Nov 19, 2022
he second straight day as the home-and-home series shifts back to Utica tonight for a rematch at Adirondack Bank Center. Game time is slated for a 7:00 p.m. start and will be carried on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV.
Tonight represents the last of 15 straight contests against North Division opponents to open the season for the Amerks. Its Rochester’s longest stretch of the season against divisional foes. Rochester and Utica will play more six times (three home and six road) during the 2022-23 season.
Dating back to the start of the 2021-22 season, the intrastate rivals have alternated wins with each team winning at least once on home ice to split the season series thus far.
In the first meeting of this season, Rochester trailed 3-1 entering the final minute of the second period before erupting for four straight unanswered goals, including two in 22 seconds, to storm back and claim a 5-3 win over the Comets on Nov. 4.
The next night, the Amerks fell behind by a pair of goals three minutes into the third period versus Utica but saw their rally fall short in a 2-1 loss.
Home ice has proven to be beneficial for both teams, especially Rochester, which has won five of its first seven and has recorded at least one point in six matchups. Prior to last night’s road victory, Utica entered the weekend winless while playing outside the Adirondack Bank Center this season.
A late goal in the third period by the Comets proved to be the difference as the Amerks were on the wrong side of a 3-2 score Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena.
The regulation loss was Rochester’s first on home ice this season after starting the campaign 5-0-1-0. Overall, the Amerks boast a 7-5-1-1 record through 14 games and have points in six of their last eight.
Forwards Michael Mersch and Sean Malone both returned to the lineup after missing a combined 16 games due to their respective injuries. The duo each scored for Rochester while Mersch (1+1) along with Brett Murray (0+2) both added a multi-point effort. Defenseman Ethan Prow rounded out the scoring as he recorded an assist on Mersch’s first-period goal. Third-year pro Matej Pekar skated in his first game of the campaign
Goaltender Malcolm Subban (0-1-0) made 22 saves in his Amerks debut but was tagged with the defeat. The appearance was his first in the AHL since Dec. 1 of last season as a member of the Rockford IceHogs.
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