AMERKS SURVIVE THIRD-PERIOD PUSH FROM COMETS

Four different goal-scorers record their first goals of the season, Tokarski surpasses 10,000-save mark in 4-3 win over Utica

Nov 10, 2023

The Rochester Americans (7-2-2-0) had four different players score their first goals of the season as they relied on the offensive contributions of several newcomers to defeat the Utica Comets by a 4-3 score in the first of back-to-back meetings between the two teams Friday at The Blue Cross Arena.

                                                            GAME SUMMARY      PHOTO GALLERY      POST-GAME REPORT

With the win, the Amerks remain in first place in the AHL’s North Division standings with 16 points and have won two of the first three games against Utica this season. Dating back to Dec. 28, 2022, Rochester has collected points in eight straight games against Utica, going 7-0-1-0 over that span.

Forwards Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Christopher Brown both scored in the first period while Zach Metsa and Damien Giroux added a goal in the final frame, respectively. Metsa and Fiddler-Schultz’s markers were their first in the league. Dominick Mersch, who signed a professional tryout along with Grant Gabriele on Friday, earned an assist as did Isak Rosen, Graham Slaggert, Nikita Novikov, and Ethan Prow.

Goaltender Dustin Tokarski (2-1-0) picked up his second win of the season as he stopped 31 of 34 shots he faced. The veteran netminder, who carried a shutout into the third period, made 21 saves through the first 40 minutes of play while surpassing the 10,000-save mark for his AHL career.

Daniil Misyul produced his first career AHL two-point outing on a goal and assist for Utica, who have lost back-to-back regulation games for the first time this season. Joe Gambardella and former Amerk Kyle Criscuolo each added a goal. Goaltender Isaac Poulter (3-1-1) suffered his first regulation loss of the season despite making 30 saves.

Six minutes after Utica trimmed Rochester’s advantage to one, Giroux reclaimed the two-goal lead at the 14:47 mark with his first goal of the season.

Prior to collecting a rebound to the right of Poulter, Prow fired a shot towards the net from the right point. Before the puck reached the netminder, Novikov redirected it off the pad for Giroux to tuck inside the near post.

As the game was dwindling down, the Comets pulled Poulter for an extra skater, and…