Missed Opportunities Doom Amerks in 3-1 Loss to Senators

By Christopher Drummond

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Missed chances and costly penalties proved to be the difference as the Rochester Americans fell 3–1 to the Belleville Senators on Wednesday night at Blue Cross Arena.

The loss marked Rochester’s third defeat to Belleville this season, though the Amerks still hold a 4–3 edge in the seven-game series. Short-handed due to injuries and recent call-ups, Rochester struggled to generate sustained offense, particularly at even strength.

The opening period was largely uneventful, with both teams battling to establish puck control. Each side managed eight shots on goal, but neither could break through. The highlight came late in the frame when Amerks goaltender Devon Levi made a spectacular glove save on a Senators breakaway, preserving a 0–0 tie heading into the first intermission.

Rochester was without leading goal scorer Isak Rosen, who was officially called up to the Buffalo Sabres earlier in the week. The night also marked a milestone for Riley Fiddler-Schultz, who played his 100th career game in an Amerks uniform.

The second period opened poorly for the home side, as Rochester took its third penalty of the night just 20 seconds in. Belleville capitalized, with defenseman Lassi Thomson snapping a shot past Levi from the right circle to give the Senators a 1–0 lead. The goal was Thomson’s 12th of the season, tops among A

Rochester Amerks Left Wing #4 Mason Geertsen is preparing for battle in upcoming matchup against the Belleville Senators on Wednesday

HL defensemen.

The Amerks responded quickly when Belleville took its first penalty of the game. Just over a minute later, Carson Meyer buried his eighth goal of the season to tie the contest at 1–1. Nikita Novikov and Trevor Guntar picked up the assists, Guntar’s 11th and Novikov’s ninth of the year.

Despite being outshot 10–9 in the period, Rochester entered the third tied, with both teams finding offense hard to come by.

The early portion of the final frame reflected that trend, as the teams combined for just seven shots in the opening minutes. With much of the crowd already filing out, Belleville struck the decisive blow. Defenseman Cameron Crotty fired a snapshot from the left side that beat Levi, giving the Senators a 2–1 lead. The goal stood as the game-winner and was Crotty’s fourth of the season.

Rochester pulled Levi late in a last-ditch effort to force overtime, but Belleville sealed the win when Keean Washkurak deflected a shot, collected the puck, and scored into the empty net. It was Washkurak’s seventh goal of the season and Belleville’s third win against the Amerks this year.

After the game, Amerks head coach Michael Leone pointed to missed opportunities and discipline as key factors.

“This was a tough one,” Leone said. “They have a really talented team over there. Unfortunately, we didn’t come out with a point tonight. It’s a game where we’ve got to get to overtime. I thought we were a little undisciplined with our penalties, but I can’t fault the effort from the guys.”

Leone added that his team had chances, particularly late.

“I thought we did a lot of good things, especially in the third period,” he said. “We had our opportunities, but we just didn’t execute.”

The Amerks will look to bounce back Friday night as they close out their six-game homestand against the Springfield Thunderbirds. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.