HOW THE NORTH LOOKS NOW: OCTOBER 27
Oct 27, 2022We’re a handful of games into the regular season, and the Rochester Americans currently sit tied for second place in the North Division with six points in five games played. While it’s a small sample size — and the Utica Comets have only played three games — the North Division looks a little different right now than it did heading into the Calder Cup Playoffs last season.
CURRENTLY IN FIRST: BELLEVILLE SENATORS (3-2-1-0)
The Belleville Senators have started this season strong and are looking to build off a franchise record season of 40 wins and their first appearance in the Calder Cup Playoffs. “They have a really good team,” head coach Seth Appert told the media. “On paper, they certainly look like one of the best teams in the North Division, in terms of the firepower they returned and the firepower they added.”
Veteran forward Jake Lucchini currently leads the Senators in scoring with nine points (2+7) in six games. Center Philippe Daoust leads their rookies in scoring with four points so far this season. Seven rookies who have appeared for the Senators so far this season led by Ottawa first-rounders Ridly Greig (2020) and Matthew Boucher (2021).
Goaltender Kevin Mandolese has a 2-1-1-0 record in four games played and has recorded a .885 save percentage with 3.23 GAA.
After eliminating the Senators from the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs — with the two games won 4-3 in overtime — the Amerks beat the Senators in overtime in their first meeting of the 2022-23 regular season. With a score of 4-3.
The Senators are on a Central Division road trip this weekend: the Senators face the Milwaukee Admirals on Friday night and the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday. The Amerks and Senators next square-off in Belleville on Saturday, November 12.
TIED FOR SECOND: TORONTO MARLIES (3-2-0-0)
The Toronto Marlies met the Americans for Opening Night in Rochester, with the Amerks coming away victorious in a 4-2 victory. The following night, the Marlies evened the opening weekend split by beating the Amerks 3-1.
“Toronto does a good job putting you in uncomfortable situations with their attack and their puck pressure,” Coach Appert explained after the game. The Marlies are averaging 3.60 goals per game to start the season.
Veteran right wing Joey Anderson, who is in his third season with the Marlies, leads the team in scoring with seven points (4+3) in five games played. The Marlies have dressed eight rookies so far this season, including a pair of fourth-round draft selections: left wing Nick Abruzzese (2019) and defenseman William Villeneuve (2020).
Goaltender Keith Petruzzelli has posted three wins and a .924 save percentage (and 1.67 GAA) to start the season.
This weekend, the Marlies are on an Upstate New York Swing: they face the Syracuse Crunch on Friday night and the Utica Comets on Saturday. The Amerks next face the Marlies when they travel to Toronto on Saturday, December 10.
IN FOURTH: CLEVELAND MONSTERS (3-3-0-0)
After not qualifying for the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2022, the Cleveland Monsters swept their opening weekend series with the Syracuse Crunch. The Monsters are averaging just over 3.60 goals per game to start the 2022-23 campaign.
Right wing Emil Bemstrom leads the Monsters with nine points (4+5) in the first six games, followed by rookie right winger Kirill Marchenko (seven points, six games). David Jiricek, the Columbus Blue Jackets’ first-round pick (sixth overall) from the 2022 NHL Draft tallied four assists in five games, before being recalled by the Blue Jackets on October 26, 2022.
Goaltender Jet Greaves has posted a 2-3-0-0 record with a .859 save percentage, while rookie goaltender Pavel Cajan has one win so far this season.
The Monsters are in Utica on Friday night and Syracuse on Saturday for their upcoming weekend match-ups. The Amerks face Cleveland for the first time on November 11, hosting the Monsters at Blue Cross Arena for a Friday night tilt. Tickets are on sale now.
IN FIFTH: SYRACUSE CRUNCH (1-2-0-0)
After losing their opening weekend series to the Cleveland Monsters, the Syracuse Crunch found their first win of the season at their Home Opener against the Amerks. “Syracuse, what we just played in, the atmosphere is phenomenal: small rink, the fans are on top of you, sold-out building.”
Center Felix Roberts leads the Crunch with 10 points (6+4) in five games after joining the Syracuse squad from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Ten rookies have appeared in games for the Crunch so far this season, highlighted by Lucas Edmonds, selected in the third round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Goaltender Max Lagace is 1-2-1 so far this season with a .892 save percentage (3.70 GAA).
The Crunch host the Marlies on Friday night and the Monsters on Saturday night in Syracuse. Syracuse will then travel to Rochester to face the Amerks on Wednesday, November 2 — the next home game at Blue Cross Arena. Tickets are available now!
IN SIXTH: LAVAL ROCKET (1-4-1-0)
After finishing third in the North Division last season, and eliminating the Amerks from the Calder Cup Playoffs in the third round, the Laval Rocket have only tallied one win so far this season. But that might not stay that way for long.
“In Laval, it’s like an NHL atmosphere: the light show, the sound, the pregame, the building itself. It’s a phenomenal place to play,” Appert said ahead of this week’s games. “They play a style that really tests you.”
Veteran left winger Gabriel Bourque, who enters his 12th professional season and second in Laval, has four goals in six games. Rookie defenseman Mattias Norlinder leads the Rocket rookies with three assists in six games.
Goaltender Cayden Primeau has recorded a .913 save percentage (2.74 GAA) with a 1-2-1-0 record so far.
The Rocket will play a two-game set in Laval this weekend — meeting the Amerks for the first time this season. The puck drops at 7:00pm on Friday night and 3:00pm on Saturday, a matinee game before the Amerks return home to Rochester.
IN LAST PLACE: UTICA COMETS (1-2-0-0)
Having only completed three games after a power outage at their Home Opener, the Utica Comets find themselves in seventh place in the North.
After being eliminated from the Calder Cup Playoffs by the Amerks in the second round, the Comets return a veteran lineup: no rookies have made their debut so far this season in Utica.
Forwards Brian Pinho and Andreas Johnsson lead the veteran Utica squad with four points each. Goaltenders Nico Daws and Akira Schmid have split games, with Daws recording a .941 save percentage (1.88 GAA).
The Comets host the Monsters on Friday night and the Marlies on Saturday night. The Amerks will square-off against the Utica Comets for the first time in the regular season for a home-and-home match-up on November 4 in Rochester and November 5 in Utica.