Amerks clash with Rocket in battle for North Division supremacy
Feb 16, 2025
By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (30-13-3-1) return home following a triumphant effort in Utica to host the Laval Rocket (30-12-2-1) for a Sunday matinee at Blue Cross Arena.
The two teams meet four more times this season, including Sunday. Through the previous four encounters, Rochester has gone 2-1-1-0. Each team has hosted the other twice, with the visiting team coming out on top in each of those games.
Sunday marks the first time the Amerks have faced Laval in over two months, with their last meeting taking place back on Dec. 11, 2024. In that game, Riley Fiddler-Schultz, Ethan Prow, and Isak Rosén connected for three goals in under six minutes during the second period of play to skate out of Place Bell with a 3-1 win.
Trailing 3-2 with less than three minutes to play, Rosén’s team-leading 25th goal of the season came with the net empty during 6-on-5 play to allow Rochester to tie things late in Utica Saturday night.
That goal set the stage for overtime, where on a power-play, Noah Östlund would fire home the biggest goal of his young pro career, putting the overtime winner in the back of the net for the Amerks to complete the rally, topping Utica by a 4-3 final at Adirondack Bank Center.
Östlund’s night ended with a goal and an assist as the Swedish rookie has 12 points over his last 12 games (4+8). His fellow countryman, Rosén, led the way with a goal and two assists and leads the season series against Utica with a whopping 13 points (7+6) through 10 games. Defensemen Jack Rathbone and Vsevolod Komarov each scored in the second period, while Felix Sandström finished the night with 29 saves to reach double-digit win totals and subsequently extend his career-high win streak to seven games.
It’s been a quiet weekend for the Rocket, who last played Wednesday night. On the road, Laval was stunned by a quick start from Belleville, who blanked Laval by a 5-0 final. The Rocket were the last team in the Eastern Conference to avoid being shutout prior to Wednesday’s game.
Cayden Primeau made 15 saves in his first loss with the Rocket after starting with the team in January and going 10-0-0.
With their win Saturday night, the Amerks now have sole possession of first place in the North Division for the first time this season. Despite all…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Rochester Americans…