By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
It doesn’t seem all that long ago that the Rochester Americans were firmly in second place in the American Hockey League’s North Division and providing hints that they could at least make a little noise in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Fast-forward to today and they’ve become a team that can no longer score goals or win games. Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the Utica Comets at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial extended their winless streak to nine (0-6-1-2).
Which is why they’re lucky to still be clinging to the fifth and final playoff spot in the North, although coach Michael Leone said they’re really just one morale-boosting victory away from new life.
“There’s still light at the end of the tunnel,” Leone said following Wednesday’s game, when Utica used a pair of late second-period power-play goals to take control of what had been a 1-1 tie. “We’re still five points ahead (of sixth-place Belleville).”
Still, the way they have played of late – two or fewer goals in six of the past 10 games, just three home victories since the start of 2026 – even if they earn an invitation to the post-season party, some would say why bother.
The players, however, definitely aren’t saying that, even though they’re mired in the team’s longest winless streak since March of 2014.
“We know we have a good hockey team,” said defenseman Zac Jones, who scored the Amerks goal on Wednesday. “We have to find a way to get one Friday (against Toronto and then it’s a new world.”
The current world definitely isn’t very special. The Amerks’ best player, right winger Isak Rosen, was shipped to Manitoba as the parent Buffalo Sabres bolstered their lineup at the NHL trade deadline.
A multitude of forwards suddenly can’t find the net. They have allowed four short-handed goals over the past four games – including one on Wednesday. And now defenseman Jack Rathbone is hurt again.
Rathbone will be out long-term, Leone said, after being driven into the glass by Comets defenseman Topias Vilen at 12:50 of the second period. He left the ice immediately, favoring his left shoulder.
The short-handed goals against are a significant issue, and a new one. Up until March, the Amerks had allowed just two all season.
Even if you’re not scoring on the power play, you can’t be giving up goals, Jones said.
“The biggest thing is creating momentum, not killing momentum,” he said. “We have to stop giving up short-handed goals.”
The one on Wednesday clinched victory for the Comets 9:19 into the third period. Former Amerks Kyle Criscuolo led the rush into the Rochester zone, then made a drop pass to defenseman Austin Strand on the left wing and he blasted a one-timer past goalie Devon Levi.
Xavier Parent scored the only goal in the first period, slicing to the net through the right circle before lifting a short-side backhander past Levi at 15:59.
Jones tied the score 4:05 into the second period with his eighth goal. With a host of bodies in the slot, his wrister from the center point eluded goalie Jakub Malek.
The Amerks had a great chance to take the lead with a four-minute power play beginning at 11:32 but they couldn’t capitalize.
The Comets then used a pair of late-period power plays to vault to a 3-1 lead. Halonen scored at 16:27 before Matyas Melovsky’s goal off a third rebound provided the two-goal cushion with 58.2 seconds left in the period.
“That was a huge point in the game,” Leone said of the failed extended power play.
He knows there is no magic formula to put together before Friday’s first of back-to-back games with the Marlies (here Friday, at Toronto on Saturday), but he and his staff still must find one.
“Our job as a staff is to get this group ready,” Leone said. “We can’t feel sorry for ourselves.”
Leave a Reply