GAME PREVIEW: HOMESTAND CONTINUES WITH COMETS IN TOWN
Rochester hosts Utica in next chapter of I-90 rivalry
Nov 23, 2024
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (8-5-3-0) play host to the intrastate rival-Utica Comets (1-10-1-2) Saturday night in game two of their four-game homestand at Blue Cross Arena.
This will be meeting four of 12 between the Comets and Amerks and first of six that take place in the Flower City. The Amerks have already posted a 3-0-0-0 record against Utica this season and went 8-3-1-0 against the New Jersey Devils’ AHL affiliate a season ago. In the three games played at Adirondack Bank Center this season, the Amerks have outscored the Comets 15-4.
LAST TIME OUT
Kale Clague recorded his second career two-goal game, helping Rochester secure a standings point in its 4-3 overtime loss Friday against the Hershey Bears. In addition to Clague’s two goals, Brett Murray found the back of the net with his fifth goal of the season, all of which have come on the power-play. Devon Levi registered 24 saves and has helped the Amerks secure points in 22 of his 28 games with Rochester dating back to last season. The Amerks have gone to overtime in three consecutive games and have points in eight of their last 10 contests, helping the team keep ahold of fourth place in the North Division.
“I thought for our group that we did a really good job the second and third period,” said Amerks head coach Michael Leone. “I thought we had a lot of extended offensive zone shifts. We give up less than 25 shots and nine of them were in the first period. I thought we played to our identity. We were eight seconds away from having that one. It’s hockey. It’s unfortunate.”
Konsta Helenius also returned to the scoresheet, recording two assists after going without a point for six games. It’s the first multi-point game for the Sabres’ prospect in North America.
“Yeah, it was nice,” said Helenius. “I think we played that good with our line and a couple of us produced, which was nice. They (Hershey) were a tough opponent. The puck was moving at all times, so it was hard, but I still think we played great.”
YOU DID IT!
After starting the season 42 days ago, the Utica Comets secured their first win of the 2024-25 campaign in the team’s 14th game of the season, topping Syracuse by a 4-3 final on the road Friday night. Mike Hardman led the charge with two goals and an assist, while Isaac Poulter made 26 saves to secure the victory for the Comets.
Utica began the year with Kevin Dineen as its head coach, but named Ryan Parent the interim replacement on Nov. 6. Rookie defenseman and Devils’ 2022 second-round pick Seamus Casey leads all Comets with 11 points (1+10) over 10 games, recording a point in all but two contests.
The team fell short of a playoff berth last season with a 32-29-5-6 record after qualifying for the Calder Cup Playoffs each of the two prior seasons. In 2022, the Amerks extinguished Utica in a five-game playoff series that went the distance. Over the past five seasons, Rochester owns a 13-9-1-0 record against the Comets on home ice.
SANDSTRÖM STARTS
Following Friday’s game, Leone indicated goaltender Felix Sandström will make his seventh start of the season and second start against the Comets this season. The 27-year-old is 3-0-1 over his last four games in goal and 3-0-0 in four career games against the Comets. Earlier this year, the Gavle, Sweden, native made 18 saves in the team’s 8-1 win on Nov. 1. Sandström has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last four starts.
Rochester’s goaltending trio of Sandström, Levi, and Michael Houser have combined to surrender the 11th-fewest goals against in the AHL. Utica has surrendered the fifth-most goals against while scoring fewer goals than any team in the league. The Comets have scored first in four of their 14 games.