TACO BELL WRAP-UP: AMERKS SWEEP INTRASTATE RIVALS
Rochester rides four-game win streak into All-Star break
Feb 3, 2025
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (27-12-3-1) played three games and took all six points available to them last week, topping the Utica Comets by a 7-4 final on home ice Wednesday night, before sweeping a home-and-home weekend against the Syracuse Crunch.
With 29 games left in the regular season, the Amerks remain hot on the heels of Laval for first place in the North Division, sitting just a point behind the Rocket with 58. Additionally, Rochester has the fourth-most points of any team in the AHL.
PUTTING THE TOOLS TOGETHER
On Friday night, Amerks forward Ty Tullio broke through in the first period, scoring his first goal as an Amerks as part of the team’s 4-1 win over Syracuse.
“It took a little longer than expected to get that the first one,” said Tullio after scoring in his 25th game of the season. “That said, our team has been playing really well together, and personal success comes through team success, so as long as we keep winning, the points will keep coming.”
Tullio came over from the Edmonton Oilers in a trade during the offseason. The Windsor, Ontario, native has seven points (1+6) in 26 games wearing the red, white, and blue.
In his previous two professional seasons, Tullio spent his time with Bakersfield, Edmonton’s AHL affiliate. There, he posted consecutive 20-point campaigns. Tullio has factored in and sometimes out of the lineup due to the number’s game Amerks head coach Michael Leone is forced to play given the depth of the forward group.
“It's obviously a tough thing when you come in and not seeing your name on the lineup sheet,” said Tullio when talking about being a healthy scratch at times. “But for me, it's just putting the work in every day and showing the coaches that, you know, I'm here to work and whatever decision they make, I'm still going to give it 110% in practice and in the gym. I think I've been playing really good games as of late. I'm going to keep pushing every game to stay in this lineup.”
ROSÉN TO THE OCCASION
Amerks forward Isak Rosén has emerged from being a top prospect in the Buffalo Sabres’ pipeline to being considered one of the best players across the American Hockey League. The 21-year-old is second in the AHL with 23 goals, trailing only Toronto’s Alex Steeves, and leads the Amerks with 39 points on the season (23+16).
On the week, Rosén scored five goals against Utica and Syracuse combined, including the overtime game-winner against the Crunch Saturday evening.
The third-year pro has seven goals over the team’s current four-game win streak, and four of his last seven games have been multi-goal performances.
The Stockholm, Sweden native’s numbers against the Crunch alone have been remarkable, netting seven goals and eight points in the seven games played against Syracuse so far this season.
POWER ON
Rochester’s power-play has been a weapon over the course of its win streak. For the first time this season, the Amerks have strung together goals on the man-advantage in four straight games and went 3-for-7 last week alone.
The Amerks’ power-play has flipped the switch from where they were two months ago. On Dec. 7, Rochester ranked 27th overall in the league, operating at 14.4%. Today, they rank 14th at 18.3%.
Even more impressive is the team’s success with the man-advantage on the road. Dec. 7 saw the Amerks wake up with the 20th placed power-play. Following Saturday in Syracuse, Rochester now yields the sixth-best man-advantage away from home, clicking at 22%.
COMING UP NEXT
It’s a light week for every Amerk not named Isak Rosén, Brett Murray, and Devon Levi. While the roster rests over the AHL’s annual All-Star break, the trio of Amerks boarded a flight following the game in Syracuse Saturday to take their talents west, where they will participate in the AHL All-Star Classic in Coachella Valley.
The brief pause in the schedule ends Friday, when Rochester returns to action in the Flower City for their lone game on the weekend. The Amerks will host Belleville in their fourth of eight scheduled meetings on the season, but this marks the first time the Senators return to Rochester since opening night back on Oct. 11, when the Sens spoiled the party after skating out of town with a 3-2 final.