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AHL Rochester Americans

Amerks Win Streak Snapped in 5-2 Loss to Crunch

December 18, 2024 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rochester Americans News Release


(Rochester, NY) - Forwards Brett Murray and Isak Rosén both scored in the first and second periods, respectively, but the Rochester Americans (15-9-3-0) saw their four-game win streak halted in a 5-2 loss against the Syracuse Crunch (11-8-4-3) Wednesday at The Blue Cross Arena.

Despite suffering its first regulation defeat versus the Crunch since Mar. 9, 2023, Rochester, which entered the game with four straight wins against its intrastate rivals, has earned at least one point in 17 of its last 23 games dating back to Oct. 23.

Both Murray and Rosén found the back of the net for the fifth time in their last three games and 12th overall on the campaign, which tops all Amerk skaters this season. Nikita Novikov, Vsevolod Komarov, Jack Rathbone, and Tyson Kozak all recorded one assist each.

Kozak (10) reached double figures in points for the third straight campaign as he has a career-best three-game assist and point streak. Novikov has five points (1+4) since Dec. 7 while Rathbone has chipped in one assist in three of his previous four contests.

Goaltender Devon Levi saw his personal six-game win streak come to an end after suffering just his second regulation loss of the season. He entered the week boasting a 7-1-1 mark through his first nine appearances with the Amerks. The netminder stopped 23 of the 27 shots he faced while being dealt his first defeat since Nov. 27.

FIRST PERIOD

In the opening period, the two clubs each traded chances while testing the opposition's goaltender before Syracuse took a 1-0 lead at the 10:29 mark.

While the Amerks were in transition through the neutral zone, Jesse Ylönen forced a turnover before sprinting up the ice as he carried the puck 1-on-1 against a Rochester skater. As he reached the top of the near circle, he fired a shot on which Levi turned aside, but Connor Sheary converted the rebound for his sixth of the campaign.

Prior to the completion of the frame, Mason Jobst won the draw back to the left point of Novikov. The Russian blueliner attempted a shot but it caromed wide of the net before Komarov returned it to his defense partner. On his second attempt, Novikov's shot was knocked down by the Crunch netminder, but Murray swept it inside the post to knot the score at 1-1 with 1:44 to go.

SECOND PERIOD

Shortly after Rochester was unable to capitalize on its first power-play of the night, Syracuse scored twice in a span of 2:12 to take a 3-1 lead on Dylan Duke and Logan Brown's goals, respectively.

The Amerks countered the Brown goal as Rathbone broke the puck out of his defensive zone with a bank pass to Kozak near center ice. With his back to the Crunch defense, Kozak gave a small feed to Rosén before the latter raced up the ice down the left wing. The 2023 AHL All-Star cut towards the middle of the ice and backhanded a shot past Halverson to trim the deficit to one on his 12th goal of the season.

Syracuse, however, responded once more before the end of the period to restore its two-goal cushion as Gabriel Fortier controlled a loose rebound and tucked it inside the left post of Levi.

THIRD PERIOD

Neither team was able to utilize the man-advantage in the first 10 minutes of the final period as they each were whistled twice. Rochester tried to climb back into the game as they at one point had a 6-2 shot advantage, but the score remained a two-goal game until Duke's second of the contest sealed the 5-2 win while Levi was pulled for the extra-skater in the final three minutes.

UP NEXT

The Amerks look split the two-game series with the Crunch as the longtime rivals reconvene for a rematch on Friday, Dec. 20 at The Blue Cross Arena at 7:05 p.m. All the action will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV on FloHockey. Additionally, the game will be televised live locally on CW Rochester.

Goal Scorers

SYR: C. Sheary (6), D. Duke (10, 11), L. Brown (2 - GWG), G. Fortier (3)

ROC: B. Murray (12), I. Rosén (12)

Goaltenders

SYR: B. Halverson - 31/33 (W)

ROC: D. Levi - 23/27 (L)

Shots

SYR: 28

ROC: 33

Special Teams

SYR: PP (0/2) | PK (3/3)

ROC: PP (0/3) | PK (2/2)

Three Stars:

1. SYR - L. Brown

2. SYR - D. Duke

3. SYR - J. Ylönen

POST-GAME SOUND AND HIGHLIGHTS

GAME HIGHLIGHTS: https://youtu.be/QF3ULUdAAdw

MICHAEL LEONE POST-GAME: https://youtu.be/iLLwOuG6ep8

ISAK ROSÉN POST-GAME: https://youtu.be/jnIfasI8ll4

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