On Wednesday night at Place Bell, the Rochester Americans showcased resilience and precision, flipping an early deficit into a 3-1 triumph over the Laval Rocket. The victory improved Rochester’s record to 13-8-3-0 and extended their impressive stretch, earning points in 15 of their last 20 games dating back to October 23. Meanwhile, league contenders at 15-6-1-1, the Rocket found themselves stymied on home ice.
This matchup marked the season’s third meeting between the teams, with the Amerks holding a narrow 2-1 series advantage. A second-period blitz featuring three unanswered goals proved decisive as the visitors silenced a raucous Laval crowd of 8,967.
Game Recap
First Period: Laval Strikes First
The Rocket set the tone early, capitalizing on an Amerks turnover deep in their zone. Jared Davidson, Laval’s leading scorer, intercepted a misstep in the left corner, stepping into the slot to rifle a shot over Devon Levi’s shoulder at the 5:07 mark. The goal, Davidson’s 11th of the season, gave Laval a brief surge of momentum, but Rochester’s defense tightened as the period progressed.
Despite nine shots apiece in the opening frame, the Amerks failed to find the equalizer and entered the intermission trailing 1-0.
Second Period: Rochester Roars Back
Rochester’s fortunes shifted dramatically in the middle stanza. A relentless offensive push saw them net three goals in six minutes, emphatically flipping the script.
- 7:16 – Riley Fiddler-Schultz Ties It Up: With Rochester’s second power-play opportunity just expired, Fiddler-Schultz pounced on a loose puck near the crease, firing home his second of the season. Ty Tullio and Jack Rathbone’s precision passing set up the play, pulling the visitors even.
- 10:53 – Ethan Prow’s Go-Ahead Power-Play Goal: The Amerks’ top power-play unit finally clicked on their third opportunity. Lukas Rousek, orchestrating from the perimeter, found Konsta Helenius, who threaded a pass to Prow at the point. The veteran defenseman hammered a one-timer past Laval netminder Connor Hughes for his first tally of the season, giving Rochester a 2-1 lead.
- 13:07 – Isak Rosén Delivers Insurance: Just two minutes later, the Amerks struck again on a dazzling 2-on-1 rush. Rosén’s initial pass attempt to Helenius was deflected, but the Swedish forward swiftly recovered and tucked a backhander under Hughes’ blocker for his team-leading eighth goal of the season.
The Amerks’ three-goal eruption in the second period marked the first such feat at Place Bell since April 2022. Rochester carried a commanding 3-1 advantage into the final frame.
Third Period: Lockdown Defense Secures Victory
Rochester’s defensive structure shone in the third period, effectively neutralizing Laval’s offensive weapons. The Amerks maintained control and composure by limiting the Rocket to just one shot through the first 10 minutes. As steady as ever, Devon Levi turned away all late-game challenges to seal his fifth consecutive victory.
The Amerks finished the night outshooting Laval 29-26, bolstered by a disciplined penalty kill and a perfect 1-for-4 performance on the power play.
Levi Leads the Way
Devon Levi’s stellar performance in net continued to be a cornerstone of Rochester’s success. The 22-year-old netminder stopped 25 of 26 shots, improving to 5-0-0 in his last five starts. His recent run, featuring a 0.99 goals-against average and .956 save percentage, has been nothing short of elite. Against Laval, Levi boasts a career record of 3-0-0 with a 0.98 GAA and a .965 save percentage.
Stars of the Night
- Lukas Rousek: The dynamic forward registered two assists, his third multi-point game of the season, continuing his streak of clutch performances against Laval.
- Devon Levi: Yet another dominant outing from the young goalie, who anchored the Amerks’ defensive effort.
- Isak Rosén: Scoring his team-leading eighth goal, Rosén’s creativity and persistence shone in a key moment of the game.
Looking Ahead
The Amerks embark on the next leg of their road trip with a back-to-back series against the Belleville Senators beginning Friday, December 13. As they aim to sustain their momentum, fans can catch all the action live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester or via AHLTV on FloHockey.
With momentum building and key players firing on all cylinders, the Amerks continue to solidify their position as a force to be reckoned with in the AHL’s North Division.