GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK IN REMATCH AGAINST CRUNCH

Final home game before holidays sees Rochester looking to split week with Syracuse

Dec 19, 2024

By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48

For the second time in 48 hours, the Rochester Americans (15-9-3-0) host the Syracuse Crunch (11-8-4-3), putting a close to their pre-holiday home slate of games at Blue Cross Arena.

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Friday is the fourth of 12 meetings on the season between the Amerks and Crunch, with Rochester owning a 2-1-0-0 series lead through the previous three contests. The two sides will meet again shortly after the start of the New Year on Jan. 11.

On Wednesday, Syracuse broke a 1-1 tie in the second as part of a three-goal period that ultimately helped lift the Crunch past the Amerks to a 5-2 win.

Brett Murray and Isak Rosen each scored their 12^th goal of the season and both rank in the top 10 of AHL goal-scorers. Rosen leads Rochester with 24 points (12+12) in as many games played.

“I’ve really got a lot of confidence,” said Rosen following Wednesday’s game. “It’s my third year here, so that’s what I expect for myself. I want to be a difference maker out there for our team, so it’s good to get one goal, but we needed more tonight.”

Devon Levi suffered just his second regulation loss of the season and only his eighth overall as an Amerk through 36 starts, dating back to the 2023-24 season. Levi made 23 saves and has finished with more than 20 saves for a fifth straight start.

Dylan Duke scored twice for the Crunch, including an empty-net goal late in the third. The rookie forward leads Syracuse with 11 goals this season, while goaltender Brandon Halverson leads all AHL netminders with a 1.77 goals-against-average. Halverson backstopped the Crunch to victory with 31 saves as the win for Syracuse subsequently snapped the four-game win streak Rochester had brought home from the road.

While the Amerks are one of just two teams in the AHL with 11 wins on the road (leading the league along with Hershey), their fate on home ice has told a different story. Rochester possesses an 11-3-1-0 mark outside the Flower City but are a measly 4-6-2-0 at Blue Cross Arena.

“I don’t know,” said Amerks head coach Michael Leone when asked about the difference between playing at home versus on the road. “It’s a good question. It’s probably something our staff need to figure out.”

“I haven’t thought about it,” said Rosen….