ROCHESTER, N.Y. — At 37-18-3-3, the Rochester Americans are bearing down for yet another Calder Cup run.

A key part of their success this season? Zachary Metsa, a quiet defenseman who's been racking up points from the blue line all year.

"I've been here for two years now. This is my second full year. It's been unbelievable. I've loved it," said Metsa.

The Wisconsin native and Quinnipiac alum hasn't always had world-breaking stats, and has had to fight for his spot in professional hockey. 

"I wasn't a stud coming out of junior year, especially like in the pro ranks or anything, like any attraction that way," Metsa said. “Some guys just need like the extra few years."

He’s not the biggest guy back on the back-end, but his contributions are seen every day at practice and in games.

"Easier said than done. A kind of a thing my strength coach at Quinnipiac always said [was] just [get] 1% better every day. And I know it's a popular saying too, but it's just going out with a purpose," Metsa said.

That's helped him keep the Amerks near the top of the division and league for most of the season, and accrue an impressive amount of points, mostly as a set-up man. 

"We’ve got a lot of good players around me,” Metsa said. “I think it's just my job to get them the puck, let them make plays and, you know, it works out a lot. And I've reaped some benefits from it."

He made big strides from his first full year in Rochester to his second, as he looks to improve and eventually rock the blue and gold down the Thruway in Buffalo.

"It's definitely a goal of mine," he said. "But it's more of a product of the other work, and defending a little bit better, and just playing the right way and finding a little more consistency than I had last year."

It certainly helps that his good buddy Devon Levi is the last line of defense. 

"It's nice having a guy like that back there where you know if you give up a chance, he's probably going to make that save. Most of the time he does. And he'll make even ones that he's not supposed to make," Metsa said. "It's always very comforting having someone like that.”

Whether it's keeping the opposition out of the crease or assisting on goals at the other end, Metsa has become integral to the Amerks' success and wants to bring the entire organization something at least 1% better every day.

"I think we have a great culture here," said Metsa. "[The] Buffalo and Rochester fan base, collectively, they deserve success and deserve a championship. And if we can be the ones to do that, I would be over the moon to bring that to them. It'd be pretty special."