GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS’ CHASE OF PLAYOFF BERTH TAKES THEM TO PROVIDENCE
Five things to know as Rochester closes out four-game road trip against AHL's top team
Apr 11, 2026By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
For a second straight night, the Rochester Americans (31-28-5-4) will have a shot to punch their ticket to the Calder Cup Playoffs as the finale of their four-game road trip takes them to Providence for a matchup with the league-leading Bruins (52-14-2-0).
| HOW TO WATCH | PLAYOFF PRIMER | GAME NOTES | MEDIA KIT | LINE CHART |
Here are five things to know ahead of Saturday’s face-off at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
BIRDS OF PREY
Rochester’s weekend in New England got off to a less-than-ideal start, dropping a 3-1 final at Springfield to a streaking Thunderbirds team that has now won five in a row. Springfield’s fifth win subsequently ended the Amerks’ three-game win streak and prevented Rochester from lowering its magic number.
The Amerks were at risk of being shut out before Trevor Kuntar came through with 2:22 to play in regulation and the net empty for the Amerks. Scott Ratzlaff allowed a pair of goals in the second period, serving as the difference maker on the night. Otherwise, the 21-year-old made 25 saves, with Springfield’s third goal coming in the final minute on an empty-net conversion.
The Amerks aren’t the only team venturing to Rhode Island as the Bruins return home from a 4-1 win at Hartford Friday night. Boston’s AHL affiliate has already secured the Atlantic Division title and will finish first in the Eastern Conference. They continue to battle the Central Division’s Grand Rapids Griffins for first overall in the league. Currently, the Bruins have a three-point lead on Grand Rapids for what could see them be awarded the McGregor Kilpatrick Trophy as AHL regular season champions.
THE CLINCHING SCENARIOS
The story is similar to that of Friday’s. The Amerks enter Providence with a magic number of three. As Rochester plays Providence, Utica will be on the road in Syracuse.
There are two ways for the Amerks to secure a fifth straight playoff berth before the weekend comes to a close. If the Amerks defeat the Bruins, they need Utica to lose in any fashion to Syracuse. If Rochester eeks out at least a point against Providence, they would then need the Comets to fall in regulation at Syracuse.
Either of these two scenarios would allow the Amerks to secure the fifth and final playoff spot in the North Division. With the Toronto Marlies idle Saturday night, Rochester will also play one of its games in hand on Toronto and can get as close as within three points of fourth place in the North Division.
MILESTONES IN MASS
A pair of former Atlantic Division players reached milestones in Springfield Friday night. With his goal late in the game, Kuntar reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career.
The Williamsville, New York, native is one of two 20-goal scorers on the Amerks, trailing only fellow forward Riley Fiddler-Schultz. This comes as the third-year pro prepares to return to Providence where he spent the first two years of his career after being drafted by Boston. Kuntar is fourth in scoring on Rochester with 35 points (20+15) and has recorded seven points over his last nine games (5+2).
Getting the assist on Kuntar’s goal Friday was Zac Jones, who posted his league-leading 50th assist and also reached 60 points on the year (10+50). In doing so, Jones, 25, becomes the eighth Amerks’ defensemen in franchise history to reach 60 points. He is the first to do so since Clay Wilson reached 60 (14+46) during the 2009-10 season, and the first to hit 50 helpers as a blueliner since Terry Hollinger hit the half-century mark 30 years ago in 1995-96 ahead of Rochester winning its most recent Calder Cup.
With four games remaining, Jones is three points behind Hollinger’s 63-point campaign from the 1996-97 season that ranks him seventh in franchise history.
LEVI FOR 50
After Ratzlaff took to the crease Friday, all signs point to Devon Levi going back in for the red, white, and blue Saturday night. The start would be Levi’s 50th, becoming the first Amerks goaltender since Linus Ullmark (55) to reach 50 games in a season. Ullmark achieved the feat in 2016-17. Levi would also be just the third Amerks netminder in the last 14 seasons to do so, with David Leggio appearing in an astounding 64 games during the 2012-13 season.
Levi has been the AHL’s ironman in goal, leading the league in starts, games and minutes played, while ranking second in saves. The Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, native has won three straight and six of his last eight outings. This includes the Amerks’ 2-1 overtime win against Providence last Saturday at Blue Cross Arena, where Levi made 23 saves through nearly 65 minutes of play.
BIG BAD BRUINS
Saturday is the second and final time this season the Amerks will face Providence, and also the second Saturday in a row that Rochester matches up with the Bruins. Last week in the Flower City, Matteo Costantini provided the overtime heroics against the Bruins with a conversion in the final minute for his first overtime winner as an Amerk.
On home ice, the Bruins are 25-8-0-0. While the Amerks were able to contain their offense last week, Providence still bolsters a group that has three 50-plus point players and nine skaters with double-digit goal totals.
Providence has won their division for the fourth time over the last seven years. In Rochester’s last visit to Rhode Island, the team was blanked by Michael DiPietro and the Bruins in a 3-0 shutout loss Jan. 24, 2025.