After earning first place in the North Division last week with three straight wins, the Amerks have played well, a result of strong offense and defense throughout the season. In order to help maintain their position, positive play against division rivals Binghamton, who sits in last in the North Division, and Utica could provide the chance to build on their current win streak as well as their division lead.
| # |  Top Scorers | GP | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | J.S. Dea | 57 | 15 | 24 | 39 |
| 17 | Sean Malone | 58 | 12 | 18 | 30 |
| 22 | Zach Redmond | 59 | 5 | 25 | 30 |
| 15 | Andrew Oglevie | 55 | 15 | 14 | 29 |
| 19 | C.J. Smith | 50 | 12 | 15 | 27 |
December 18: @ Binghamton (L 2-1)
In the first of a home-and-home against the Devils, both teams had limited chances in the first period and resulted in a stalemate where neither team scored through 20 minutes of play. While both teams were able to earn more scoring chances throughout the second, the game remained scoreless.
Brett Murray put the Amerks up 1-0! Great job by Randell forcing the turnover to get an assist. pic.twitter.com/vJBzOQ3yGG
— LGA585 (formerly LetsGoAmerks) (@LGA585) December 19, 2019
However, with over three minutes to go, Brett Murray scored his fourth of the year to give the Amerks a 1-0 lead, only to have Joey Anderson tie the game 61 seconds later for Binghamton. Under a minute after Anderson’s goal, Brett Seney scores at 18:46 of the second period to give the Devils a 2-1 lead. As three goals were scored in 1:53, the shot totals were tied at 17 for both teams heading into the third. Both team’s defense and goaltending were strong in the third, as Binghamton’s lead held firm and the Amerks dropped a 2-1 decision. Andrew Hammond made 25 saves in the game, as Rochester would look to avenge this loss in the following game.
December 20: vs. Binghamton (W 3-0)
In their second meeting in three days, both teams managed ample shooting chances early on, until John Gilmour’s second of the season gave the Amerks a 1-0 lead with under four minutes left in the first period.
Gilmour put it straight into the back of the net! pic.twitter.com/SmaUScBcsh
— LGA585 (formerly LetsGoAmerks) (@LGA585) December 21, 2019
While Binghamton continued to earn scoring chances on Jonas Johansson throughout the second, and Rochester struggled to build off their 15 SOG in the first, Tyler Randell (4) scores at 11:06 of the second to double their lead, and despite being outshot 14-6 in the period, have a two-goal lead after two periods. Despite their lack of scoring chances not improving in the third period with five SOG, Lawrence Pilut scored an empty-netter for his third of the season at 17:02 to seal the win.
Empty net long shot for Pilut.. pic.twitter.com/jpomC605AT
— LGA585 (formerly LetsGoAmerks) (@LGA585) December 21, 2019
Contributing factors for this win included Johansson’s play in net, as well as the Amerks’ PK unit finishing a perfect 6/6 in this game. In continuing his impressive season, Johansson made 40 saves in the win, improving to 9-2-2, along with earning his second shutout on the year.
December 21: vs. Utica (L 4-3)
In hosting Utica, the Amerks were looking to build a winning streak and earn their fourth win this year over the Comets. While there was no scoring and a 9-5 S.O.G. advantage for Utica after the opening period, Taylor Leier scored his first of the year in his sixth game back from injury to give the Amerks a lead on the power play.
Taylor Leier puts it in off the back of the goalie! PP goal. Assists to Redmond and Pilut. pic.twitter.com/QHtA9ze8KQ
— LGA585 (formerly LetsGoAmerks) (@LGA585) December 22, 2019
Sven Baertschi, however, tied the game a few minutes later for Utica, and Vincent Arseneau gave Utica their first lead at 13:50 of the second. With less than five minutes left in the period, John Gilmour (3) tied the game on the power-play, and the score was tied at 2 heading into the third. However, the scoring would continue, with Jonah Gadjovich giving Utica a 3-2 lead early in the period before Leier responded a couple of minutes later with a short-handed goal that tied it at 3.
Top shelf, unassisted, and short handed for Taylor Leier! His 2nd goal of the game. pic.twitter.com/VdPpt5tleb
— LGA585 (formerly LetsGoAmerks) (@LGA585) December 22, 2019
As regulation neared the end, Olli Juolevi gave the Comets a late lead that would see Rochester lose 4-3 to Utica for the first time this season. Andrew Hammond made 22 saves in the loss, and has an overall record of 10-4-2 in 17 games played.
Despite the Amerks losing two out of three games this week, including to division opponent Utica, the team heads into the upcoming week in first place in their division with 19 wins and 42 points in 29 games. Rochester will host Belleville (35 pts) on Thursday for the first matchup between divisional foes, before traveling to Binghamton Friday to face the Devils (22 pts) after last week’s home-and-home in the hopes of remaining at the top of their division.
| Date | Opponent | Time/Result |
|---|---|---|
| 10/04/19 |  vs. Syracuse Crunch | W 3-2 (OT) |
| 10/11/19 |  @ Springfield Thunderbirds | W 2-1 |
| 10/12/19 |  @ Providence Bruins | L 3-2 |
| 10/13/19 |  @ Hartford Wolf Pack | W 3-2 (SO) |
| 10/18/19 |  vs. Cleveland Monsters | L 4-3 (SO) |
| 10/19/19 |  @ Utica Comets | L 7-1 |
| 10/23/19 |  vs. Hershey Bears | W 5-1 |
| 10/26/19 | @ Syracuse Crunch | W 7-6 (OT) |
| 10/27/19 | @ Springfield Thunderbirds | L 2-1 (OT) |
| 10/30/19 | vs. Providence Bruins | L 4-3 |
| 11/01/19 |  vs. Binghamton Devils | W 4-2 |
| 11/02/19 | @ Utica Comets | W 6-0 |
| 11/08/19 | vs. Binghamton Devils | L 4-3 (SO) |
| 11/13/19 | vs. Syracuse Crunch | W 4-3 |
| 11/15/19 | vs. Cleveland Monsters | W 4-3 (OT) |
| 11/16/19 | @ Utica Comets | W 4-3 |
| 11/22/19 | vs. Hartford Wolf Pack | W 4-0 |
| 11/23/19 | @ Binghamton Devils | W 4-2 |
| 11/29/19 |  vs. Toronto Marlies | L 3-2 (OT) |
| 11/30/19 | @ Cleveland Monsters | W 3-2 |
| 12/04/19 | vs. Toronto Marlies | W 4-0 |
| 12/06/19 |  vs. Charlotte Checkers | W 4-0 |
| 12/07/19 | vs. Charlotte Checkers | L 3-1 |
| 12/11/19 |  vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | W 4-2 |
| 12/13/19 |  @ Laval Rocket | W 3-2 |
| 12/14/19 | @ Laval Rocket | W 5-0 |
| 12/18/19 | @ Binghamton Devils | L 2-1 |
| 12/20/19 | vs. Binghamton Devils | W 3-0 |
| 12/21/19 | vs. Utica Comets | W 4-3 |
| 12/27/19 |  vs. Belleville Senators | W 4-3 |
| 12/28/19 | @ Binghamton Devils | L 2-0 |
| 12/31/19 | @ Utica Comets | L 3-2 |
| 01/03/20 | @ Belleville Senators | W 4-3 (OT) |
| 01/04/20 | @ Toronto Marlies | L 5-2 |
| 01/08/20 | vs. Binghamton Devils | L 4-3 (SO) |
| 01/10/20 | vs. Belleville Senators | L 5-1 |
| 01/11/20 | @ Syracuse Crunch | L 5-4 |
| 01/17/20 | vs. Cleveland Monsters | L 4-3 (SO) |
| 01/18/20 |  @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms | L 4-0 |
| 01/19/20 | @ Hershey Bears | L 4-1 |
| 01/22/20 | @ Cleveland Monsters | W 3-2 (OT) |
| 01/24/20 | vs. Laval Rocket | W 5-2 |
| 01/25/20 | @ Syracuse Crunch | W 3-2 |
| 01/31/20 | vs. Syracuse Crunch | W 4-2 |
| 02/01/20 | @ Binghamton Devils | W 3-2 |
| 02/05/20 | @ Cleveland Monsters | W 4-2 |
| 02/07/20 | vs. Syracuse Crunch | L 5-2 |
| 02/08/20 | @ Toronto Marlies | L 4-0 |
| 02/11/20 | @ Charlotte Checkers | L 4-2 |
| 02/12/20 | @ Charlotte Checkers | L 5-2 |
| 02/15/20 | @ Syracuse Crunch | W 4-3 (SO) |
| 02/16/20 | vs. Utica Comets | W 3-2 |
| 02/19/20 | vs. Belleville Senators | L 3-2 (OT) |
| 02/21/20 | vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms | W 3-2 (OT) |
| 02/22/20 | vs. Cleveland Monsters | L 3-2 (OT) |
| 02/26/20 | vs. Utica Comets | L 3-2 (SO) |
| 02/28/20 | vs. Laval Rocket | W 4-2 |
| 02/29/20 | @ Syracuse Crunch | L 4-2 |
| 03/04/20 | vs. Utica Comets | L 3-1 |
| 03/06/20 | @ Belleville Senators | W 5-3 |
| 03/07/20 | @ Belleville Senators | W 4-2 |
| 03/11/20 | vs. Binghamton Devils | L 5-2 |
| 03/13/20 | vs. Syracuse Crunch | 7:05 PM |
| 03/15/20 | @ Cleveland Monsters | 3:00 PM |
| 03/17/20 | @ Toronto Marlies | 1:30 PM |
| 03/20/20 | vs. Springfield Thunderbirds | 7:05 PM |
| 03/21/20 | vs. Springfield Thunderbirds | 7:05 PM |
| 03/25/20 | vs. Toronto Marlies | 7:05 PM |
| 03/28/20 | @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | 7:05 PM |
| 03/29/20 |  @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers | 3:00 PM |
| 04/01/20 | vs. Utica Comets | 7:05 PM |
| 04/03/20 | vs. Syracuse Crunch | 7:05 PM |
| 04/04/20 | @ Syracuse Crunch | 7:00 PM |
| 04/08/20 | @ Utica Comets | 7:00 PM |
| 04/10/20 | vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers | 7:05 PM |
| 04/11/20 | @ Binghamton Devils | 7:05 PM |