AMERKS COME UP SHORT IN UTICA
Peca nets lone goal in 2-1 loss to Comets, Extends point streak to four games
Oct 10, 2026The Rochester Americans (2-1-0-1) fell to the Utica Comets (2-0-0-0) by a 2-1 score Saturday at the NBT Arena.
| GAME SUMMARY | PHOTO GALLERY |
Despite the loss, Rochester’s first of the 2026-27 campaign, the club has dominated the Comets over the last five seasons, posting a 30-12-2-1 record during that span. The Amerks entered the contest with an impressive 13-1-0-1 record in their last 15 visits to Utica.
MATTHEW PECA notched his second goal of the season to extend his point streak to four games to open the campaign, while MAXIM ŠTRBAK and ZACK HAYES each recorded an assist. Peca is the only Amerk to record at least point through the first four games of the young season. Štrbak and BRENDAN WARREN both made their season debuts for Rochester, while Hayes recorded his first point as an Amerk since joining the team on a professional tryout.
Defenseman RYAN JOHNSON appeared in his 200th professional game and led all Rochester blueliners with three shots on goal.
Goaltender MATT VILLALTA (2-1-1) suffered his first regulation loss of the season despite stopping 20 of the 22 shots he faced. The Godfrey, Ontario, native made two saves in the third period and has a 1.48 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage through his first four appearances, not allowing more than two goals against.
Lenni Hämeenaho and Marc McLaughlin each scored their first goals of the season for Utica, which has won both of its first two games. Matyas Melovsky, Topias Vilen and Eamon Powell each recorded an assist to round out the scoring.
Netminder Jakub Málek (1-0-0) made his season debut for the Comets, stopping 23 shots. The second-year goaltender turned aside a combined 19 shots in the first and third periods.
UP NEXT
The Amerks resume their road swing Friday, Oct. 16, when they meet the Hamilton Hammers for the first time this season at TD Coliseum. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on The Sports Leader, WGR Rochester (95.7 FM/950 AM), and streamed on AHLTV on FloHockey.