TACO BELL WRAP-UP: AMERKS SWEEP THREE-GAME SLATE
Helenius’ big week coupled with goaltending trio propel Amerks to win streak
Oct 27, 2025By Andrew Mossbrooks | @ Mossbrooks48
The Rochester Americans (5-2-0-0) surged through the North Division in their first three-game week of the season. The statement week started by handing Syracuse their first loss of the season Wednesday, 4-2, before blanking the defending regular season champion Laval Rocket by a 4-0 final Friday, then rallying for a 4-3 overtime victory in Cleveland Saturday night.
With three wins and six points in their pockets, the Amerks sit in a two-way tie with Syracuse for first place in the North Division as they go on to continue their four-game road trip north of the border.
FINTASTIC
Konsta Helenius had the kind of week you would expect from one of the Buffalo Sabres’ most highly touted prospects.
The 2024 first-round draft pick posted five points over the weekend, including his first career four-point outing (2+2) Friday against the Rocket. Helenius factored in on all four goals, scoring twice and assisting on the other two behind a 19-save shutout from goaltender Devon Levi.
During the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, Helenius was at times the Amerks’ best forward, specifically during their North Division Finals series against Laval. The Ylöjärvi, Finland, native now has five goals and 10 points against the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, including playoffs.
The 19-year-old, who is the fifth-youngest player in the AHL, finished his week in dramatic fashion in the Buckeye State. With the game against the Monsters in overtime, the Amerks were in the dying seconds of a four-on-three power play. That was when Zac Jones snapped a pass from the side of the goal to just above the right-wing circle where Helenius blasted a one-timer to the top right corner of the net for his first career overtime game-winner.
Helenius enters the week with four goals and six points. He is third in team scoring and the first Amerk to score an overtime goal since Noah Östlund lifted the red, white, and blue to a 4-3 victory in Utica last season on Feb. 15, 2025.
TERRIFIC TRIO
Three different goaltenders all turned in solid performances for the Amerks to get wins throughout the week.
It began with a reunion of sorts, as Sabres netminder Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was reassigned to the Amerks for a conditioning stint, helping Rochester to a 4-2 win over Syracuse in his first AHL game in over 1,000 days. Luukkonen made 21 saves in his homecoming before being recalled to the big club the next day.
On Friday, Levi was able to exact vengeance on his hometown team that ended the Amerks season in May, pitching a 19-save shutout against the Rocket for his first shutout of the season. The 23-year-old is 3-0-0 to begin the year, with his shutout being the eighth of his career. This marks the first time Levi has won his first three starts of the season.
The trifecta was complete with a dazzling performance from Topias Leinonen, who emerged with the win after 25 saves in Cleveland Saturday night. The win is Leinonen’s first as an Amerk and first overall in North America, having spent his entire playing career in Finland and Sweden before this year.
Luukkonen starting Wednesday’s game marked the first time in the 70-year history of the franchise that four different goaltenders (Aleksandar Georgiev, Luukkonen, Levi, Leinonen) had made a start through the first five games of the season.
JAGGED EDGE
The Amerks acquired Jagger Joshua last season to increase the toughness within their lineup, but physicality has allowed the third-year pro to find the scoresheet as well.
Joshua focused his summer on building muscle and being conditioned to be able to play consistent. The results have reflected on the ice, with the Dearborn, Michigan, native posting points in each of the three games this past week.
The power forward lifted the stick of a Crunch player at center ice while the Amerks were shorthanded to race for a breakaway goal, providing breathing room in what went on to be a 4-2 win. The next game, Joshua crept in underneath Laval’s defense on a rush into the attacking zone, allowing a pass to reach his tape for the 26-year-old to go five-hole for his second of the season. Joshua put a bow on the week with an assist on Anton Wahlberg’s first-period power-play goal that opened the scoring against the Monsters.
COMING UP NEXT
The Amerks continue their first of two season-long four-game road trips Wednesday in Belleville where they take on a Senators (3-3-1-0) team that has won three straight after going winless through the first four games of the season.
Rochester then finishes its week in the same place they finished its season in the playoffs: Laval. Both Friday and Saturday’s tilts come against the Rocket, who are coming off a 4-2 win in Utica Saturday night.