By KEVIN OKLOBZIJA
It has long been a tradition in hockey that when you play your former team, you put up reward money on the dressing room white board for whoever scores the winning goal.
Trevor Kuntar wouldn’t say how much Saturday evening’s 2-1 overtime victory by the Rochester Americans over the Providence Bruins cost him, other than to say “a lot. A lot.”
He did, however, infer that it may have been the best money he has spent in hockey.
Discarded following the 2024-25 season, Kuntar has rejuvenated his career with the Amerks. And while the energetic winger didn’t figure in on Anton Wahlberg’s first period goal or Matteo Costantini’s OT game-winner, he very much savored what was one of the Amerks most impressive victories of the season.
“They didn’t want me, they basically let me go for nothing,” Kuntar said.
Signing with his hometown organization, the Buffalo Sabres, has provided the perfect opportunity to bounce back after a stagnant ’24-25 season. The third-year forward from Buffalo has produced 17 goals, 15 assists and 32 points in 63 games this season. That after putting up just 3-9-12 in 54 games with Providence a year ago.
He didn’t find the net on Saturday but was often front-and-center on the forecheck and in the defensive zone as the Amerks (29-27-5-4) upended a powerhouse Bruins team that still has the AHL’s best points-earned percentage thanks to a 51-14-2-0 record.
“That’s a 50-win team in the American Hockey League,” Amerks coach Michael Leone said. “We’re blow for blow with some of the best teams. I loved the sacrifice and the buy-in from the group.”
They also knew they had something to prove. Less than 24 hours earlier, they dug a 3-0 hole in the first eight minutes and couldn’t recover, losing 5-2 to the Belleville Senators.
But on Saturday, when the franchise paid tribute to the 40-year career of retiring broadcaster Don Stevens, they did everything necessary to prevent the Bruins high-powered offense from reaching high gear and stay five points ahead of Utica, 66-61, in the race for the North Division’s final playoff spot.
Grade-A scoring chances were limited and when goalie Devon Levi was tested, he came up big in what was also a bounce-back game for him. He was pulled on Friday after allowing three goals on four shots.
“I thought he responded really well,” Leone said.
Said Kuntar: “We wanted to prove we can be one of the best teams in the league.”
They became victorious when Costantini scored with 42.2 seconds remaining in overtime, handing the Bruins their first OT loss of the season (9-0 before Saturday).
Costantini attacked on left wing on a two-on-one fast break as defenseman Vsevolov Komarov barging down the slot toward the goal mouth. Costantini passed into the deep slot and while Komarov misfired on a shot, the rebound dropped in front of the crease and Costantini chipped it up and over goalie Michael DiPietro for his fifth goal, and third in six games.
“I had a little bit of room and ‘Komi’ had a great net drive and I ended up finding the rebound and that was it,” Costantini said after the Amerks improved to 7-5 in overtime. “This just shows the resiliency of this group.”
Wahlberg’s ninth goal had given the Amerks a quick lead to start the game. Taking a pass from Konsta Helenius near the right corner, he quickly drove to the net and somehow managed to slip the puck past DiPietro.
But the Bruins tied the score on a power play at 12:02. With Vsevolod Komarov in the penalty box – he tripped defenseman Max Wanner while pursuing the puck deep Providence zone – Victor Soderstrom drove a shot from the center point through traffic and into the net.
The teams then played scoreless second and third periods before the Amerks prevailed in OT.
They have six games remaining, including four on the road next week: Cleveland on Monday, Syracuse on Wednesday, Springfield Friday and Providence Saturday.
“The guys feel we’ve come a long way as a group,” Leone said. “We just have to keep finding ways to get wins.”
Don Stevens bobbleheads
The first 2,500 fans received a Stevens bobblehead, and within 10 minutes of the gates opening one was already listed on eBay.
The asking price: $44.95 (plus shipping), which was more than the buy-it-now prices for a Kevin Stevens (Penguins), John Stevens with the Calder Cup (Philadelphia Phantoms) and Scott Stevens (New Jersey Devils).
Kellen Paetsch headed to NTDP
Kellen Paetsch, son of Amerks assistant coach Nathan Paetsch, was among the class of players named to USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound defenseman has spent the past two seasons with the Bishop Kearney Selects program. He was born in Rochester and calls Spencerport home.
Clearly for me, the most satisfying win of the season. It was unexpected given the way the team played so poorly on Wednesday and Friday (yes, they were NOT good, especially the goaltending) But last night after some first period corrections, they did not let Providence dominate play. Bruins clearly the most talented team I have seen this season. they have everything. They came into town 9-1 in OT and 4-0 in shootouts. thats very impressive to have only 1 OT loss with just 2 weeks to go. Well, now they have 2!
Instead of chasing them around the rink, Amerks actually controlled play for decent stretches, especially in the 3rd period, which has been very rare this season. It was clear it would take a Herculean effort to somehow get another goal, but I was totally impressed with the way they played in the OT.
The sheer joy we saw after Constantini popped home the OT winner was something else we have been missing this season. They knew this was a HUGE game and it may have saved their season, if they can bring this energy and resolve into their final 7 games. They still have 1 in hand on Utica and 2 in hand on Belleville with 5 and 6 point leads respectively. Not happy we have to play the Bruins again, but perhaps it takes playing these elite teams to motivate our guys.
Nice bounceback game for beleaguered goalie Levi. There was a bit of a mock cheer when he stopped the 1st shot, which was nothing more than a soft roller. But he was good when he had to be.
Great tribute for Donnie. I was very disappointed in the smaller than expected crowd for this but for those of us who were there, the response was terrific. And I liked all the video tributes. (I’m sure he would have LOVED to have called that OT winner!
OK so 6 of our last 7 are on the road, where we have played pretty well. But it will be quite a test. And it will take a similar effort in these games to nail down a playoff spot. I figure 6 more points should require both Sens and Comets to win just about all their remaining games.