TACO BELL WRAP UP: AMERKS START FEBRUARY WITH SPLIT IN LAVAL
Feb 5, 2024The Rochester Americans entered the annual All-Star break on a high note, with Devon Levi standing tall in his native province to guide the red, white, and blue to a 3-1 win over Laval, ending a week in which the Amerks won just once in three tries, but managed to keep their heads above water in the always competitive North Division standings.
Through 41 games, the Amerks own 21 wins and 46 points, good enough for a tie with Toronto for third in the division.
100 FOR NO. 26
Amerks forward Mason Jobst contributed with goals in two of Rochester’s three contests last week. The Speedway, Indiana, native scored the lone goal in a 2-1 outcome against Syracuse on Wednesday, then converted on an empty net goal in Saturday’s win over the Rocket.
Since the turn of the new year, Jobst has 10 points (4+6) over 12 games and is tied with Jiri Kulich for third in team scoring with 25 points. Jobst’s first goal of last week marked a milestone for the fifth-year pro, as Mason collected his 100th AHL point in the process. Jobst has amassed 40 goals and 61 helpers over 197 career games. If healthy, Jobst could skate in his 200th AHL game as soon as Wednesday, Feb. 14 in Utica.
(SORTA) SPECIAL TEAMS
Rochester’s penalty kill showed up in full force last week, denying 9-of-10 power-plays faced. Including the final game the week prior (a 7-4 win over Laval), the Amerks have killed off 11 of their last 12 penalties faced.
While the kill has improved, the power-play has gone in the opposite direction, going scoreless last week and currently on an 0-for-19 spell over the last seven games.
The Amerks’ penalty kill ranks 30th and the power-play stands 17th across the AHL. Here’s hoping the penalty kill continues taking strides and that the man-advantage follows.
LOVIN’ LEVI
Of his 51 shots faced, Levi turned aside 48 pucks over his two starts with the Amerks last week, including a 32-save performance in Saturday’s win in Laval. Saturday marked the second time this season the Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada native got to play in his home province. His other start came in the NHL with Buffalo, where Levi earned a win over Montreal, picking up an identical 32 saves just as he did on Saturday.
The 22-year-old has been stellar in goal for the Amerks over his five AHL games. Levi has gone 3-2-0 with a 2.41 goals-against-average, coupled with a .917 save percentage.
COMING UP NEXT
With Kulich and Isak Rosen in San Jose for the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, the remaining Amerks will have a chance to decompress and soak up one last break in the schedule before returning to action for the rest of the way, beginning this Friday against Syracuse.
The Amerks and Crunch have seven remaining meetings with one another, but scratch two off the board this coming weekend with a home-and-home series that begins Friday night at Blue Cross Arena.