-1-0-0 |
| Last 5 Years record between teams | Hartford 2-5-1-1 | Rochester 7-1-1-0 |
| Hartford vs. Rochester Last 5 Years record at Hartford | Hartford 2-1-1-1 | Rochester 3-1-1-0 |
| Hartford vs. Rochester Last 5 Years record at Rochester | Hartford 0-4-0-0 | Rochester 4-0-0-0 |
| Previous Meetings This Season | Rochester 3 @ Hartford 2 (Dec 15 2023) Final OT |
How the two teams match up
|
Rochester |
Hartford |
|
| Team Record | 29-22-6-2 -- 66 points | 29-20-7-2 -- 67 points |
| Division Ranking | 3rd North | 5th Atlantic |
| Conference Ranking | 8th Eastern | 7th Eastern |
| League Ranking | 17th | 16th |
| Past 10 Games | 5-4-1-0 | 3-4-2-1 |
| Streak | 0-1-0-0 | 0-3-1-1 |
| Last Game | 7-3 L @ Toronto (Mar 16 2024) Final | 4-0 L @ Hershey (Mar 17 2024) Final |
| Home Record | 13-11-3-1 | 15-9-4-1 |
| Away Record | 16-11-3-1 | 14-11-3-1 |
| GF | 184 | 169 |
| GA | 207 | 169 |
| PP (Overall) | (35/195) 17.9% | (48/223) 21.5% |
| PP (Home) | (12/85) 14.1% | (31/120) 25.8% |
| PP (Away) | (23/110) 20.9% | (17/103) 16.5% |
| PK (Overall) | (42/196) 78.6% | (42/232) 81.9% |
| PK (Home) | (17/79) 78.5% | (21/113) 81.4% |
| PK (Away) | (25/117) 78.6% | (21/119) 82.4% |
| PP vs. Opp. | (1/3) 33.3% | (0/4) 0% |
| PK vs. Opp. | (0/4) 100% | (1/3) 66.7% |
| Leading Rookie | Neuchev (10-15-25) | Berard (23-17-40) |
| Most PIM | Davies - 73 | Brouillard - 112 |
| Team PIM/GM | 10.5/Game | 14.7/Game |
| Leading Scorers | Jobst (18-24-42) | Belzile (16-26-42) |
| Rousek (10-28-38) | Petan (12-29-41) | |
| Rosén (14-21-35) | Berard (23-17-40) | |
| Biro (14-20-34) | Othmann (14-26-40) | |
| Kulich (18-14-32) | Hollowell (2-34-36) | |
| Last 5 Games | 7-3 L @ Toronto (Mar 16 2024) Final | 4-0 L @ Hershey (Mar 17 2024) Final |
| 5-3 W vs Toronto (Mar 15 2024) Final | 4-2 L vs Utica (Mar 16 2024) Final | |
| 3-2 W @ Syracuse (Mar 13 2024) Final | 4-0 L @ Charlotte (Mar 13 2024) Final | |
| 3-2 W vs Utica (Mar 10 2024) Final | 2-1 L @ Charlotte (Mar 12 2024) Final OT | |
| 4-2 L @ Syracuse (Mar 9 2024) Final | 3-2 L @ Bridgeport (Mar 9 2024) Final SO | |
| Leading After 1st | 15-5-2-1 | 12-2-3-0 |
| Leading After 2nd | 18-0-0-1 | 18-0-2-0 |
| Tied After 1st | 6-8-2-1 | 10-6-2-1 |
| Tied After 2nd | 7-8-5-0 | 9-2-1-0 |
| Trailing After 1st | 8-9-2-0 | 7-12-2-1 |
| Trailing After 2nd | 4-14-1-1 | 2-18-4-2 |
| Out Shooting Opponents | 10-8-1-0 | 14-7-5-1 |
| Out Shot by Opponents | 18-13-5-2 | 14-12-2-1 |
| 1-Goal Games | 18-3-6-2 | 13-2-7-2 |
| 2-Goal Games | 5-6-0-0 | 5-7-0-0 |
| 3-Goal Games | 3-5-0-0 | 7-8-0-0 |
Hartford Wolf Pack
| # | Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Brett Berard | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | Karl Henriksson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Anton Blidh | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | Blake Hillman | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | Riley Nash | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 44 | Matthew Robertson | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 55 | Alex Belzile | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 27 | Nikolas Brouillard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 70 | Louis Domingue | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | X Turner Elson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 81 | Mac Hollowell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Ryder Korczak | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Connor Mackey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 |
| 78 | Brennan Othmann | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Matej Pekar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 32 | X Matt Rempe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 58 | X Brandon Scanlin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 29 | Adam Sýkora | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | Bobby Trivigno | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| # | Player | GP | W | L | OT | MIN | GA | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70 | Louis Domingue | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 62:51 | 3 | 2.86 | 0.885 |
Rochester Americans
| # | Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Jiri Kulich | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | Brandon Biro | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 96 | Damien Giroux | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 18 | Isak Rosén | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Linus Weissbach | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Joseph Cecconi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 21 | X Filip Cederqvist | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 56 | X Kale Clague | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1 | X Devin Cooley | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Jeremy Davies | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 26 | Mason Jobst | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 44 | Tyson Kozak | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Michael Mersch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 79 | Viktor Neuchev | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 74 | Nikita Novikov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 16 | Justin Richards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | X Lukas Rousek | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 14 | X Nicolas Savoie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 |
| 61 | Riley Stillman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | -1 |
| # | Player | GP | W | L | OT | MIN | GA | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | X Devin Cooley | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 62:51 | 2 | 1.91 | 0.949 |