Amerks back in action tonight against Utica

The Rochester Americans (30-17-4-4) play their fifth game of a season-long six-game homestand tonight as they welcome the North Division rival Utica Comets (29-20-3-2) back to The Blue Cross Arena.
Tonight's 7:05 p.m. contest will be the second meeting in 10 days between the intrastate rivals after the Amerks earned a 3-2 win back on Feb. 16. All of tonight's action will be carried live on The Sports Leader AM 950/95.7 FM ESPN Rochester as well as AHLTV.

Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Jean-Sebastian Dea | 50 | 15 | 21 | 36 | | 2. Zach Redmond | 52 | 5 | 25 | 30 | | 3. Sean Malone | 51 | 11 | 16 | 27 | | 4. Andrew Oglevie | 48 | 13 | 13 | 26 | | 5. Brett Murray | 49 | 9 | 14 | 23 | | T-5. Lawrence Pilut | 36 | 6 | 17 | 23 |

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Goaltending leaders

| Player | GP | W | L | OTL | GAA | SV% | SO | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Andrew Hammond | 29 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 2.57 | .906 | 4 | | Jonas Johansson* | 20 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 2.19 | .925 | 2 | | Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3.16 | .876 | 0 | | *Recalled to Buffalo (NHL) |

News and notes

Jacob Bryson is sixth among all first-year defensemen with a plus-11 on-ice rating. Bryson, who scored his first pro goal on Wednesday and had the overtime game-winner Saturday night, is also tied for ninth among all rookie blueliners with 21 points (2+19) in 54 games while his 19 assists are eighth-most.

The Amerks needed overtime for the third consecutive game this past Saturday, but it was the Cleveland Monsters picking up the extra point, scoring just 1:35 into the extra frame to steal a 3-2 win.
Taylor Leier scored his eighth goal of the slate - and third in six games - while Brett Murray added his ninth goal for the Amerks. Lawrence Pilut earned his 100th AHL career assist a night after appearing in his 300th pro game while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made his fifth start in the last six games but suffered the overtime loss.

Rochester has collected at least one point in 18 of the last 24 games against Utica dating back to the start of the 2017-18 campaign, going 13-6-2-3 over that span.
Rochester's homestand concludes on Friday, Feb. 28 when they host the North Division rival Laval Rocket at The Blue Cross Arena. Game time is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start and will be carried live on The Sports Leader AM 950/95.7 FM ESPN Rochester as well as AHLTV.