TACO BELL WRAP-UP: AMERKS EXTEND POINT STREAK TO FOUR GAMES
Amerks pick up three out of four points in Charlotte
Dec 8, 2025By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (13-9-2-0) stacked 12 goals across their three-game week, helping the team earn points in each of their contests to post a 1-0-2-0 record and park themselves in second place in the North Division as we approach mid-December.
After a 4-3 overtime loss to Utica Wednesday, Rochester hit the road to start a three-game trip away from the Flower City. It began smoothly with a decisive 6-3 win over Charlotte, before the Checkers reversed things in their favor Saturday with a 4-3 rally in overtime.
Here’s a few quick notes from the week that was.
THE STREAK CONTINUES
It was another productive week for forward Isak Rosén, who has put up points in every game with the Amerks since being returned to the team from Buffalo. On Wednesday, the winger notched a pair of goals against Utica in Rochester’s rally for a standings point, as the team trailed 3-0 before evening the score. Two nights later in Charlotte, the fourth-year pro tallied a goal and an assist, then handed a helper out Saturday in the rematch with the Checkers to complete his five-point week.
Rosén has built upon the point streak he left with in October before his call-up, currently stringing points together in a career-best nine consecutive games. Over that span, the two-time AHL All-Star has amassed 13 points (6+7) and has the third-longest active point streak in the AHL.
Overall, Rosén is third on the team in scoring with 19 points (9+10) over 13 games. He trails both Konsta Helenius and Zac Jones, who each have 20. Rosén has played seven fewer games than Jones and 11 less than Helenius.
Since the start of last season, the Amerks have gone 26-1-1-0 in games Rosén scores. His 1.46 points-per-game average is fifth-best in the league.
CENTER OF ATTENTION
Amerks head coach Michael Leone emphasized the need for players to step up, particularly in the face-off dot following Rochester’s overtime loss at home against the Comets on Wednesday. The response was felt in Charlotte, with several key draws won. The most notable came in the third period of Friday’s game, where a puck was pulled back from Anton Wahlberg on the win, finding its way to Ryan Johnson for a slap shot at the left point that went through to serve as the game-winning goal.
Helenius has been rounding out his 200-foot game and is developing as one of Rochester’s top centers this season. Riley Fiddler-Schultz has jumped from wing to center for the bulk of the season, often seen on a line with Trevor Kuntar and Jagger Joshua, both of whom scored goals during the weekend set in North Carolina.
Graham Slaggert has consistently been relied upon for face-offs on the penalty kill and even helped with the Amerks netting their second shorthanded goal of the season Friday. Slaggert skated into the zone down a man, then saucered the puck toward Brendan Warren who streaked down the middle of the ice for Rochester’s third goal of the night Friday.
A THIRD OF THE WAY THROUGH
With Saturday’s game in the rearview mirror, the Amerks have officially completed the first third of their historic 70th season here in the AHL’s 2025-26 campaign. At 28 points, the Amerks are four back of Laval for the top spot in the North Division and a point in front of Syracuse, who currently rank third in the North coming into the week.
Rochester has picked up points in five of its last six away contests, going 4-1-1-0 in the process. The Amerks also have points in seven of their last 10 games overall, showing a 5-3-2-0 mark over that span. The team is at a nearly identical spot to where they were a season ago. Through 24 games last year, the Amerks yielded a 13-8-3-0 record with 29 points. This season, they are 13-9-2-0.
This comes with a roster significantly impacted by call-ups and injuries much greater than the season prior, as Josh Dunne and Noah Östlund have spent the bulk of the season in Buffalo, while Rosén, Jones, and captain Zach Metsa have also missed time due to recalls.
The Amerks also began the season without Carson Meyer, who was still recovering from season-ending surgery the year prior, and are now dealing with the absence of Jake Leschyshyn, who has been out injured.
Östlund was reassigned to Rochester on Sunday evening following a 20-game stint with the Sabres.
COMING UP NEXT
It’s a two-game slate for the Amerks beginning with the conclusion of a road trip Wednesday night in Belleville. The Senators knocked off the top seeded- Rocket Saturday, but had lost the previous five games.
Then on Saturday, Rochester opens an extended four-game homestand to take them through the holidays. The action back at Blue Cross Arena begins on Saturday, Dec. 13 with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms making their lone stop in the Flower City this season.
Saturday’s game falls on Native American Heritage Night, presented by Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, on Saturday, Dec. 13 when they host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at The Blue Cross Arena.
The night will celebrate and support the various Native American communities in Western New York in addition to honoring their history and contributions within the region.