By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
They are locked into second place in the American Hockey League’s North Division standings, so this final week of the regular season has little meaning for the Rochester Americans.
Thus, had they opted to switch on cruise control and coast through the final three games, it would have been understandable. A little down time after a six-month grind might even be beneficial.
But that’s not their M.O. Which is why they played a smart, structured, lock-it-down style on Wednesday night in a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Monsters.
“You have to keep your identity the same, you have to keep your habits,” said defenseman Zach Metsa, who assisted on the first goal and scored the second as the Amerks improved to 42-21-4-3. “You cannot flip a switch going into the playoffs.”
Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Brett Murray scored empty-net goals in the final 1:35 to inflate the score, sending 5,741 fans home happy from Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.
The teams trade goals in the first period, then Metsa converted a Brendan Warren pass to the goal mouth 12:37 into the second period to give the Amerks a 2-1 lead.
The score didn’t change until Fiddler-Schultz hit the empty-net bullseye at 18:25, then Murray was awarded his 27th goal when he was repeatedly slashed by Cleveland defenseman Drew Bavaro while skating in on an empty net.
“We like to use the term ground game,” coach Michael Leone said. “Playing below the circles, grinding teams out, keeping possession of the puck. I thought we won a lot of shifts and the last 10 minutes the guys did a great job of managing the game.”
In other words, they played the way they’re supposed to play, which is why life in goal was pretty easy for Devon Levi (24 saves).
“You could hear it on the bench, it was Amerks hockey,” Leone said.
While the Amerks will finish second in their North, their first-round Calder Cup playoff opponent isn’t known yet. The Syracuse Crunch have 82 points, Cleveland has 81 and the Toronto Marlies are in the fifth and final spot with 80 points.
The Amerks host the Marlies on Friday, then close the regular season on Saturday at Toronto.
They say they intend to play those final two games the proper way, just as they did on Wednesday.
“It can be easy to let your habits slip, but I think we did a really good job playing to our identity,” Fiddler-Schultz said.
The rookie winger is a perfect example of what this team is about. He was a healthy scratch for 14 games to start the season yet now sits 11th in team scoring with 13 goals and 13 assists in 49 games.
Metsa, meanwhile, is third with 7 goals, a team-leading 39 assists and 46 points. He’s eighth in scoring among AHL defensemen and fourth in assists. Not bad for a college walk-on and free-agent signee by the Buffalo Sabres organization following Quinnipiac’s NCAA championship season of 2022-23.
“Drafted by four teams in the USHL, was a walk-on in college and played five years … to have the impact he’s had on our organization, he’s been incredible,” Leone said. “He just does so many things.
“When the game’s on the line in the third period he just makes so many plays. He defends really well for an undersized defenseman (5-9/195). You win with guys like that.”
The teams traded goals in the game’s 14th minute. Mason Jobst scored his 18th goal, at 13:40, when he worked into the slot and redirected a Metsa shot from the center point on a power play.
But the Monsters retaliated on the ensuing shift, with Luca Del Bel Belluz zipping a shot through traffic from the left circle and past Levi’s left shoulder.
The goal came off a broken play, as Trey Fix-Wolansky misfired on a pass but, while between defenders Vsevolod Komarov and Graham Slaggert in the middle of the slot, was somehow able to regain possession and flick a drop pass to Del Bel Belluz.
Metsa’s goal ended up being the game-winner. Warren moved down the right wing boards and to the corner before zipping a pass to the goal mouth and Metsa, barreling down the left of the slot, reached out and deflected it up and into the net with a friendly carom off the cross bar.
Giving back, times two
Two Fairport products, Nate Sucese and Hunter McDonald, were among the 32 players named AHL Man of the Year for their respective teams.
Winners are selected for their “outstanding contributions to the local community and charitable organizations.”
Sucese is in his fifth pro season and first with the Hartford Wolf Pack. McDonald is a rookie defenseman for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Metsa was the Amerks winner for the second year in a row.
“It’s really special, and honestly something I wanted to win again,” Metsa said. “Rochester’s been great in every respect and I want to give back any way I can.”
Excellent game. One that was a long time coming IMO. They played a full 60 minutes. They all showed up. They won puck battles. They skated hard. They controlled play in the O-zone better than I have seen in awhile. And they didn’t fold in the 3rd period.
It was the kind of game that wins playoffs. I’m glad Amerks decided it was not good going into the playoffs on a losing streak. Good teams don’t take games off. They play hard, focused. Amerks made very few mistakes on this night. It was an enjoyable game to watch. Not lost on this was a very important penalty kill with 6 minutes to play. It was the only Amerks penalty up to that point and it was a lousy call.
Maybe with some key regulars missing, the guys who suited up rose to the occasion. One funny thing…Rousek, who never shoots the puck was sent in on a partial breakaway from the Monster blueline. But he is no not used to shooting the puck he clearly had no clue what to do when it was time to pull the trigger. So he didn’t. He just sort of rolled it into the goalie. No one was surprised!
Anyway–great game. Solid effort. Good win. Lets keep moving the chains!