AMERKS WIN STREAK SNAPPED IN 4-1 LOSS TO COMETS
McDonough scores for second straight game, Peca's point streak reaches eight
Nov 7, 2026The Rochester Americans (7-5-0-1) evened the score midway through the second period but saw the Utica Comets (8-2-0-0) respond with three straight unanswered goals to come away with a 4-1 win Saturday at NBT Bank Arena.
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The Amerks, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end, are winless in their last five contests against Utica, including all three meetings this season. Rochester owns a 2-3-0-1 road record in 2026-27 compared to a 5-2-0-0 mark at home heading into next weekend’s two-game set with the North Division-leading Laval Rocket.
AIDAN McDONOUGH, who scored in Friday’s win over Hartford, found the back of the net for the second straight game and sixth time this season. CONOR SHEARY and MATTHEW PECA each recorded an assist on the goal.
PECA, who entered the matchup coming off three straight multi-point performances, extended his league-leading point streak to eight games. The Petawawa, Ontario, native has recorded 13 points (4+9) dating back to Oct. 17 while sharing the AHL’s overall scoring lead with 18 points (6+12) through 13 games this season.
SHEARY, meanwhile, became the fourth different Amerks skater this season to reach double figures in points (10), while McDonough is one of three Rochester players with six or more goals.
Defenseman JACK RATHBONE, who was activated off the Buffalo Sabres' injured reserve and loaned to the Amerks earlier in the day, made his season debut and recorded one shot. In 113 career games with Rochester, the Boston, Mass., native has totaled 11 goals, 30 assists, and 41 points since the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
Goaltender MATT VILLALTA fell to 6-4-1 on the season after stopping 23 of the 26 shots he faced in his 11th appearance. Villalta has suffered three of his four regulation losses against Utica while allowing nine goals.
Stefan Noesen (1+2), Jack Malone, and Matyas Melovsky all scored for Utica, which has won four straight games and is 16-3-1-1 in its last 21 contests dating back to March 25, 2026. Netminder Jakub Málek improved to 3-1-0 on the season, making 17 saves to earn the win. The Czechia native has won three straight games against Rochester dating back to last season while allowing one goal in each appearance.
UP NEXT
The Amerks return home for a pair of contests against the first-place Laval Rocket, beginning on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:05 p.m. All the action from Blue Cross Arena will be broadcast live on The Sports Leader, WGR Rochester (95.7 FM/950 AM), and streamed on AHLTV on FloHockey.