TACO BELL WRAP-UP: AMERKS SPLIT FIRST PAIR OF GAMES OF THE NEW YEAR
Levi has bounce-back performance in Wednesday win over Syracuse
Jan 8, 2026By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (17-11-3-1) opened 2026 with the conclusion of their three-game road trip, playing games in Toronto and Syracuse with the latter seeing the Amerks escape with a 3-2 victory.
After a 6-4 loss to the Marlies, Rochester’s bounce-back win was much needed, as was the performance of their goaltender.
We jump into that and more in this edition of the Taco Bell Wrap-up.
LEVI RESPONDS
Devon Levi didn’t have the start he had hoped for to kick-off 2026, but the 24-year-old responded in a big way four nights later. After being pulled through 40 minutes of play in Toronto, Levi took the crease in Syracuse Wednesday night, making 30 saves to fend off the Crunch in a 3-2 Amerks win.
Levi was tested with a breakaway save on Tristan Allard in the second period and was put under duress for the majority of the final 40 minutes, as the Crunch outshot Rochester, 24-13 through the second and third periods combined. It marked the eighth time this season that Levi has made at least 30 saves, with the goaltender now showing an 8-6-4 record in 18 appearances against the Crunch (not including playoffs).
The Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec, native picked up his 12th win of the season, tying him for third in the AHL for wins, while he yields the second-most minutes played in the league at 1293:21 and first in the AHL with 586 saves.
SKELETON CREW
As the season continues, so, too, do the list of injuries and call-ups the Amerks continue to fight through in the 2025-26 season. Entering Wednesday, the Amerks were without Carson Meyer, Vsevolod Komarov, and Topias Leinonen due to injuries.
Additionally, the team played without Josh Dunne, Noah Östlund, Zac Jones, and team captain Zach Metsa due to the quartet remaining on recall to Buffalo.
Through 32 games this season, the Amerks have yet to ice the lineup the team expected to have for opening night back on Oct. 10, yet they enter the weekend a point out of second place in the North Division standings. Absences from the aforementioned players have created opportunities for others like Anton Wahlberg, Riley Fiddler-Schultz, Jagger Joshua and company to step up and play increased minutes and roles.
PLAYING THE FIDDLE
Fiddler-Schultz was one of two Amerks to find the back of the net in both games against Toronto and Syracuse this past week and logged three points in total. Fiddler-Schultz remains the only forward to have skated in every game for Rochester this season and is one of two Amerks to do so overall, with Jack Rathbone being the other.
On Saturday, the Edmonton native scored the lone second-period goal for Rochester to break a 2-2 tie, then opened the scored under four minutes in at Syracuse with a shot that rang off the back post and in while rushing down the left wing. Later in the contest, Fiddler-Schultz had another scoring chance that rang off the post. The 23-year-old has scored five of his eight goals on the road this season and is on pace to eclipse his 26-point (13+13) campaign from a season ago.
COMING UP NEXT
The Amerks make a pitstop back home before playing four of their following five away from Blue Cross Arena. Friday night sees the North Division-leading Laval Rocket make it to town as Rochester trails them by five points for first in the north. Following that, the team hops on a bus Saturday, where they’ll begin their venture to Belleville to face-off against the Senators Sunday afternoon.
Friday is Segar Hat night where the first 2,000 fans arriving at Blue Cross Arena will receive a winter hat, courtesy of Segar and Sciortino.
Sunday’s game against the Senators is slated to begin at 3 p.m. and marks Don Stevens’ final regular season broadcast in Belleville from CAA Arena.