GAME PREVIEW: HOME AND HOME SERIES SHIFTS TO UTICA TONIGHT
Nov 11, 2023TONIGHT'S GAME OVERVIEW
The Rochester Americans (6-2-2-0) are back in action tonight as the home-and-home series shifts to Utica for a rematch with the Comets (3-4-2-0) at Adirondack Bank Center. The North Division showdown will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV.
The Amerks and Comets, who enter their third season under the affiliation of the New Jersey Devils, will meet 12 times during the 2023-24 season.
Tonight’s matchup is the fourth game of a stretch in which the intrastate rivals will meet three times over a four-game span.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RESULTS AGAINST UTICA
After earning just a pair of wins through the first five games of the season series with the Comets in 2022-23, Rochester finished the campaign with a 7-3-0-0 record in 10 games.
Rochester has won seven straight games on the road against the Comets, which includes this season’s preseason contest and the first game on Oct. 29. The club has outscored Utica 27-16 during that same time. Rochester has collected points in eight straight games against Utica since Dec. 28, going 7-0-1-0 over that span.
The Amerks have scored at least one power-play goal in 20 of the 36 games (28-for-128) against Utica since Seth Appert took over as head coach prior to the 2020-21 season.
LAST TIME OUT
The Amerks had four different players score their first goals of the season as they relied on the offensive contributions of several newcomers to defeat the Utica Comets by a 4-3 score Friday at The Blue Cross Arena.
Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Christopher Brown both scored in the first period while Zach Metsa and Damien Giroux added a goal in the final frame, respectively. Dominick Mersch, who signed a professional tryout along with Grant Gabriele on Friday, earned an assist as did Isak Rosen, Graham Slaggert, Nikita Novikov, and Ethan Prow.
Goaltender Dustin Tokarski (2-1-0) picked up his second win of the season as he stopped 31 of 34 shots. The veteran netminder, who carried a shutout into the third period, surpassed the 10,000-save mark for his AHL career.
THE BEST OFFENSE IS A GOOD DEFENSE
The Amerks own two of the league’s top six scoring defensemen in Jeremy Davies and Kale Clague, who each have nine points through Rochester’s 11 games of the season.
Davies, who scored a career-high 11 goals last season, including three game-winning tallies, is tied for 11th in goals by a defenseman while his team-high 36 shots are fourth-most amongst all blueliners. Davies, who closed out the month of October on a five-game point streak, has recorded at least one point in seven of his first 10 games this season, never going more than a game without a point.
Clague, meanwhile, currently leads all Amerks skaters and is tied for third among all rearguards with eight assists in nine games. Clague opened the campaign with three multi-point performances through his first six games.
DYNAMIC 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 last Saturday in Syracuse, scoring his team-leading ninth goal in just his 10th game. Kulich, whose 24 goals last season were the second-most ever by an 18-year-old in league history, is currently tied for second in the AHL in goals while his 13 points tie him for eighth in overall scoring. Kulich joins Luke Adam (2013-14) and Jack Quinn (2021-22) as the only other Amerks skaters to score nine goals through their first 11 games of their respective campaigns.
Rosen began the season with the AHL’s longest active point streak after notching a point in each of his first six games.
The duo has combined for 109 points (52+57) in 150 regular season games. Rochester owns a 17-3-2-1 record when they each have at least one point and a 7-1-0-0 mark when they both score in the same game.
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 last week against Utica.
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.
Last Friday night, 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).
The 34-year-old Tokarski ranks 18th all-time in games played and remains the only active goaltender on the list.
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.
In addition to being a two-time Calder Cup winner (2012, 2019), Tokarski won a Memorial Cup in 2008 followed by a gold medal with Canada in 2009.
SCORING IN BUNCHES
The Amerks come into the weekend with the AHL’s top offense, averaging 4.27 goals per game through their first 11 games of the season. Rochester has put up at least four goals in eight of its first 11 games, including five outings with five goals or more. The Amerks are a perfect 5-0-0-0 this season when scoring five goals in a game and are one of only two teams across the league currently averaging more than four goals per game, the other being Coachella Valley (4.13).
ROSTER SHUFFLING IN ROCHESTER
Since Oct. 27, the Amerks roster has seen 10 different players either get recalled to the Buffalo Sabres (NHL) or reassigned to Rochester from the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL).
Forwards Ridley Fiddler-Schultz and Damien Giroux made their Amerk debuts last week while Chris Jandric, Christopher Brown and Dominick Mersch were among the newcomers summoned from Jacksonville.
Brandon Biro and Lukas Rousek were recently joined by Ryan Johnson and Matt Savoie, both of whom made their NHL debuts with Buffalo.
Goaltender Devin Cooley served as back-up in Buffalo’s win on Oct. 29 but has since returned to Rochester while Michael Houser was reassigned to the Icemen this week.
WORKING OVERTIME
Rochester’s overtime win against Laval on Oct. 18 was the third straight game that went beyond regulation. Never before in the near 68-year history of the franchise have the Amerks opened a season with three consecutive overtime contests.
The Amerks show a 2-2 record in overtime this season and a 1-0 mark in the shootout. Rochester is the only team in the league with five games decided beyond regulation this season.
Dating back to last season, 13 of Rochester’s previous 26 regular-season games have required overtime to determine a winner.
BY THE NUMBERS
Rochester is 5-0-0-0 this season when leading after the first and second periods. The Amerks also boast a perfect 5-0-0-0 record when scoring first and are 3-1-1-0 when outshooting the opponent.
SERIES NOTABLES
Amerks defenseman Riley Stillman faces his younger brother, Chase, for the fourth time in their pro careers. Chase in his rookie season after being selected in the first round (29th overall) by the New Jersey devils in 2021. Their father, Cory Stillman, appeared in 1,025 games at the NHL level, totaling 727 points (278+449) and won a pair of Stanley Cup Championships. Bud Stefanski, their grandfather, tallied 425 points in the AHL, won the 1984 Calder Cup and was named playoff MVP.
Comets forward Kyle Criscuolo is in his first season with the New Jersey Devils organization. In parts of two seasons with Rochester, he posted 54 points (21+33) in 94 games from 2017-19 while also skating in six playoff contests. He made his NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres in 2017-18.
Utica forward Tyce Thompson is the younger brother of former Amerk and current Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson.
Rochester Americans vs Utica Comets: Head To Head Stats
Summary
|
Description |
Result |
|
| Head to Head Record 2023-24 Regular Season | Rochester 2-0-1-0 | Utica 1-2-0-0 |
| Head to Head Record 2022-23 Regular Season | Rochester 7-3-0-0 | Utica 3-4-1-2 |
| Last 5 Years record between teams | Rochester 22-18-2-2 | Utica 22-17-2-3 |
| Rochester vs. Utica Last 5 Years record at Rochester | Rochester 12-9-1-1 | Utica 11-9-2-1 |
| Rochester vs. Utica Last 5 Years record at Utica | Rochester 10-9-1-1 | Utica 11-8-0-2 |
| Previous Meetings This Season | Utica 3 @ Rochester 4 (Nov 10 2023) Final Utica 4 @ Rochester 3 (Nov 3 2023) Final OT Rochester 5 @ Utica 4 (Oct 28 2023) Final |
How the two teams match up
|
Utica |
Rochester |
|
| Team Record | 3-4-2-0 -- 8 points | 7-2-2-0 -- 16 points |
| Division Ranking | 6th North | 1st North |
| Conference Ranking | 13th Eastern | 2nd Eastern |
| League Ranking | 26th | 3rd |
| Past 10 Games | 3-4-2-0 | 7-2-1-0 |
| Streak | 0-2-0-0 | 2-0-1-0 |
| Last Game | 4-3 L @ Rochester (Nov 10 2023) Final | 4-3 W vs Utica (Nov 10 2023) Final |
| Home Record | 0-2-1-0 | 3-1-2-0 |
| Away Record | 3-2-1-0 | 4-1-0-0 |
| GF | 27 | 47 |
| GA | 29 | 49 |
| PP (Overall) | (3/28) 10.7% | (9/36) 25.0% |
| PP (Home) | (1/10) 10.0% | (3/18) 16.7% |
| PP (Away) | (2/18) 11.1% | (6/18) 33.3% |
| PK (Overall) | (5/32) 84.4% | (12/43) 72.1% |
| PK (Home) | (4/9) 55.6% | (6/21) 71.4% |
| PK (Away) | (1/23) 95.7% | (6/22) 72.7% |
| PP vs. Opp. | (1/6) 16.7% | (1/9) 11.1% |
| PK vs. Opp. | (1/9) 88.9% | (1/6) 83.3% |
| Leading Rookie | Parent (5-5-10) | Novikov (0-6-6) |
| Most PIM | Russo - 12 | Cecconi - 30 |
| Team PIM/GM | 10.1/Game | 12.1/Game |
| Leading Scorers | Parent (5-5-10) | Kulich (9-4-13) |
| Willman (4-3-7) | Rosen (5-8-13) | |
| Clarke (3-3-6) | Davies (2-7-9) | |
| Stillman (3-2-5) | Clague (1-8-9) | |
| Schmelzer (2-2-4) | Jobst (5-3-8) | |
| Last 5 Games | 4-3 L @ Rochester (Nov 10 2023) Final | 4-3 W vs Utica (Nov 10 2023) Final |
| 3-2 L vs Hartford (Nov 4 2023) Final | 5-4 W @ Syracuse (Nov 4 2023) Final SO | |
| 4-3 W @ Rochester (Nov 3 2023) Final OT | 4-3 L vs Utica (Nov 3 2023) Final OT | |
| 4-1 W @ Laval (Nov 1 2023) Final | 7-2 L vs Syracuse (Nov 1 2023) Final | |
| 5-4 L vs Rochester (Oct 28 2023) Final | 5-4 W @ Utica (Oct 28 2023) Final | |
| Leading After 1st | 1-0-0-0 | 5-0-0-0 |
| Leading After 2nd | 2-0-0-0 | 5-0-0-0 |
| Tied After 1st | 2-1-1-0 | 0-1-1-0 |
| Tied After 2nd | 1-1-0-0 | 0-0-2-0 |
| Trailing After 1st | 0-3-1-0 | 2-1-1-0 |
| Trailing After 2nd | 0-3-2-0 | 2-2-0-0 |
| Out Shooting Opponents | 0-1-2-0 | 3-1-1-0 |
| Out Shot by Opponents | 3-2-0-0 | 3-1-1-0 |
| 1-Goal Games | 1-3-2-0 | 6-0-2-0 |
| 2-Goal Games | 1-0-0-0 | 0-0-0-0 |
| 3-Goal Games | 1-1-0-0 | 1-0-0-0 |
Rochester Americans
| # | Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Mason Jobst | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 56 | Kale Clague | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 25 | Jiri Kulich | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | -3 |
| 7 | Ethan Prow | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 93 | X Matthew Savoie | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | X Brandon Biro | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 21 | Filip Cederqvist | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
| 4 | Jeremy Davies | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 74 | Nikita Novikov | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 17 | Christopher Brown | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Riley Fiddler-Schultz | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 96 | Damien Giroux | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | Michael Mersch | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 22 | Zach Metsa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | X Lukas Rousek | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 44 | Tyson Kozak | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | Dominick Mersch | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 81 | Brett Murray | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 16 | Justin Richards | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Isak Rosen | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Graham Slaggert | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 3 | Joseph Cecconi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 8 | Grant Gabriele | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 29 | X Michael Houser | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | Chris Jandric | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 23 | X Ryan Johnson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Olivier Nadeau | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| 79 | Viktor Neuchev | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 61 | Riley Stillman | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 34 | Dustin Tokarski | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 45 | Brendan Warren | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 |
| # | Player | GP | W | L | OT | MIN | GA | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | Dustin Tokarski | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 120:03 | 7 | 3.50 | 0.870 |
| 29 | X Michael Houser | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 59:47 | 4 | 4.01 | 0.778 |
Utica Comets
| # | Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | Daniil Misyul | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
| 67 | Xavier Parent | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | -1 |
| 92 | Graeme Clarke | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 | Kyle Criscuolo | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | -1 |
| 14 | Shane Bowers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 61 | Chase Stillman | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | -1 |
| 20 | X Max Willman | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -3 |
| 7 | Simon Nemec | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -2 |
| 26 | Ryan Schmelzer | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | -2 |
| 12 | Tyce Thompson | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Joe Gambardella | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | Tyler Wotherspoon | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -3 |
| 16 | Filip Engaras | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 90 | Timur Ibragimov | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -2 |
| 5 | Robbie Russo | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 10 | Justin Dowling | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | X Colin Felix | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Ryan Fitzgerald | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 52 | Cal Foote | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 |
| 8 | Santeri Hatakka | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 31 | Erik Källgren | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 48 | Erik Middendorf | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | Isaac Poulter | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 83 | Topias Vilen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Michael Vukojevic | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| # | Player | GP | W | L | OT | MIN | GA | GAA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaac Poulter | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 118:38 | 7 | 3.54 | 0.894 |
| 31 | Erik Källgren | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 59:04 | 5 | 5.08 | 0.821 |