The Rochester Americans (8-12-2-1) struggled to generate any offensive firepower in a 7-1 loss to the intrastate rival Utica Comets (12-7-0-1) Friday at the Adirondack Bank Center.
The matchup was the seventh meeting between the two teams this season with the Amerks earning at least one point in four of the last seven games. Rochester has collected at least one point in 23 of the last 34 games against Utica dating back to the start of the 2017-18 campaign, going 17-11-2-4.
The Comets have been dominant within the confines of the Adirondack Bank Center this season, going 8-1-0-0 on home ice with half of those home wins coming against Rochester.
Forward Brett Murray (1+0) provided the Amerks lone tally of the night, which marked his eighth point over the last 10 games. Rookie Matej Pekar (0+1) has found his groove over the last five games, adding his fourth assist in that span. Since coming to the Amerks on loan from the Vegas Golden Knights just last week, defenseman Nick DeSimone (0+1) found himself on the scoresheet once again with his third assist in Rochester and eighth of the season overall.
Brett Murray always winning those net-front battles. ?
? @brettmurrayy
? @mpekar10
? @njdes #UnitedWeROC pic.twitter.com/hwx07lk93R— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) April 30, 2021
In his fifth start of the season, rookie goaltender Stefanos Lekkas (0-5-1) got the loss while making 33 saves in his sixth appearance.
Utica forward Dakota Joshua (1+0) lit the lamp to get the scoring started, while forwards Lukas Jasek (1+1), Nikita Alexandrov (1+1), Curtis McKenzie (1+1), Carson Focht (1+0), Jonah Gadjovich (1+1) and Josh Wesley (0+2) all had multi-point efforts to help lift Utica to the win. Forward Will Lockwood (1+0) added his fourth goal of the year as forwards Nolan Stevens (0+1) and Sam Anas (0+1) and defensemen Josh Teves (0+1), Jett Woo (0+1) and Guillaume Brisebois (0+1) all added assists.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].