Amerks Look for Vengeance at Blue Cross Arena in Matinee Rematch

Following a tough 5-3 loss in Syracuse, the Rochester Americans (27-25-5-4) return home this afternoon to conclude a high-stakes home-and-home series. The Syracuse Crunch (39-20-3-2) recently clinched their playoff berth with a win over Rochester, but the Amerks have a chance to settle the score at The Blue Cross Arena.

Here are five things to know for today’s 3:05 PM puck drop.

1. Rebounding from a Late-Game Slip

Rochester held the lead late into last night’s contest before Syracuse surged with three goals in the third period. Despite the loss, Riley Fiddler-Schultz remained a bright spot, netting his team-leading 21st goal of the season. Historically, the Amerks are much more dangerous when their offense is clicking; they hold an impressive 46-13-5-1 record against the Crunch when scoring three or more goals dating back to 2016-17.

2. Devon Levi Returns to the Crease

Goaltender Devon Levi is expected to start today as he pursues his 20th win of the campaign. Levi has a career record of 9-7-5 in 21 appearances against the Crunch, including a 3-0 shutout earlier this season on January 14. Over his last five starts against Syracuse, the former All-Star has been sharp, stopping 129 shots while posting a 3-1-1 record.

3. Milestone Watch: Brendan Warren’s 250th Game

Today marks a significant career milestone for veteran forward Brendan Warren, who is set to play his 250th game in the red, white, and blue. Warren, who debuted against Syracuse in 2021, has spent his entire AHL career in Rochester, contributing 30 goals and 54 points over six seasons. He is currently moving toward the top 40 all-time forwards for games played in franchise history.

4. Protecting Home Ice in the Season Series

This matinee is the final regular-season visit to Rochester for the Crunch this year. While Syracuse has won the last four meetings, the Amerks have been competitive at home, holding a 3-2-0-0 record against their rivals at Blue Cross Arena this season. Overall, Rochester is 4-5-0-1 against Syracuse this year and needs one more win to maintain their streak of five or more wins against the Crunch in five consecutive seasons.

5. Stopping the “Rochester Killer” and Power-Play Threats

The Amerks must neutralize veteran Matthew Peca, who recently hit the 400-point AHL milestone and has a history of torching Rochester with 46 points in 40 career games. Additionally, special teams will be critical; the Amerks’ power play ranks 4th in the league at 23.2%. Much of that success is driven by defenseman Zac Jones, who leads all AHL blueliners with 54 points and has recorded a league-high 31 power-play assists this season.

Playoff Picture

With 11 games remaining, Rochester’s magic number to clinch a fifth straight playoff berth sits at 13. They currently maintain a four-point lead over Belleville for the final spot in the North Division. If the season ended today, the Amerks would face Cleveland in a best-of-three play-in round—a postseason matchup not seen since 1967.