The Rochester Americans host the Laval Rocket at Blue Cross Arena on February 27 at 7:05 PM EST, marking a key AHL contest between two competitive teams. This Rochester Americans game preview highlights the current form, projected lineups, and standout players as both teams seek momentum in the closing portion of the season.
Recent Performance and Season Records for Both Teams
The Laval Rocket, holding a 33-16-2-3 record with 71 points, come into this game after a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday. Over their last five outings, Laval’s record stands at 1-2-1-1, averaging two goals scored per game while conceding nearly three. Their performance against Rochester this season has been strong, with a 3-2-0-0 record.
The Rochester Americans, with a 24-18-5-3 record and 56 points, also dropped their previous game, losing 4-2 to the Cleveland Monsters. Like Laval, their recent five-game slate is 1-2-1-1, though they have averaged a slightly higher 2.8 goals per match but allowed 3.6 goals against. The Americans have maintained a close record against Laval, standing at 2-2-1-0 this season.
Predicted Team Lineups for the Upcoming Game
Laval’s expected lineup features the forwards Farrell-Belzile-Blais, Roy-Beck-Mesar, Davidson-Condotta-Simoneau, and Tuch-Xhexaj-Thorpe. Their defensive pairs are Del Gaizo-Reinbacher, Bisson-Clurman, and Trudeau-Didier, with Kahkonen and Jones as goaltenders.
Rochester’s lineup is anticipated to include Kuntar-Fiddler-Schultz-Joshua, Meyer-Helenius-Rosen, Costantini-Slaggert-Warren, and Nadeau-Leschyshyn up front. Their defensive sets will involve Bayreuther-Jones, Novikov-Rathbone, and Johnson-Komarov, with Laaquan and Levi Rowe likely in net.
Key Players to Monitor During the Game
Laurent Dauphin of the Laval Rocket is a significant threat, leading the entire AHL with 56 points and 41 assists and maintaining a +26 plus/minus rating. However, Dauphin’s availability is uncertain due to a day-to-day injury. Alex Belzile, leading Laval with 23 goals, along with Sean Farrell, who has tallied 37 points including 24 assists, are crucial contributors. Defenseman Marc Del Gaizo also stands out with a +21 plus/minus this season.
On the Rochester side, defenseman Zac Jones leads with 44 points and 37 assists, while Isak Rosen tops the goal chart with 25. Gavin Bayreuther is the team leader in plus/minus rating, registering a +9 for the active roster, providing stability both offensively and defensively.
Upcoming Matches Following This Clash
After facing Rochester, the Laval Rocket travel to meet the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on February 28, while the Rochester Americans will visit the Syracuse Crunch on March 1. These upcoming games are vital for both teams as they attempt to improve playoff positioning late in the season.
