Courtesy of Amerks.com
Utica, N.Y. – The Rochester Americans (24-16-4-2) scored a pair of power-play goals in a span of 1:18 during the third period to seize control in what became a 4-1 win over the Utica Comets (13-23-5-3) Saturday at the Adirondack Bank Center.
Rochester, which has points in 20 of its last 28 games dating back to Nov. 22, 2025, has won each of its last three games against Comets while outscoring them 12-2. Tonight’s win also the third straight for the Amerks, who defeated Springfield and now Utica twice by a combined score of 13-2.
The Amerks All-Star trio of forwards Konsta Helenius (2+0) and Isak Rosén (0+2) both tallied their third straight multi-point outing while Zac Jones (0+2) added his second in the win. The three skaters, who all returned from an NHL recall earlier this month, have combined for eight goals, 10 assists, 18 points, and 22 shots over their last three games with Rochester.
Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Carson Meyer both scored one goal apiece while Olivier Nadeau and Anton Wahlberg each chipped in an assist to complete the scoring.
Goaltender Devon Levi (17-10-6) earned his third straight win over Utica and 17th overall in his 33rd appearance of the season. The third-year pro, who has allowed two or fewer goals in 10 of his last 12 appearances since Jan. 7, has made 86 of 88 saves versus the Comets since Jan. 23.
After taking the game’s first two penalties and allowing the first six shots, the Amerks were under pressure from a hungry Utica team that was beginning to mount early momentum in the offensive zone. The home club saw Dennis Choloswki gather a bank pass off the side boards and fire a shot on the net. Before it reached Levi, Jonathan Gruden flagged it down with his stick before it ricocheted behind left pad of the goaltender. The officials, however, immediately waved off the goal at the 9:36 mark, deeming it was played with a high stick.
The Amerks finally got their first shot of the period at the halfway mark as Trevor Kuntar and Fiddler-Schultzwere on an odd-man rush, but Utica netminder Jakub Málek absorbed the shot to keep the game scoreless.
Of the final 10 minutes, neither club found much offensively and they went into the intermission break scoreless while Utica held an 11-3 shot advantage.
Rochester drew a Comets tripping infraction nearly five minutes into the second period, however, was unable to capitalize with the extra skater. The Amerks, though, managed to begin to even the shot-clock as compared to the first period.
Later in the period, Utica forced an offensive zone face-off to the left circle of Levi, but after the draw, Helenius stepped in front of a potential pass. The Finnish forward sped ahead and exchanged a give-and-go with Wahlberg as they skated up the ice and the latter regathered the puck inside the blueline. As Helenius reached the right face-off dot, he stopped, cut towards the center of the ice and wired a shot inside the right post to break the stalemate with 4:43 left in the frame.
Rochester, which was unsuccessful on a 5-on-3 power-play for 45 seconds after Helenius’ 11th goal of the season, took the 1-0 lead into the dressing rooms.
Carrying a 1-0 lead into the final period, the Comets were called for a series of penalties equaling 27 minutes just 1:39 into the frame and gave the Amerks their second two-man advantage of the game.
Unlike the first, Rochester capitalized on the infractions to push the score to 3-0 less than three minutes into the penalties.
After gathering a cleared puck outside his goal crease, Levi quickly began the play in transition by providing an outlet pass to Rosén in the neutral zone. The three-time AHL All-Star eventually handed the puck back to the center of the ice for Jones. As quick as Jones received the pass, he dished it to the left of the Utica net for Nadeau to tap to Meyer atop the blue paint. Meyer steered the pass into the yawning cage for his 10th of the season with 16:53 left in the third.
On the continuation of the major power-play, Fiddler-Schultz played the puck down the left wing before he bulldozed his way atop Málek’s crease. While the Edmonton native established position, Helenius and Rosén traded passes along with Jones. The Amerks’ blueliner sent a cross-ice pass from the left point for Rosén to shoot towards the net, allowing Fiddler-Schultz to redirect, making it a 3-0 score.
Utica managed to spoil Levi’s bid for a shutout 10 minutes later as they pulled its netminder on Parent’s goal at the 15:14 mark, but Helenius sealed the 4-1 win moments later.
After tonight, goaltender Devon Levi owns a 13-1-1 record, .925 save percentage, and 2.33 goals-against-average against Utica since making his AHL debut during the 2023-24 season … By reaching the 10-plus goal mark for his third time in the last five years, Carson Meyer became the fifth Amerk this season to do so … Riley Fiddler-Schultz (12) and Anton Wahlberg (13) are one goal and assist away from matching career-highs, respectively.
Following a quick turnaround, the Amerks will look to sweep the Comets as they close out their three-game series with a rematch back in Rochester on Sunday, Feb. 15 for a 3:05 p.m. contest. All the action from The Blue Cross Arena will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV on FloHockey.
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