The Rochester Americans rang in the new year with a statement victory, dispatching the Springfield Thunderbirds 5-2 on Friday night at the MassMutual Center. The win, Rochester’s 12th in its last 14 games, reinforced its grip on first place in the AHL’s North Division and showcased the team’s depth, skill, and resilience.
Dynamic Duo Leads the Charge
Zachary Metsa and Riley Fiddler-Schultz stole the show, combining for five points. Metsa, the rising star on the blue line, registered three assists, extending his career-best assist streak to four games. Fiddler-Schultz’s two-goal performance demonstrated his knack for capitalizing on opportunities, as he opened the scoring early in the first and added another in the second to give Rochester breathing room.
Brendan Warren and Brett Murray also found the back of the net, with Murray’s tally marking his AHL-leading ninth power-play goal of the season. Lukas Rousek sealed the victory with an empty-net goal late in the third, bringing his point total to 21 on the season.
A First Period Surge
Rochester wasted no time setting the tone. Fiddler-Schultz broke the ice just three minutes in, using a defender as a screen to slip a wrist shot past Springfield’s Vadim Zherenko. Minutes later, Warren pounced on a rebound generated by Graham Slaggert’s initial effort, doubling the lead and putting the Thunderbirds on their heels.
Springfield responded midway through the period as Drew Callin’s individual effort cut the deficit in half. Despite the pushback, goaltender Devon Levi remained composed, turning aside 15 first-period shots to preserve Rochester’s narrow advantage heading into the intermission.
Special Teams Shine in the Second
The second period belonged to Rochester’s special teams. On their second power-play opportunity of the night, Metsa orchestrated a crisp passing sequence that culminated in Murray’s net-front deflection to extend the lead to 3-1. Shortly after, Fiddler-Schultz capitalized on a perfectly timed feed from Metsa, firing a laser past Zherenko to chase the Springfield netminder from the game.
The Thunderbirds attempted to rally, but Rochester’s penalty kill stood tall, denying Springfield on four of their five man-advantage chances.
Levi Locks It Down
Levi continued to build on his stellar season, stopping 33 of 35 shots to earn his fourth consecutive victory. The rookie netminder improved to 11-2-1 on the season and remains unbeaten on the road in 2023-24. His consistency between the pipes has been a critical factor in Rochester’s dominance, particularly away from Blue Cross Arena.
Rounding Out the Night
Springfield showed signs of life in the final frame with a power-play goal from Tanner Dickinson, narrowing the gap to 4-2. However, the Amerks snuffed out any hope of a comeback when Rousek added an empty-netter, ensuring Rochester’s seventh consecutive road win.
Looking Ahead
Rochester’s victory marked a milestone as they became the first team in the Eastern Conference to reach 20 wins this season. The team now shifts its focus to a Saturday showdown against the Bridgeport Islanders, aiming to extend their road winning streak to eight games.
As the Amerks gear up for the second half of the season, their combination of high-powered offense, stout goaltending, and reliable special teams continues to cement their status as a Calder Cup contender. Fans will undoubtedly have plenty to cheer about as this promising roster keeps rolling through the AHL.