A two-goal performance from forward Isak Rosén and a 24-save effort from goaltender Devon Levi propelled the Rochester Americans (1-0-0-0) to a 4-3 season-opening win over the Toronto Marlies (0-1-0-0) to usher in their 70th anniversary season Friday night at The Blue Cross Arena.
With the victory, the Amerks improved to 42-22-6 all-time in home-openers over the previous 69 years and have outscored their opponents 283-221 over that span. Additionally, the Amerks have scored four or more goals in 10 of their last 12 home-opening victories dating back to an 8-5 win over Toronto to open the 2005-06 season.
Rosén (2+0) and his fellow countrymen Noah Östlund (0+2) both tallied a pair of power-play points while newcomer Zac Jones (0+2) also collected a pair in his Amerks debut. Rookie Tyler Kopff scored his first professional goal before Brendan Warren added the eventual game-winning tally.
Radim Mrkta, the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, recorded his first point in his professional debut to close out the scoring while Trevor Kuntar and Jake Leschyshyn both sported the Amerks crest for the first time.
Levi (1-0-0) stopped 24 of the 27 shots he faced to earn the victory.
Borya Valis (2+0) and Jacob Quillan (0+2) both recorded two points each for Toronto, which hold a 14-15-1-1 record in season-opening matchups. Logan Shaw (1+0), Luke Haymes (0+1), Matthew Barbolini (0+1), and former Amerk Alex Nylander (0+1) rounded the scoring with one point each.
Netminder Artur Akhtyamov (0-1-0) made 22 saves in his fourth overall appearance against Rochester and first of 2025-26
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