GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS HOST NORTH DIVISION-LEADING ROCKET
Rochester plays first Friday-Saturday set of the 2026-27 season
Nov 13, 2026Following three games in four days to begin the month of November, the Rochester Americans (7-5-0-1) return for a weekend homestand welcoming the Laval Rocket (11-3-1-0) for the first two meetings this season.
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The Amerks had their three-game win streak snapped last Saturday in Utica in a 4-1 loss to the Comets. Coming off a 1-2-0-0 stretch, Laval has won three in a row, including a 5-0 victory in Syracuse on Wednesday night. The Rocket’s 23 points through 15 games leads the North Division, Eastern Conference and ranks second overall in the AHL. It’ll be interesting to see who has the edge between the 5-2 ‘Merks record at home against a Laval group that is 6-1 on the road.
There will be an additional voice in the broadcast booth, as Amerk Hall of Famer and Jr. Amerks general manager Domenic Pittis will join as a color analyst for Friday’s contest. Pregame coverage on WGR Rochester and AHLTV on FloHockey begins at 7:00 p.m. with puck drop at 7:05 p.m.
Here is what you need to know before tonight’s game:
ROCKET DOMINANCE
Following back-to-back North Division titles, the Rocket appear to be more than capable to make a deep run into the Calder Cup Playoffs this time around.
After losing opening night celebrating the organization’s 10th anniversary against Syracuse, Laval rattled off seven consecutive wins and hasn’t looked back. Even after losses in Calgary and at home to Lehigh Valley to end October, the Rocket have outscored their opponents 15-4 in the last three games (two wins versus Cleveland last weekend and in Syracuse last time out).
They sit top five in essentially every statistic you can think of, from scoring offense (2nd 3.87 p/g), scoring defense (3rd 2.00), shots for (2nd 31.7 p/g) and against (2nd 24.5 p/g) as well as special teams with the top power play (27.6%) and third penalty kill (88.2%). Their 10 victories scoring at least four goals leads the league, stemming from a +28-goal differential in the final two periods.
Offensively, they the Rocket own three of the top scorers in the AHL, highlighted by rookie defenseman Luke Mittelstadt (5+14), who is the league’s leading point-getter and younger brother of former Buffalo Sabres first round draft pick Casey Mittelstadt.
Fellow blueliner Reilly Walsh (5+11) and veteran forward Laurent Dauphin (3+13) aren’t too far behind with 16 points apiece. We’ve still yet to mention former fifth overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft David Reinbacher among a slew of other Montreal Canadiens prospects.
While there’s still plenty of hockey left to be played, you have to tip your hat to Rocket head coach Daniel Jacob for the club’s dominant start during his first year at the helm.
STREAKING THROUGH NOVEMBER
Captain Matthew Peca upped his league-best point streak to eight games after registering an assist on Rochester’s lone goal against the Comets coming from linemate Aidan McDonough.
During the stretch the Petawawa, Ontario, product has four goals and nine assists, pushing him to a tie with teammate Jason Polin for third in the AHL in power-play points (10). Through his first 13 games wearing the Amerk crest, Peca has just one game where he has been held scoreless, which surprisingly came in a 4-1 victory in Hamilton on back on Oct. 16.
After having his own five-game point streak snapped earlier this month versus Cleveland, McDonough has responded with goals in back-to-back games. After just one goal in his first five games with the organization, the 27-year-old has found the back of the net five times in the last eight contests. Speaking of age, McDonough recorded a birthday goal when he suited up inside Blue Cross Arena last Friday, netting the eventful game-winner against Hartford in the third period. McDonough recorded a career-best 23 goals last season in 65 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before signing with Rochester this past offseason.
Look out for centers Riley Fiddler-Schultz (4+2) and Matteo Costantini (2+3) to continue their production at home this weekend. All 11 of their combined points have occurred on home ice, putting up impressive numbers in front of the Amerk faithful. Fiddler-Schultz has two goals and an assist during his last three home games and has also scored 12 of his last 16 goals in the Flower City dating back to last year. Costantini has the first two multi-point games of his young career at Blue Cross Arena, including a goal and an assist against Lehigh Valley two weeks ago.
HIGHER SHOT VOLUME
Rochester generated just 18 shots on goal in its most recent matchup in Utica, the red, white, and blue’s second-lowest total of the year (had just 17 in a 4-2 loss in Syracuse on Oct. 17). That now brings the season average to 24.2 shots on target during Amerks losses this season, which ranks 30th across the AHL. Even with a higher volume during the teams wins (29 per game), the Amerks still sit 23rd in total shots per game at 26.8 in the 13 games this far.
What’s concerning for Rochester is, much like Utica, Laval doesn’t give up many chances and is only surrendering 24.5 shots per night, which is two less chances than the Comets but still is second in the AHL. They rarely give high danger looks on the rush and pressure passing lanes once you get set in the offensive zone that takes away any potential scoring threat.
Nothing comes easy against Laval in 5-on-5, but especially on special teams where they’ve killed off 30-34 penalties on the road. Rochester’s power-play came in humming during the three-game win streak but couldn’t generate many high danger looks against Utica’s similar PK group, going 0-5 in the 4-1 loss.
Sustained possession and clean breakouts for Amerks head coach Michael Leone’s group where you can get the Rocket out of system are pivotal to success this weekend.