GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS BEGIN FOUR-GAME ROAD TRIP IN CLEVELAND
Five things to know as Amerks and Monsters face-off in AHL’s lone Monday night game
Apr 6, 2026By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
After ending their four-game homestand on a triumphant note, the Rochester Americans (29-27-5-4) go on just as long of a road trip, beginning Monday night when they make their final visit to Rocket Arena this season for a North Division showdown with the Cleveland Monsters (35-25-6-1).
| HOW TO WATCH | PLAYOFF PRIMER | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT | LINE CHART |
Here are five things to know before the Amerks play in the Buckeye State.
EVERYONE LOVES AN UNDERDOG
When looking at the standings ahead of Saturday’s game, it would be easy to bet on Providence as the favorite over Rochester. The Amerks entered Blue Cross Arena a whopping 38 points back of the league-leading Bruins, yet Mike Leone’s group rose to the challenge again, capped off by Matteo Costantini scoring the shocking overtime-winner that led to the Amerks pulling off a 2-1 upset over the league leaders.
Anton Wahlberg scored his second goal in as many games just under four minutes into the action, but Providence would respond on a power-play goal before the teams would play a chess match on the ice the rest of regulation. Costantini’s fifth goal of the season came with under a minute left in three-on-three play, allowing the Amerks to finish with a .500 record on their final homestand of the 2025-26 regular season.
After closing out March with five straight losses, the Monsters returned to the win column on their home ice over the weekend, sweeping the Milwaukee Admirals. Tonight is the sixth and final game of Cleveland’s homestand before the team plays three straight away from Ohio.
The Monsters have clinched a playoff berth already but continue aiming to solidify a top three finish in the North Division to avoid a best-of-three play-in round.
FOUR-GAME WEEK
Not only are the Amerks embarking on a four-game road swing, but they are doing so over just a six-day span. From Monday through Saturday, Rochester will venture through four cities and four states against a quartet of teams in playoff positioning.
Following Cleveland, the Amerks return to the Empire State for their final visit to Syracuse on Wednesday, then depart for a weekend trek through New England with games at Springfield and Providence.
Rochester has more games remaining than any other team in the Eastern Conference. Six of the Amerks’ seven remaining games will be played on the road. Each of their remaining opponents are in playoff positioning.
JUST JOSHING YOU
The Amerks’ puck-hunting mentality leads to a tenacious style of play that is perhaps best exemplified by Jagger Joshua. After two seasons attempting to find his ground in the pro game, Joshua has made Rochester his home.
The Dearborn, Michigan, native celebrated his 27th birthday near the end of March and is just a pair of points shy from hitting 27 on the season. In playing all but one of the Amerks’ games, Joshua has amassed eight goals and 25 points through the most games he’s played in a single pro season to date.
Joshua’s offense is coming around more, with five points (1+4) over his last eight games, while the physical edge of Joshua’s presence has been a mainstay. The former Michigan State Spartan has set a career-high in penalty minutes this season with 95. Among those includes a lopsided fight against Cleveland’s Tate Singleton back in February.
Joshua enters Monday leading all Amerks in games played.
BATTLE OF THE TENDIES
Both the Amerks and Monsters boast goaltenders who are among the workhorses of the AHL this season.
Cleveland’s Ivan Fedotov is second in the Eastern Conference for minutes played and third overall in the league. Following two years with Philadelphia in the NHL, the Columbus Blue Jackets inked Fedotov to an NHL contract that would allow him to rebuild himself at the AHL-level with the Monsters.
The 29-year-old had a successful first half of the season, but has had some lapses in the back half of the campaign, including lately as Fedotov enters the week on a four-game skid, surrendering 16 goals in the process.
Meanwhile for Rochester, Devon Levi remains the league leader in games and minutes played, plus saves. In three years wearing red, white, and blue, Levi has exceeded 3,000 saves in an Amerks crease, amassing a 62-37-16 record with 10 career shutouts.
Levi worked a win out Saturday by making 23 saves against the best team in the league. The 2025 AHL All-Star has won four of his last six starts and will look to string together consecutive victories for the fourth time this season.
CHASING AWAY THE MONSTERS
This is the final time the Amerks pay a visit to Rocket Arena this season and marks the seventh of eight meetings set to take place between the North Division rivals this season.
Later in the month, Rochester will host Cleveland in the Amerks’ in the regular season home finale season on Apr. 17. Through six meetings so far, the Amerks are 2-3-1-0 against Columbus’ AHL affiliate.
Injuries and call-ups have hurt the Amerks this season, but Cleveland is not exempt from challenges as well with its leading scorer Luca Del Bel Belluz currently up with the Blue Jackets. In his absence, Mikael Pyyhtiä has tried to step up. The fourth-year Monsters forward put up two goals in Saturday’s win over Milwaukee and is second in team scoring with 44 points (16+28).
Oliver Nadeau tops all Rochester players this season against Cleveland with three of his 10 goals coming against the club. Zac Jones and former Monster Carson Meyer have plotted three assists in five appearances, whereas Konsta Helenius (2+2) and Red Savage (1+2) have notched four and three points, respectively. Savage recorded his first AHL point in his AHL debut at Cleveland back on Oct. 25.