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AHL Utica Comets

Gameday: Comets vs. Binghamton

December 27, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


Utica Comets Official Website

BINGHAMTON SENATORS (16-9-0-3) @ UTICA COMETS (10-15-1-1)

Utica Memorial Auditorium, 7 pm

Radio: 94.9 K-Rock

Tonight's Game: The Utica Comets are in search of their fifth consecutive win on home ice this season, and their fourth straight overall, as the Binghamton Senators come to town for the second, and final time this season. The Comets are currently in their fourth of seven games in a row at The AUD.

When They Last Met: Utica was victorious against the Senators, 5-2, in their past meeting on Dec. 13 at The AUD. Captain Colin Stuart scored four goals for the first time in his career, while Joacim Eriksson made 42 saves on 44 shots to earn the victory. Cal O'Reilly also found the back of the net for the Comets while he (1-1-2), Darren Archibald (0-2-2), Benn Ferriero (0-2-2) and Pascal Pelletier (0-2-2) each had multi-point games.

Comets Outlook: Behind a 21 save shutout from goaltender Joacim Eriksson, the Comets won their fourth straight game over the Abbotsford Heat, this by a 3-0 margin. The Comets, who got goals from Kellan Lain, Alexandre Grenier and Benn Ferriero, became the 29th team in the league to reach the double-digit mark in wins on the season. Eriksson's shutout was both the second of not only his career, but also in franchise history.

Senators Outlook: Binghamton won the first half of their back-to-back against the Hershey Bears last evening. Cole Schneider finished with a four-point evening (2-2-4), while teammate Stephane Da Costa added two goals of his own. Fredrik Claussen (0-2-2) and Jim O'Brien (0-2-2) also had multi-point games for Binghamton and Nathan Lawson picked up the victory with 32 saves on 33 shots. Lawson won his second straight game since he returned from injury last week.

Bazooka Joacim: After his 3-0 blanking of the Abbotsford Heat last Friday, Joacim Eriksson is now one of just 10 goaltenders in the AHL with multiple shutouts this season. Eriksson has now won each of his last four starts and the Swede has compiled a 1.48 goals against average and a .953 save percentage in the process.

Ten For Benn: Benn Ferriero scored an empty net marker with two seconds left against the Heat, which not only iced the game but also gave him ten goals on the season. Ferriero, who reached the double-digit plateau for the third time in his career, is also the first player in Comets history to do so.

We're Going Streaking: The Comets are now 3-1-1-0 this season against the Heat, who are tied for the most points in the Western Conference. Utica is the only team who has defeated Abbotsford in back-to-back nights and, along with Lake Erie, the only team with multiple wins over the Heat. The Comets are winners of their last three games.

Life In The Fast Lain: With his first period tally against Abbotsford, Kellan Lain has found the back of the net in each of Utica's past three games played. Lain, whose active streak ranks tied for third in the AHL, now has nine points (5-4-9) this season, which ranks second on the Comets in rookie scoring,

Seven Nation Army: Courtesy of Alexandre Grenier's goal late in the first period last Friday, the Comets have now scored a power-play goal in each of their last seven games at The AUD. Utica also now possesses the AHL's seventh ranked power-play unit, at a 20.4 percent conversion rate and is one of just three teams that has not allowed a shorthanded goal yet this season.

Co-Linked In: Utica's four game winning streak on home ice began with team captain Colin Stuart's four goal effort back on Dec. 13 to lead the Comets past Binghamton 5-2. Stuart joined Matt Fraser and Linus Omark as the only players to put up four goals in an AHL game this season.

Scouting The Senators: Winger Mike Hoffman currently ranks third in the AHL with 32 points (14-18-32) and his 14 goals are fifth best in the league. Center Stephane Da Costa is also playing at a point-per-game pace with 26 points (9-17-26) over 26 games. Da Costa's point total has him tied for 16th in the AHL and his 17 assists are tied for 12th.

Fredrik Claussen has been near the top of the league's leaderboards all season in plus/minus, and he currently sits second with a +20 rating. Teammate Cole Schneider also ranks in the AHL's top ten, sitting sixth at +14.

Nathan Lawson, who recently returned from injury, leads the way for the Senators in games played (16), wins (10), save percentage (.929) and goals against average (2.33). Lawson's save percentage ranks second in the league, while he also ranks in the league's top 12 in wins (T11th) and goals against average (12th)

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