TACO BELL WRAP-UP: AMERKS COMPLETE SECOND THREE-IN-THREE WEEKEND
Rochester finishes four-game week 2-2-0-0
Feb 18, 2025
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (30-14-3-1) completed one of their busiest weeks of the season, playing four games over six days, including three over less than 72 hours which began Friday night and ended Sunday afternoon.
The Amerks won every other game, beginning with a road victory in Cleveland Tuesday night and an overtime win Saturday in Utica. Unfortunately, the team’s success didn’t follow them back home, as the red, white, and blue lost a pair of home contests to Syracuse and Laval.
The loss to the Rocket did begin a season-long five-game homestand that rolls through the upcoming week, but first, we look back on the recent action.
HOW SWEDE IT IS
The Amerks trio consisting of Isak Rosén, Anton Wahlberg, and Noah Östlund dominated the week, combining for 11 points (3+8) over the four-game stretch.
Rosén scored on the road in both Cleveland and Utica, including the game-tying conversion with under three minutes to play against the Comets to force overtime. Rosén’s goal was his 25th of the season as the Sabres’ prospect continues to thrive in his third professional season. Rosén trails only Toronto’s Alex Steeves for the league lead in goals.
Wahlberg registered four assists, including two helpers Tuesday in Cleveland for his first multi-assist game of his career. The rookie forward has six points (all assists) over his last half dozen games.
Östlund scored the biggest goal of his young career Saturday night, netting the overtime game-winner against Utica on the power-play. The rookie forward has spent over a month centering a line with Rosén and Brett Murray, and the results have paid off. Östlund has produced 12 points (4+8) over his last 13 games.
Beyond the forwards, goaltender Felix Sandström continued his remarkable play of late, churning out his 10th win of the season Saturday in Utica, making 29 saves to help Rochester to a 4-3 win. Sandström has now won seven straight games, continuing to extend the best streak of his career. The 28-year-old hasn’t lost a game since Dec. 6, 2024.
NO BONES ABOUT IT
For the first time since December 2023, Jack Rathbone scored in back-to-back games. The first-year Amerk and fifth-year pro found the back of the net Saturday in Utica, then again Sunday afternoon against Laval, giving the Boston, Mass., native five goals and 19 points on the season. Rathbone has points in four of his last five games (2+2) and has four shots on goal in four of his last five.
With 118 shots on goal, Rathbone leads all Amerks blueliners and is third in the AHL. A healthy week ahead would see Rathbone reach his 200th AHL game by Saturday night when Rochester hosts Toronto.
GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES
The Amerks are one of 15 teams in the AHL to have had only three different goaltenders appear in games for them, and join only Syracuse as the other team in the North Division to have less than four netminders take the crease.
In addition to Sandström, Devon Levi and Michael Houser both made appearances last week, with Levi starting both Friday and Sunday’s games while Houser came in to finish the latter contest against the Rocket.
Levi has won four of his last six games, while Sandström has won seven straight. Houser’s showing Sunday was his first appearance on home ice since Nov. 23, 2024.
COMING UP NEXT
The Amerks’ season-long homestand continues through this week, starting Wednesday night with a rematch against Cleveland from eight nights prior. The Amerks have won five of the previous six meetings against the Monsters, including their 5-1 victory last Tuesday which earned Rochester a clean four-game sweep in Cleveland.
Over the weekend, a pair of Canadian foes enter Blue Cross Arena, as Rochester will entertain Belleville Friday night before hosting Toronto Saturday evening on the Amerks’ first Teddy Bear Toss game since 2012.
The game against Toronto is expected to also feature the league’s top two goal-scorers in Alex Steeves (29) and Isak Rosén (25).