GAME PREVIEW: ISLANDERS MAKE LONE VISIT TONIGHT
Nov 25, 2022TONIGHT'S GAME OVERVIEW
The Rochester Americans (9-5-1-1) resume their three-game trek through the Atlantic Division tonight when they host the Bridgeport Islanders (10-3-3-0) at The Blue Cross Arena. Game time is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start and will be carried on The Sports Leader 95.7 FM/950 AM The Fan Rochester as well as AHLTV as the AHL's Free Game of the Week. Additionally, the game will air tape-delayed on CW Rochester on Saturday at noon.
After tonight's contest, the two teams remain idle until after the New Year when Rochester makes its lone trip to Total Mortage Arena in Connecticut for a 7:00 p.m. face-off on Jan. 20.
HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES SNAPSHOT
Tonight is just the 19th all-time meeting between Rochester and Bridgeport. The Amerks have earned points in nine of the last 10 meetings dating back to the 2017-18 campaign, including a 3-0-2-0 mark in the previous five home contests at The Blue Cross Arena.
In 13 of the last 14 meetings, the winning team has scored three or more goals, which includes at least one power-play tally in 10 contests over that same span.
Seven of the previous 14 games between the two clubs have been decided beyond regulation, which includes three of the last four dating back to the 2018-19 season.
Last season, Rochester earned a 3-2 overtime win in the first meeting last season on Feb. 15 at Webster Bank Arena before Bridgeport countered back with 6-5 overtime win in the series finale on Mar. 27.
LAST TIME OUT
Linus Weissbach’s game-winning goal in the final seconds of overtime capped a wild third-period comeback as the Amerks scored three straight unanswered goals to erase a 3-1 deficit and stun the league-leading Providence Bruins with a 4-3 win Wednesday at The Blue Cross Arena.
The Amerks have earned at least one point in seven of their first eight home contests so far this season, owning a 6-1-1-0 mark.
Along with Weissbach, who also earned the lone assist on the game-tying goal, recording a pair of points, Brett Murray tallied his second multi-point outing (2+0) in three games and first two-goal outing of the season. Anders Bjork tied the contest late in the third period. Ethan Prow, Lukas Rousek, Jiri Kulich, Michael Mersch and Kale Clague all had one assist each.
Goaltender Michael Houser improved to 3-1-0 as he made sixth appearance of the season and second consecutive start. Dating back to end of the 2021-22 season, Houser has allowed three or fewer goals in all 11 games, which includes both appearances during the 2022 Calder Cup Playoffs.
POWER-PLAY PROFICIENCY
Coming into tonight, 13 of the Amerks' 53 goals this season have come on the power-play, which are tied for 13th-most among any team in the AHL. By going 13-for-52 while on the man-advantage, Rochester is ranked eight in the league with a 23.6% conversion rate.
The Amerks' 11 power-play goals at home are fourth-most in the league this season, going for 11-for-32 through their first eight home matchups.
YOUTH MOVEMENT LEADING ROCHESTER
On the heels of his fourth multi-point effort of the season on Wednesday, second-year forward Linus Weissbach currently paces all Rochester skaters with 13 points and shares the team-lead with seven goals through 16 games. He comes into the weekend with six points over his last 10 appearances, including goals in three straight games over that span. His seven goals are currently four off the league-lead.
Lukas Rousek and Brandon Biro remain at a close second with 12 points each. Rousek began the season with four goals and seven assists in the first 11 games but snapped a four-game scoreless drought as he pickedup an assist to spark Rochester's overtime win Wednesday. Prior to missing the last four games, Biro had a team-high nine assists and 12 points through his first 12 games.
Brett Murray scored twice in a span of 1:51 in the third period Wednesday night, tying him with Weissbach for the team’s goal-scoring lead with seven. It was Murray’s second multi-point outing in three games and his first multi-goal effort since Nov. 19 of last season when scored twice in a 5-4 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Murray is already within half of his career-high 15 goals he scored last season in only 16 games in 2022-23.
First-year forward Isak Rosen (19 years) and Jiri Kulich (18 years) are among the youngest players in the AHL. They each have eight assists in 16 games this season, which rank seventh in the league among all rookies.
HOME-COOKING FOR THE AMERKS
The Amerks have earned at least one point in seven of their first eight home contests so far this season, boasting a 6-1-1-0 mark within the friendly confines of The Blue Cross Arena. Rochester opened the season with five straight home wins, marking the team's best start since 2006-07.
Five of the six victories this season in the Flower City have come when the team trailed entering the final 20 minutes of regulation while all six wins have come by way of four or more goals. Rochester has outscored its opposition 17-7 after the start of the third period and has outshot the visitors 76-64.
Rochester is one of only three teams to have just one regulation loss at home this season, joining Hershey and Cleveland in that regard.
SCOUTING THE ISLANDERS
Bridgeport comes into the matchup as one of AHL's top teams with a 10-3-3-0 overall record and 23 points, which is second-most in the league. The Islanders, who are one of only seven teams to reach the 10-win mark, posted an eight-game point streak from Oct. 15 to Nov. 5. The club enters tonight winners of three straight and have points in five of their last six games.
The Islanders have appeared in six games that have been decided beyond regulation this season, which is second-most in the AHL this season. The team shows a 2-3 record in overtime and are winless in the shootout (0-1).
In his third season with Bridgeport, defenseman Samuel Bolduc leads all Islanders and is tied for second amongst all AHL blueliners with a career-high 15 points (3+12) in 16 games. The Laval, Quebec, native has four multi-point games and has at least one point in 10 of 16 games this season. Additionally, the 2021-22 AHL All-Star nominee has registered one shot in all but two contests and the club is 9-0-1-0 when he has one or more points
SERIES NOTABLES
So far this season, the Amerks have used 12 different defensemen, which is second-most in the AHL behind Toronto. 10 of the 12 have recorded at least one point while five have scored. Ethan Prow is the only defenseman to appear in all 16 games this season and has skated in 86 of the 92 games dating back to the start of the 2021-22 campaign.
Amerks forward Mason Jobst spent his first two pro seasons in Bridgeport from 2019-2021. In 51 games with the Sound Tigers/Islanders, he tallied 15 points on five goals and 10 assists.
Bridgeport forward Hudson Fasching began his AHL career with Rochester as he appeared in 106 games from 2016-18. Fasching produced 20 goals and 22 assists for 42 points while also appearing in 22 games with Buffalo. He recorded his first NHL goal on March 26, 2016, which also served as his NHL debut.
Islanders head coach Brent Thompson is the father of former Amerk Tage Thompson. A former ECHL Coach of the Year, he’s in his 10th season with Bridgeport and is the all-time winningest coach in franchise history.
Bridgeport forward Cole Bardreau was born in Fairport. In 349 career games between Bridgeport and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Bardreau has recorded 70 goals and 80 assists for 150 points. Additionally, he’s tallied three assists in 24 career playoff appearances between the two teams.
Bridgeport Islanders vs Rochester Americans: Head To Head Stats
Summary
|
Description |
Result |
|
| Head to Head Record 2022-23 Regular Season | Bridgeport 0-0-0-0 | Rochester 0-0-0-0 |
| Head to Head Record 2021-22 Regular Season | Bridgeport 1-0-1-0 | Rochester 1-0-1-0 |
| Last 5 Years record between teams | Bridgeport 1-2-2-1 | Rochester 5-0-1-0 |
| Bridgeport vs. Rochester Last 5 Years record at Bridgeport | Bridgeport 0-1-2-0 | Rochester 3-0-0-0 |
| Bridgeport vs. Rochester Last 5 Years record at Rochester | Bridgeport 1-1-0-1 | Rochester 2-0-1-0 |
How the two teams match up
|
Rochester |
Bridgeport |
|
| Team Record | 9-5-1-1 -- 20 points | 10-3-3-0 -- 23 points |
| Division Ranking | 2nd North | 2nd Atlantic |
| Conference Ranking | 6th Eastern | 2nd Eastern |
| League Ranking | 8th | 2nd |
| Past 10 Games | 6-2-1-1 | 6-2-2-0 |
| Streak | 2-0-0-0 | 3-0-0-0 |
| Last Game | 4-3 W vs Providence (Nov 23 2022) Final OT | 6-3 W vs Hartford (Nov 23 2022) Final |
| Home Record | 6-1-1-0 | 6-2-0-0 |
| Away Record | 3-4-0-1 | 4-1-3-0 |
| GF | 53 | 58 |
| GA | 51 | 47 |
| PP (Overall) | (13/55) 23.6% | (14/60) 23.3% |
| PP (Home) | (11/32) 34.4% | (7/28) 25.0% |
| PP (Away) | (2/23) 8.7% | (7/32) 21.9% |
| PK (Overall) | (12/49) 75.5% | (11/65) 83.1% |
| PK (Home) | (6/28) 78.6% | (4/25) 84.0% |
| PK (Away) | (6/21) 71.4% | (7/40) 82.5% |
| PP vs. Opp. | (0/0) 0% | (0/0) 0% |
| PK vs. Opp. | (0/0) 0% | (0/0) 0% |
| Leading Rookie | Rosen (3-8-11) | Iskhakov (4-10-14) |
| Most PIM | Weissbach - 24 | Helgeson - 24 |
| Team PIM/GM | 8.7/Game | 11.4/Game |
| Leading Scorers | Weissbach (7-6-13) | Bolduc (3-12-15) |
| Rousek (4-8-12) | Iskhakov (4-10-14) | |
| Biro (3-9-12) | Andreoff (6-7-13) | |
| Rosen (3-8-11) | Durandeau (3-9-12) | |
| Murray (7-3-10) | Koivula (4-6-10) | |
| Last 5 Games | 4-3 W vs Providence (Nov 23 2022) Final OT | 6-3 W vs Hartford (Nov 23 2022) Final |
| 3-2 W @ Utica (Nov 19 2022) Final | 3-2 W @ Providence (Nov 20 2022) Final OT | |
| 3-2 L vs Utica (Nov 18 2022) Final | 4-2 W vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (Nov 19 2022) Final | |
| 3-2 L @ Belleville (Nov 12 2022) Final SO | 4-1 L vs Charlotte (Nov 18 2022) Final | |
| 6-5 L vs Cleveland (Nov 11 2022) Final OT | 2-1 L @ Hershey (Nov 12 2022) Final OT | |
| Leading After 1st | 4-1-0-0 | 5-0-0-0 |
| Leading After 2nd | 5-1-1-0 | 7-0-0-0 |
| Tied After 1st | 2-2-1-1 | 2-1-2-0 |
| Tied After 2nd | 0-1-0-1 | 2-1-2-0 |
| Trailing After 1st | 3-2-0-0 | 3-2-1-0 |
| Trailing After 2nd | 4-3-0-0 | 1-2-1-0 |
| Out Shooting Opponents | 4-1-0-0 | 4-3-1-0 |
| Out Shot by Opponents | 5-2-1-1 | 5-0-2-0 |
| 1-Goal Games | 4-2-1-1 | 4-1-3-0 |
| 2-Goal Games | 3-1-0-0 | 2-1-0-0 |
| 3-Goal Games | 0-0-0-0 | 4-1-0-0 |