TACO BELL WRAP-UP: AMERKS EARN FOUR POINTS, REACH 2,500 WINS
Rochester becomes second team in AHL history to record 2,500 franchise victories
Nov 11, 2024
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (7-4-0-0) earned four out of a possible six points, securing wins on Wednesday against Cleveland (4-2) and Friday over Hartford on home ice (6-3), before seeing their six-game win streak end in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, ending up on the wrong side of a 5-0 final.
Despite the conclusion to the week, Rochester remains one of the top teams in the North Division with 14 points, sitting third in the standings ahead of a big week where they’ll face the two teams in front of them in the standings.
ONE FOR THE HISTORY BOOKS
The Amerks picked up a historic win in front of 9,011 fans Friday at Blue Cross Arena, topping the Hartford Wolf Pack, 6-3, and capturing their 2,500th win in the process. In the 89-year history of the American Hockey League, only the Hershey Bears and now Rochester Americans have reached 2,500 wins as a franchise.
“It’s amazing,” said Amerks head coach Michael Leone following the win Friday night. “You look at the crowd and there’s 9,000 people here. The support from the community and the organization is awesome and it’s great to get the win at home.”
The Amerks hold an all-time record of 2,500-2,090-401-115 since their inception in 1956. Since then, the team has captured six Calder Cups and 14 division titles. Additionally, the win extended Rochester’s current win streak to six games, matching their longest win streak from last season set from March 22-April 7, 2024.
PRETTY KUL RETURN
Jiri Kulich made his return to Rochester after being reassigned from the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. The third-year pro and leading scorer from the past two seasons with the Amerks did not disappoint. Kulich found the back of the net both Wednesday and Friday, scoring power-play goals in each of the Amerks’ wins, with his first being the game-winning-goal Wednesday against the Monsters.
“There’s a great group of guys here,” said Kulich. “I was trying to watch some games even when I was in Buffalo. It was my goal to make the team (Buffalo), but it is what it is right now, and I have to keep working. It’s motivation for me to be a better player and whenever they call me up again, I don’t want to go back. I’m feeling positive right now because of my teammates here. I love everybody here in this locker room.”
Kulich, 20, has scored 53 goals in 122 games with Rochester. The Kadan, Czechia, native scored his first NHL goal and played eight games with the Sabres to begin the season. He led the Amerks with 27 goals in 57 games last season and is the first Amerk to lead the team in goals in consecutive seasons since Jody Gage had done so in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
LEADING ON O & D
Isak Rosen and Zach Metsa both had strong outings over the past week, with the pairing posting three-point efforts Friday against Hartford, where Rosen scored a goal and two assists while Metsa posted a career-high three-assist performance.
Both Amerks players ranked near the top of their respective categories. Rosen leads Rochester with 13 points (4+9), ranking him first among all North Division skaters and fourth overall in the AHL’s Eastern Conference.
“I've been there almost every game, but I think I got more,” said Rosen when discussing his production to begin the season. “I need to play better, too. I need to be more consistent. I think in some games I'm not the player I want to be. Even though maybe I'm on the scoresheet, I think I need to win more puck battles and get to the hard areas. I think I’m taking baby steps towards hitting these goals.”
Metsa is sixth among all defensemen in the AHL with 10 points (1+9) after collecting five assists through the first two games of last week. He is second in the North Division among blueliners in scoring.
“It's good energy in the locker room,” said Metsa. “Our mindset has been to just attack every day and it's been working. So hopefully we keep going. Having games like that (Friday) just boost morale for everyone and it boosts confidence for guys making plays and not only making plays but executing.”
COMING UP NEXT
The Amerks face their tallest task yet this season, hosting the Laval Rocket (9-2-0-0) both Wednesday and Saturday. The Rocket saw their eight-game win streak end over the weekend with a loss to Belleville, but continue to lead the North Division with 18 points. Following Saturday’s game, the Amerks will depart the Flower City and head north to Toronto, where they’ll meet the Marlies for the third time this season Sunday afternoon at Coca-Cola Coliseum.
Laval sits four points in front of the Amerks, while Toronto yields a two-point edge in the standings.