AMERKS UNABLE TO KEEP PACE WITH COMETS
Slow start dooms Rochester in 5-3 loss to Utica
Oct 21, 2026The Rochester Americans (3-3-0-1) fell into a four-goal deficit and were unable to recover in what became a 5-3 loss to the intrastate rival Utica Comets Wednesday at Blue Cross Arena.
With the loss, the Amerks, who have lost four straight games to Utica dating back to the 2025-26 season, dropped their first game on home ice this season. Rochester has not had a four-game winless streak against the Comets since the 2020-21 season.
TREVOR KUNTAR (0+2) assisted on two goals for his second multi-point game of the season and his second in the Flower City. Newcomer CALEB JONES, who made his Amerks debut last Friday at Hamilton and recorded an assist, found the back of the net for his first AHL goal since April 11, 2025, as a member of the Ontario Reign. Forwards AIDAN McDONOUGH and RILEY FIDDLER-SCHULTZ each added a third-period goal for Rochester.
CONOR SHEARY, MATTHEW PECA, and ZACK FUNK each chipped in an assist for Rochester, while goaltender MATT VILLALTA (3-1-1) took the loss in net, his first on home ice this season.
Ryan Schmelzer (1+1) and Gabe Klassen each recorded a goal and an assist for multi-point outings for Utica, which has won four of its first five games of the season. Ben Steeves, Marc McLaughlin, and Xavier Parent also scored for the Comets.
Netminder David Rittich (3-0-0) recorded an assist while making 23 saves in his third appearance of the season.
UP NEXT
The Amerks return to Upstate Medical University Arena for the second time in less than a week when they face the Syracuse Crunch on Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. All the action will be broadcast live on The Sports Leader, WGR Rochester (95.7 FM/950 AM), and streamed on AHLTV on FloHockey.