top of page

Amerks take down Comets

Victor Menendez

By: Victor Menendez

Riley Fiddler-Schultz celebrating with his bench after scoring a goal on Jan. 29, 2025. Photo Credit: Micheline Veluvolu / Rochester Americans
Riley Fiddler-Schultz celebrating with his bench after scoring a goal on Jan. 29, 2025. Photo Credit: Micheline Veluvolu / Rochester Americans

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The Rochester Americans improved to 8-1 on the season against the Utica Comets as they handed them a 7-4 loss on Wednesday. Nicolas Aube-Kubel made his Amerks debut, scoring a goal and picking up an assist.


Despite the win, Amerks head coach Michael Leone thought his team could've played better.


"I'm big about the process, not the outcome," Leone said. "Good teams find ways to win when we're not great, I just didn't like us tonight."


Rochester drew first blood just under six minutes into the game. After Utica took a hooking penalty, the Amerks power play unit that ranked 18th in the AHL coming into the game took just over a minute to find the back of the net. Winger Isak Rosen beat Utica goalie Nico Daws blocker-side for his team-leading 19th goal of the year.


The Comets took just two minutes to respond. Winger Nolan Foote was able to sneak the puck past Amerks goalie Devon Levi to tie the game at one.


Rochester then retook the lead with 8:14 remaining in the first period. After a shot from Zachary Metsa was turned aside, Aube-Kubel, in his first career game with the Amerks, got the rebound and scored his first career goal for the Amerks two days after being placed on waivers by the Sabres.


Nicolas Aube-Kubel in front of the net on Jan. 29, 2025. Photo Credit: Micheline Veluvolu / Rochester Americans
Nicolas Aube-Kubel in front of the net on Jan. 29, 2025. Photo Credit: Micheline Veluvolu / Rochester Americans

"Felt good, haven't played much the last month so it feels good to play, to be back out on the ice," Aube-Kubel said. "I think this team is really good, so it's fun to be a part of."


The Amerks continued their onslaught a minute-and-a-half later as winger Viktor Neuchev scored his seventh goal of the year to give Rochester a two-goal advantage. Center Riley Fiddler-Schultz and defenseman Jack Rathbone picked up their fifth and 12th assists respectively.


Video credit: @AmerksHockey on X


Rochester outshot the Comets 12-6 in the first 20 minutes.


Utica went on the power play just over two minutes into the second frame as Vsevolod Komarov was called for holding. The Comets didn't score during the man advantage, but ended up cashing in shortly after it ended. Nathan Légaré scored his fifth goal of the year to make it a one-goal game.


A similar story played out as we crossed the halfway mark in the period. Amerks defenseman Kale Clague took a hooking penalty, and while Utica didn't score during the power play, they did mere seconds after. Adam Beckman found the back of the net to tie the game at three.


That tie lasted all of 24 seconds. Amerks center Anton Wahlberg took a pass from Mason Jobst, made a move around Daws, and, despite getting tripped up, scored a backhander for his seventh goal of the year to put Rochester up 4-3.


Video credit: @AmerksHockey on X


After outshooting Utica in the first period, the Amerks were outshot in the second frame 11-7 and outscored 2-1.


It didn't take long for Rochester to add to their lead. Just over a minute into the final period, Rosen picked up his second goal of the night and 20th on the season as he fired a shot from just inside the blue line past Daws.


Fiddler-Schultz gave the Amerks their sixth goal of the game two minutes later. His ninth goal of the year came on a pass from Lucas Rousek, who found Fiddler-Schultz in front of the net for his 23rd assist of the year. Rochester has scored six or more goals in back-to-back games, as they were coming off a 6-3 win against Hartford on Jan. 25.


Amerks defenseman Nikita Novikov got in on the goal scoring action with 10:22 remaining. His fifth goal of the year gave Rochester its seventh of the night. This was the first game where the Amerks scored seven or more goals since Dec. 14, when they took down the Belleville Senators 8-2.


Utica did pick up a goal with just over eight minutes remaining to trim the deficit to three goals, but it was too little too late.


With the win, Rochester improves to 25-12-3-1, one point behind the Laval Rocket for first in the North Division. Utica remains in last place in the North Division at 14-21-2-2 with the loss.


The Amerks next game will be on Friday as they take on the Syracuse Crunch. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Related Posts

See All

Comentarios


bottom of page