GAME PREVIEW: FIRST-PLACE AMERKS END 2024 ON THE ROAD IN UTICA
Rochester looking to sweep weekend with Utica and win sixth straight road game
Dec 28, 2024
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (18-9-3-0) close out the 2024 calendar year on the road to complete a home-and-home weekend against the Utica Comets (6-15-1-2) Saturday night at Adirondack Bank Center.
It’s the seventh of 12 meetings on the 2024-25 campaign slated between Rochester and Utica, with the Amerks dominating the season series five games to one so far (5-1-0-0). Since last season, Rochester has won 13 of 18 games against the New Jersey Devils’ AHL affiliate. This season, the Amerks have outscored the Comets 25-14 and have won each of the three games played in Utica thus far.
LAST TIME OUT
After falling behind 2-0 through the first three minutes of the game, the Amerks would go on to complete a rally sparked by a four-goal third period, defeating Utica by a 6-3 final Friday night in front of over 9,000 fans at Blue Cross Arena.
Riley Fiddler-Schultz was the standout, scoring two goals on the night for his first career multi-goal game in the AHL. The second-year Amerk scored late in the second to put Rochester within one, before tying the game early in the third as part of the team’s stretch of five unanswered goals.
“I'm just very grateful for the opportunities that I've got in the last month or so here,” said Fiddler-Schultz. “I'm so glad that I've been able to capitalize on a lot of my opportunities and just can't wait to keep it going and keep helping us win because we've got a pretty special group here.”
Fiddler-Schultz was followed by Viktor Neuchev, who converted on the game-winning-goal, while Graham Slaggert’s league-leading fourth shorthanded goal of the season and Brett Murray’s team-leading 14th goal of the year finished off the sheet for the red, white, and blue rally. Isak Rosen scored the opening goal for the Amerks in the second period and leads Rochester in points with 26 (13+13).
Devon Levi celebrated his 23rd birthday with 23 saves for his 10th win of the season and ninth over his last 10 starts.
Ryan Schmelzer and a pair of goals from defenseman Simon Nemec completed the scoring on Utica’s end. Nico Daws made 31 saves for the loss in goal.
FIRST PLACE FEELING
For the first time all season, the Amerks wake up on a gameday occupying the top seed in the North Division. The Amerks finished in a tie for first place last season, but lost out due to a tiebreaker to the Cleveland Monsters.
The Amerks took sole possession of first in the division when their Friday win over Utica was coupled by Syracuse topping Laval to knock the Rocket out of first. The Amerks have been on a roll since late November, winning 10 of their last 12 games and having the chance to finish December with a 9-2-0-0 mark should they beat Utica again tonight.
With six goals Friday, the Amerks became the first Eastern Conference team to reach 100 goals on the season. Overall, they trail only Calgary in the AHL in goals for.
The Amerks show balance throughout their lineup with 13 players having already reached double-digit point totals. Both Rosen and Murray are top 10 in the AHL for goals, while goal prevention favors Levi, who owns the eighth-best goals-against-average. Rochester’s +19 goal differential also leads the division.
ROAD, SWEET ROAD
The Amerks skate into Adirondack Bank Center Saturday night having won their past five away games, outscoring the opposition 24-9 over that stretch. Rochester’s 12 road wins are the most by any AHL team. They also lead the league in points earned away from home with 25.
Special teams play into the conversation as well, with the Amerks owning better penalty kill and power play percentages when on the road.
The Amerks have a seven-game win streak going on in Utica, having one each road contest against the Comets since Dec. 30, 2023.
ALL THE TOOLS
On Friday, forward Ty Tullio had his first multi-point night as an Amerk, contributing with two assists in the team’s 6-3 win. The third-year pro has collected six assists in his 17 games played as an Amerk. Tullio has posted four of those assists over just his past five games.
“I think, you’ve just got to play consistent every night,” said Tullio. “I’m trying to build myself up and move up the line up and show the coaches I can play on a consistent basis. This team is full of a lot of young players and everybody is trying to make a name for themselves. But you know, we're all out here to do one job and that's to win. At the end of the day, if the team is winning, you're winning.”
Tullio was acquired in the offseason as part of a trade between the Edmonton Oilers and Buffalo Sabres that brought Ryan MacLeod to Buffalo. In Tullio’s previous two seasons with AHL-Bakersfield, Edmonton’s affiliate, the Windsor, Ontario native amassed 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points across 117 games.