GAME PREVIEW: ROAD TRIP CONTINUES STATESIDE AS AMERKS FACE COMETS
Five things to know as Rochester starts second half of season in Utica following overtime loss at Belleville
Jan 17, 2026By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (19-12-4-1) are halfway through their 2025-26 campaign, with the second half starting Saturday night at Adirondack Bank Center when they face-off against the Utica Comets (10-18-4-2).
Here are five things to know going into game two of this three-game trip:
HATS OFF
The Amerks found themselves trailing 3-0 late in the second period Friday night, yet the team still emerged from Belleville with a standings point by forcing overtime in a game that ultimately ended 5-4 in favor of the Senators.
Isak Rosén and Jagger Joshua scored 31 seconds apart late in the middle frame to get Rochester within a goal, but Belleville countered with an opening minute conversion in the third to regain a two-goal lead. Rosén would go on to play hero, scoring his second of the night midway through the frame before blasting a one-timer in to tie the game with 1:28 left in regulation as the fourth-year Amerk registered his first career hat trick.
Devon Levi made 28 saves in his league-leading 25th start of the season. He continues to lead the AHL in minutes played and saves.
Back in the Empire State, Utica was on the road in Syracuse tied through two periods of play. With 4:33 to play, the Crunch scored the go-ahead goal and would pull away with the game late, scoring three times in the final five minutes to take a 5-2 win against Utica. The Comets have dropped two in a row but have picked up points in each of their last three home games.
RELENTLESS ROSÉN
Rosén’s performance Friday is a continuation of what has been a dominant season for the 22-year-old winger. Rosén is tied for sixth in goal scoring across the AHL with 18 on the season, while his 1.32 points-per-game is tops among all skaters with at least 20 games played.
The Stockholm, Sweden, native has registered a point in 19 of his 22 games with Rochester this season. Rosén’s hat trick against the Senators was the first of his career and his fourth multi-goal game of the season. In 216 games as an Amerk since debuting with the team in 2022, Rosén has gone on to score 80 goals and 171 points in 216 games while wearing the red, white, and blue.
The Sabres’ prospect has faced Utica 35 times in his career, scoring more goals against the Comets (18) than any other team he has faced. Overall, Rosén has produced 30 points (18+12) against the Comets.
THE RATZ PACK
Rookie goaltender Scott Ratzlaff is expected to make his third start of the season and first of his career Saturday night in Utica. This will mark the fourth overall appearance for the 20-year-old as an Amerk with each one coming on the road. Ratzlaff’s most recent game was Sunday in Belleville, where the Irma, Alberta, native made 25 saves in Rochester’s 6-5 overtime win.
Both of Ratzlaff’s starts have ended with the Amerks winning in overtime, with Jack Rathbone scoring the game-winner in each. This will mark the eighth road start for a rookie goaltender for the Amerks this season, with Topias Leinonen drawing the crease for five games on the road. In such situation, the Amerks yield a 5-2-0-0 record.
THAT’S TOTALLY KYLE
Former Amerk Kyle Criscuolo continues on as a veteran in the AHL, spending a second season in Utica and a 10th year in the league. After playing the 2023-24 campaign with Utica, Criscuolo sought out Charlotte last season, joining the team for its run to the Calder Cup Finals where he potted two goals and eight points during the postseason.
The 33-year-old returned to the Comets ahead of this season and has 15 points (5+10) through 25 games. The Southampton, New Jersey product skated in his 525th AHL game Friday in Syracuse and is two points shy of 300 for his AHL career, having scored 129 goals in the league while tallying 169 assists.
Criscuolo spent two seasons with Rochester in the early part of his career from 2017-19, logging 21 goals and 54 points in 94 games as an Amerk.
SPOILER ALERT
While the Amerks begin the second half of their season Saturday, Utica remains in the front portion of their schedule, having played only 34 games thus far. Despite the games in hand, the Comets continue to face an uphill battle that mirrors their season from a year ago.
New Jersey’s AHL affiliate enters Saturday 13 points outside of playoff positioning. Their 10 wins are tied with Iowa for fewest in the league, while ranking at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with 80 goals.
The Comets are led in scoring by rookie forward Lenni Hämeenaho, who has notched 21 points (9+12), though all of those points have come over his last 24 games.
Even though Utica’s playoff hopes seem slim, the team continues to pull out wins and play spoiler on those competing for positioning, including Laval last week and two wins over the Amerks in December.