GAME PREVIEW: AMERKS LOOK FOR SATURDAY SWEEP AGAINST CHECKERS
Five things to know as Rochester looks to extend its point streak to four straight games
Dec 6, 2025It’s a rematch between the Rochester Americans (13-9-1-0) and the Charlotte Checkers (10-6-2-0) Saturday night at Bojangles’ Coliseum.
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Here are five things to know as the Amerks aim to sweep the defending Eastern Conference champions.
CHECKING IN
After entering the third period in a one-goal game, the Amerks ran away with it in the final frame, scoring four times en route to a decisive 6-3 win over the Checkers Friday night.
A total of 11 different Amerks registered points in the contest, including goals from Trevor Kuntar and Jack Rathbone through the first 40 minutes. After that, Brendan Warren got the scoring started in the third with a shorthanded goal, which was followed 1:23 later from a point shot by Ryan Johnson to build the Amerks a three-goal lead.
The deficit was cut down to one on a pair of goals from Charlotte’s Ben Steeves, but with their net empty late, Isak Rosén and Konsta Helenius each scored insurance markers, repadding the lead for the 6-3 final.
Topias Leinonen returned to the crease, making 22 saves for the win, improving to 3-3-0 on the season. The Amerks topped veteran goaltender Louie Domingue who stopped 21 shots in his first start with Charlotte after signing with the team earlier in the week.
Rochester’s win has them entering Saturday second in the North Division standings.
DEVON DOWN SOUTH
Devon Levi is expected to draw the start in Saturday’s rematch with the Checkers, making it the 15th start of the season for the 23-year-old. Levi has been among the busiest goaltenders in the AHL, ranking top five in minutes played and shots faced. The third-year pro is tied for second in the league with nine wins.
The Sabres’ prospect last took the crease Wednesday against Utica, where Levi made 26 saves to help Rochester earn a standings point. Levi is 5-1-0 on the road this season. His last start in Charlotte came nearly a year ago to the day on Dec. 7, 2024, when for the second time in eight days, the Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, native pitched a shutout, stopping all 30 shots faced.
Levi is eight saves from 2,200 for his AHL career. He could reach that number against a team in the same organization that drafted him, as Levi was originally plucked as a seventh-round pick by the Florida Panthers in 2020 before finding his way to the Buffalo Sabres’ organization.
TOP OF THE CLASS
The Amerks skate into their 24th game of the season having already scored 79 goals to lead the AHL. Saturday’s game marks the completion of the first third of Rochester’s historic 70th season. Currently, the Amerks lead the AHL in goals and shots, while leading the Eastern Conference in power-play efficiency at 25.3%. The Amerks have been masters at drawing penalties as well, with the team ranked first in power-play opportunities at 99, while the Checkers are drawing the fewest man-advantages at only 56.
Nine different Amerks have already reached double-digits in point totals. Four players have seven or more goals, while three skaters have nine or more assists. The month of November saw an astounding 19 different Amerks score at least one goal.
Games have come in bunches for the red, white, and blue to start the 2025-26 campaign, as the Amerks have played the second-most games in the AHL behind only Belleville (24).
Of Rochester’s 79 goals this season, 42 have been scored on the road, where they carry an 8-5-0-0 record.
NO METSA’IN AROUND
Amerks captain Zach Metsa registered an assist in Friday’s 6-3 win over Charlotte, giving the defenseman points in seven of his last eight outings. The youngest captain the Amerks have had since the 2007-08 season has produced 12 points (2+10) in 13 games for Rochester, having only missed action due to multiple call-ups to Buffalo, where Metsa has appeared in four NHL games.
Metsa’s helper was his first career point against Charlotte, a team he has only seen five times in his career. The Checkers were one of two Eastern Conference teams the former Quinnipiac captain had yet to find the scoresheet against, with Providence now standing as the last remaining team. Amongst defensemen with at least 10 games played this season, Metsa ranks third in points-per-game at 0.92.
CARRICK CARES
Defenseman Trevor Carrick is expected to skate in his 709th AHL game, making him one of the longest active tenured players in the league.
The Checkers’ captain is in his 12th AHL season and seventh in the Queen City. He is the team’s all-time leader in games played, assists, and penalty minutes. Carrick was a member of Charlotte’s 2019 Calder Cup winning roster and produced 50 points (13+37) from the blueline a season ago to help the Checkers reach the finals again.
With 99 goals scored, Carrick is one shy of becoming only the 27th defenseman in AHL history to reach 100 goals.