TACO BELL WRAP-UP: AMERKS REMAIN HOT TO START THE NEW YEAR
Jan 6, 2025
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (21-9-3-0) continued where they left off from 2024, extending their win streak to six games with 5-2 and 6-3 wins on the road in Springfield and Bridgeport, respectively, as the Amerks completed their first weekend of 2025.
Along with the six-game win streak, the Amerks have won eight straight contests away from Blue Cross Arena, marking their longest road win streak of the season. The team has 17 away games remaining and at 15-3-1-0, Rochester is 10 victories shy of tying the franchise high for road wins at 25, set by the 2018-19 and 1998-99 teams.
Two games. Two wins. Four points. Here are some of the main components that led to the weekend that was:
SPECIAL PLAYERS FOR SPECIAL TEAMS
Amerks forwards Brett Murray and Graham Slaggert are leading the charge on both ends of special teams for not only Rochester, but the AHL as a whole.
On Friday, Murray notched his ninth power play goal of the season against the Thunderbirds. The sixth-year pro is two goals ahead of every other skater for power play conversions in the league. Murray’s special teams’ goal also saw the veteran surpass his own previous career high of eight power play goals set during his breakout 2022-23 season. Additionally, Murray scored an empty net goal Saturday and has 16 goals overall this season. His career high was 23 from two seasons ago and Murray is currently tied for sixth most goals in the league.
On the other end of special teams, Slaggert is putting up historic numbers when the Amerks are down a man. On Saturday in Bridgeport, the South Bend, Indiana native darted down the ice to collect a loose puck while on the penalty kill and went on to score his fifth shorthanded goal of the season. His five shorties lead the AHL and like Murray, are two more than any other player in the league.
Slaggert’s fifth of the season puts him in elite company, as the second-year Amerk becomes just the third Rochester player over the past four decades to record five shorthanded goals in a single season. Slaggert joins Amerks Hall of Famers Jim Jackson (1987-88) and Don McSween (1989-90) as the only players to have done so dating back to the 1984-85 season. With McSween being the most recent, that makes Slaggert the first Amerk in 35 years to achieve the feat. Gary McAdam (1982-83) is both the AHL’s and Rochester Americans’ all-time leader with 11 shorthanded goals.
SANDSTROM STREAKING
Amerks goaltender Felix Sandström made his 11th start of the season Saturday against the Islanders, where the Gavle, Sweden native recorded a season high 36 saves in the team’s 6-3 win against Bridgeport. With the win, Sandström has now reached wins in three straight starts for the second time this season, having previously done so from November 1-8. Sandström’s 36 saves were the most he made in an AHL start since April 2, 2022, when he made 37 saves against Utica in a win for Lehigh Valley. His 36 saves Saturday were the fifth most of his AHL career.
The seasoned net minder owns a 6-4-1 record through 11 games as an Amerk and has gone 5-1-1 on the road.
ZACH ATTACK
Amerks alternate captain and defenseman Zachary Metsa extended his point streak to a career best five games with an assist on Saturday that was proceeded by his three-assist output Friday in Springfield. Over his point streak, the former Quinnipiac captain and NCAA National Champion has scored a goal and seven assists. Metsa, like his aforementioned teammates discussed above, is another Amerk near the top of the charts in multiple categories. Amongst all defensemen, Metsa ranks third in points, but shares the league lead for assists with 22.
COMING UP NEXT
The first home game of 2025 is on the horizon for the Amerks as the red, white, and blue welcome in the same team they ended the year against, with the Utica Comets arriving at Blue Cross Arena Friday night. Following that, the Amerks play their third of six consecutive Saturdays on the road when the team takes the short trip to Syracuse for a matchup with a Crunch team that has points in five straight games.