AMERKS HOLD OFF LATE PUSH FROM CRUNCH

Jobst matches season-high with three assists, Levi makes 35 saves in 3-2 win over Syracuse

Mar 13, 2024

The Rochester Americans (27-21-6-2) jumped out to a three-goal lead in the second period against the Syracuse Crunch (33-18-4-2) before holding on for a 3-2 victory Wednesday at Upstate Medical University Arena.

                                                                         GAME SUMMARY      PHOTO GALLERY

Following their third win in the last four games, the Amerks have at least one point in 16 of their last 23 games dating back to Jan. 17. Rochester improved to 4-5-2-0 in the season series, which has seen the visiting team win eight of the first 11 meetings thus far.

Mason Jobst (0+3) paced the club with his eighth multi-point effort, assisting on each of Rochester’s three goals for his second three-assist effort of the season. The Ohio State University product, who has 25 points (9+16) over his last 25 games since the turn of the new year, became the first Amerk this season to reach the 40-point mark while taking over the team’s scoring lead. Michael Mersch, Calle Själin, and Riley Stillman all notched a goal while Isak Rosén, Damien Giroux, and Nikita Novikov totaled one assist each.

Goaltender Devon Levi (10-7-5) earned his 16^th start in the last 19 games since being reassigned to Rochester on Jan. 20. The rookie netminder, who has held the opposition to three or fewer goals in 14 of his 18 starts, boasts a 10-1-3 this season in those games.

Ilya Usau and Emil Lilleberg both found the back of the net for Syracuse (7-1-2-1), which suffered its first regulation loss of the campaign against the Amerks. Goaltender Matt Tomkins (13-10-2) stopped 16 of the 19 shots he faced in his 25^th appearance of the campaign.

With the Crunch trailing 3-1 to begin the final period, Lilleberg was the recipient of a back-door feed from Maxim Groshev three minutes into the frame.

Syracuse continued to search for the equalizer by pressuring the Amerks, and despite outshooting the visitors 11-4, could not complete the comeback before the final horn sounding.

Moments after the opening face-off, Damien Giroux and Mersch outworked a pair of Crunch skaters in the corner to gain possession of the puck before the Amerks captain pushed it to the slot.

As Jobst grabbed the puck from his…