Defenseman Robert Calisti (2+2) finished with a game-high four points as the Rochester Americans cruised to a 7-1 win over the Syracuse Crunch in their lone preseason matchup Sunday afternoon at the Upstate Medical University Arena.

In addition to Calisti recording four points, Riley Fiddler-Schultz (0+2), Olivier Nadeau (2+0), Aleksandr Kisakov (1+2), and Tyler Tullio (1+2) all posted multi-point efforts in the win. Viktor Neuchev (1+0), Noah Laaouan (0+1), Tyson Kozak, Brendan Warren (0+1), Vsevolod Komarov (0+1) and Nikita Novikov completed the scoring.

Felix Sandstrom and Michael Houser split the goaltending duties for Rochester, combining for 24 saves. Sandstrom stopped all 12 shots he faced in the opening 31 minutes of the contest to earn the win while Houser also made 12 saves.

Dylan Duke provided the lone goal for Syracuse from Gabriel Szturc and Niko Huuhtanen during the third period while goaltender Matt Tomkins stopped 27 of the 32 shots he faced.

The Rochester Americans (0-1-0-0) opened and closed the scoring against the Belleville Senators (1-0-0-0), but ultimately were unable to close the gap as they saw their comeback fall short in a 3-2 season-opening loss Friday at The Blue Cross Arena.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Newcomer Josh Dunne started the scoring 12 minutes into the first period from Viktor Neuchev and Ryan Johnson before Tyson Kozak scored at the 13:06 mark in the final frame from Isak Rosén and Zach Metsa. Defenseman Jack Rathbone and Dunne both made their Amerks debuts while Konsta Helenius and Vsevolod Komarov both appeared in their first professional contests in North America.

Goaltender Felix Sandström (0-1-0) stopped 28 of the 31 shots he faced in his Amerk debut but suffered the defeat.

Belleville forwards Xavier Bourgault and Cole Reinhardt both had multi-point efforts with a goal and an assist while Maxence Guenette also scored in the victory. Donovan Sebrango and Jan Jenik each tallied an assist while netminder Leevi Merilainen logged the win as he made 22 saves.

The Rochester Americans (1-1-0-0) jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period before scoring twice more and never looking back on their way to a 4-1 victory over the intrastate rival Utica Comets (0-2-0-0) Saturday at the Adirondack Bank Center.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

With the win, Rochester’s first of the campaign, the club concluded its opening weekend with a 1-1-0-0 mark and outscored its opponents 6-4 in its first two contests of the season. The victory also served as Michael Leone’s first as head coach of the Amerks.

Forwards Isak Rosén and Viktor Neuchev each recorded their first multi-point efforts of the season as they both scored a goal and added an assist in the win. Defensemen Kale Clague and Nikita Novikov capped the win as they both netted their initial goals of the season. Lukas Rousek and rookie blueliner Vsevolod Komarov chipped in an assist, with Komarov’s serving as his first professional point. Ty Tullio made his Amerk debut and registered one shot.

Goaltender Michael Houser (1-0-0) stopped 19 of the 20 shots he faced in his near-perfect season debut to earn the win. Over Houser’s last nine appearances in Utica, he boasts an astounding 7-1-0 record with one shutout, a .924 save percentage, and a 1.86 goals-against average.

The Rochester Americans (1-2-0-0) jumped out to a two-goal lead against the Toronto Marlies (3-0-0-0) only to see their North Division rivals score four straight unanswered goals – including three in the second period – in a 4-2 loss Friday at The Blue Cross Arena.

Including tonight’s contest, the Amerks have scored the first goal of the game in each of their first three games this season and five of six dating back to the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Rookie forwards Anton Wahlberg and Konsta Helenius both scored their first goals of the season in the first and second periods, respectively. Helenius’ was his career in the AHL while Wahlberg’s was his first shorthanded tally in the league. Viktor Neuchev and Ty Tullio both earned an assist on Helenius’ marker.

Goaltender Felix Sandström (0-2-0) made 17 saves in his second appearance of the campaign but took the defeat in the crease.

Alex Steeves scored twice for the Marlies while Cédric Paré and former Amerk Alexander Nylander both added one each. Ryan Tverberg, Nikita Grebenkin, Tommy Miller, Joseph Blandisi, and Roni Hirvonen all recorded an assist in the victory.

Artur Akhtyamov (2-0-0) picked up his second win of the season as he stopped 26 of the 28 shots he faced, which included nine in the third period.

For the second straight game, the Rochester Americans (1-3-0-0) jumped out to a multi-goal lead that they were unable to hold as the unbeaten Toronto Marlies (4-0-0-0) rallied back with the final three goals of the contest to claim a 3-2 win – and weekend sweep – in Saturday’s rematch at Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Including today’s contest, the Amerks have scored first in each of their first four games this season and six of their last seven dating back to the end of the 2023-24 campaign. Rochester has also outshot its opponents in eight straight periods and in three of the first four contests of the season.

Forwards Josh Dunne and Tyson Kozak, who appeared in his 100^th game with Rochester, both netted their second goals of the season in the opening frame. Mason Jobst, Nikita Novikov, Ryan Johnson, and Anton Wahlberg all added an assist.

Goaltender Michael Houser (1-1-0) made 20 saves in his second appearance of the campaign but took the defeat in the crease.

Joseph Blandisi notched his first goal of the season while former Amerk Alexander Nylander and Alex Steeves both scored for the fourth time, with Steeves registering his second straight game-winning goal. Logan Shaw, Tommy Miller, and Roni Hirvonen all earned an assist in the victory.

Goaltender and two-time Stanley Cup Champion Matt Murray (2-0-0) picked up the win.