The Rochester Americans secured the final playoff berth in the AHL's North Division with a crucial point from a 5-4 overtime loss to the Hershey Bears on Sunday, the last day of the regular season. Trailing a surging Utica Comets tied on points entering the weekend, the Amerks endured a four-game skid but rallied in the third period for the tie they needed. This marks their 51st postseason in the 70th anniversary season; they now travel to Toronto for Game 1 against the Marlies.
Entering the final weekend on a four-game losing streak—including a 2-1 defeat to the Cleveland Monsters on Friday and an 8-0 thrashing by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday—the Amerks faced mounting pressure as Utica won repeatedly to tie them in points, despite Rochester holding a game in hand. Forward Carson Meyer summed up the tension: “They just kept winning and winning, and we couldn’t get the point.”
Against Hershey at Giant Center, Rochester rallied in the third period to force overtime and earn the single point required for a 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs berth, per TheAHL.com. The result locked in their spot, joining Laval, Syracuse, Cleveland, and Toronto in the North Division playoff field. The division's top three teams earn byes to the semifinals, while the fourth- and fifth-place finishers battle in a best-of-three first-round series.
The achievement adds to the Amerks' storied legacy, with six Calder Cup championships, 16 finals appearances, and now a 51st postseason amid their 70th anniversary celebrations.
