The Rochester Americans face a crucial game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as they pursue a playoff spot. After narrowly missing a chance to secure their postseason berth on Friday, the Amerks have another opportunity this Saturday.
Game Preview: Amerks vs. Penguins
Rochester (31-30-5-4) hits the road for a two-game series in Pennsylvania. They begin against a strong Penguins team (45-17-7-2) that is second in the Atlantic Division. The match takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Recent Performance
In their last outing, the Amerks tied their game against Cleveland thanks to a power-play goal from Olivier Nadeau. The Amerks dominated until five minutes remained, when a late goal gave the Monsters a 2-1 victory. The defeat was disappointing, especially with a crowd of 10,662 at Blue Cross Arena.
- Olivier Nadeau’s goal marked his 13th of the season.
- Damon Levi made 28 saves in this game, bringing his total to 51 starts this season.
- The Amerks have scored power-play goals in nine of their last 11 games, ranking them among the AHL’s best.
Playoff Scenarios
Rochester needs just one point to secure a Calder Cup Playoff spot. A loss in regulation would require help from Utica, who is facing Providence an hour later.
Identifying the scenarios:
- Rochester clinches with a single point against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
- A loss, coupled with a Utica victory, would eliminate the Amerks from playoff contention.
Roster Updates
Head coach Mike Leone will not dress starter Damon Levi for Saturday’s game. Rookie Scott Ratzlaff, who has a 3.23 goals-against average, will take the net for his 13th appearance this season.
- Ratzlaff has made 11 starts, with a record of 4-5-1 this season.
- Backup Topias Leinonen, who has been sidelined since December, may see action this weekend.
- Jack Rathbone returns from injury, while Zach Jones is out for the weekend.
- Kaleb Lawrence is expected to return to the lineup after an injury absence.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
The Penguins have been in good form, having won eight of their last ten games, and are peaking just in time for the playoffs.
- Avery Hayes leads the Penguins with 24 goals.
- Goaltender Sergei Murashov boasts a 2.26 goals-against average and .917 save percentage.
The Amerks will aim to replicate their earlier victory over the Penguins this season, a 6-4 win recorded on November 5, 2025. The outcome of this game could determine their playoff fate, making it a critical matchup to follow.
