AMERKS COME UP SHORT IN SHOOTOUT LOSS TO SENS
Peca, Kuntar score in regulation as Rochester earns split of opening weekend
Oct 4, 2026The Rochester Americans (1-0-0-1) erased a pair of one-goal deficits to earn at least a point, but were unable to complete the comeback, dropping a 3-2 shootout decision Sunday afternoon against the Belleville Senators (1-1-0-0) at CIBC Place.
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By forcing the penalty-filled contest to go beyond regulation, Rochester, which finished the weekend taking three out of a possible four points to open its 71st AHL season, has gone 4-0-1-1 in its last six visits to Belleville dating back to the 2024-25 campaign.
Matthew Peca and Trevor Kuntar, who both registered an assist in the season opener, also found the back of the net in the first and third periods, respectively. Jason Polin recorded his first point with Rochester, while Red Savage and Vsevolod Komarov notched their first assists of the young season. Thomas Bordeleau recorded his second assist in as many games to complete the scoring for the Amerks.
Peca scored Rochester’s lone goal in the shootout, while Polin, Conor Sheary and Aidan McDonough were unsuccessful on their respective attempts.
Goaltender Matt Villalta (1-0-1) made 27 saves, including a pair in the shootout, but suffered the defeat. The veteran netminder faced just five shots over the final 25 minutes of play before stopping two of the four Belleville shooters he faced in the breakaway challenge.
Phil Tomasino and Samuel Blais netted their first goals of the season for the Senators, while Ryan Suzuki, Xavier Bourgault and Christian Kyrou each recorded an assist in the victory.
Former Amerks netminder Jonas Johansson (1-1-0) made 39 saves on 42 shots, including three stops in the skills competition.
UP NEXT
The Amerks return home to welcome the Syracuse Crunch to Blue Cross Arena for the first of six meetings this season on Friday, Oct. 9, at 7:05 p.m. All the action will be carried live on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM WGR Rochester, as well as AHLTV on FloHockey.