TACO BELL WRAP-UP: AMERKS FALL FROM FIRST PLACE
Rochester returns home after difficult four-game road trip
Mar 10, 2025
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (34-16-3-3) ended their four-game road trip over the weekend in Laval, dropping a pair of one-goal games to the Rocket by 4-3 and 2-1 finals, respectively.
With an 0-2-0-2 road swing, the Amerks fell out of first place, now trailing Laval by three as the Amerks have 74 points while the Rocket yield 77 to lead the North Division and AHL overall.
MOVING PARTS
A bevy of roster moves hit the Amerks over last week, starting with forwards Brett Murray and Tyson Kozak returning to the lineup. Murray, who is second on the Amerks in points with 40 (23+17), posted an assist Friday in the team’s 4-3 loss to Laval, registering a helper on a goal from Noah Östlund. The sixth-year pro had missed the previous three games due to illness.
Kozak had missed six games due to injury, having last played Feb. 16 against Laval at Blue Cross Arena. The Souris, Manitoba, native returned Friday night, scoring his eighth goal of the season. Kozak continues to have a career year in Rochester with 14 points through 30 games. The third-year pro has spent time with Buffalo this season as well, skating in 11 games and scoring his first NHL goal Dec. 7 against Utah at KeyBank Center.
Speaking of Sabres, both forwards Isak Rosén and Josh Dunne were recalled to Buffalo and played Saturday for the Sabres during the team’s Florida trip. Against the Panthers, Dunne appeared in his first game as a Sabre and first in the NHL since April 11, 2023. The power forward showcased his toughness during the third period, dropping the gloves with Panthers’ forward A.J. Greer.
Rosén has earned several recalls to the Sabres this season and skated in his third game with the big club. The 14th overall selection from the 2021 NHL Draft leads Rochester in scoring with 26 goals and 50 points.
TRADING PLACES
The NHL trade deadline came and went, and with it came effects trickling down to the Amerks. Buffalo and the New York Rangers exchanged players, sending Nicolas Aubé-Kubel to New York for defenseman Erik Brännström, who will report to Rochester ahead of the team’s upcoming homestand.
While the Amerks lose a veteran in Aube-Kubel, the team scoops up another experienced player to strengthen an already robust defense core.
Brännström has appeared in 104 AHL games and nearly 300 NHL contests over his nine-year career. He is a former first-round selection by the Vegas Golden Knights, who took him in their inaugural season with the 15th overall selection in 2017.
The 25-year-old began the season in the Vancouver Canucks’ organization, where he spent the bulk of his time in the NHL, playing in 28 games, logging three goals and eight points.
KILLIN’ TIME
Despite the losses in Laval, Rochester’s penalty kill was an impenetrable fortress, turning aside each of the Rocket’s six power-plays over the weekend.
The Amerks enter the week holding the second-best penalty kill in the AHL, operating at 85.6%. On home ice, they are the best, clicking at an 89.7% clip. The success on the kill predates this weekend and has spiked in success since the start of 2025. In fact, over the last 17 games, Rochester has surrendered only four power-play goals against. They have killed 58 of 62 penalties off over that time, which translates to 93.5% efficiency.
Additionally, the Amerks are tied for the second-most shorthanded goals scored in the AHL with 10. Both their shorthanded goals and penalty kill overall trail only the Charlotte Checkers.
COMING UP NEXT
Speaking of Checkers, that’s who is on tap next for the red, white, and blue. A three-game homestand for the Amerks will see the team exclusively face Atlantic Division action, with the Checkers being the opposition for two of those three games. This week, it gets started against Charlotte Wednesday evening followed by a matchup against the Providence Bruins.
Both Providence and Charlotte are occupying playoff spots in their division. The Amerks are 1-1-0-0 against the Checkers and 0-1-0-0 facing the Baby Bruins this season. Overall, Rochester is 7-4-1-1 against the Atlantic Division this season and 2-0-1-1 on home ice.