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Utica Comets

Gameday: Comets at Albany

February 23, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


UTICA COMETS (22-23-3-4) @ ALBANY DEVILS (28-17-3-5)

Times Union Center, 3pm

Radio: 94.9 K-Rock

Tonight's Game: The Comets complete their tour of Upstate New York with a trip to the Times Union Center in Albany, New York to take on the Devils.  Utica has won four consecutive games entering today's action and now sits just six points out of a playoff position in the Western Conference.

When They Last Met: The Utica Comets may have just now finally stopped seeing red, after they dropped their most lopsided decision of the season, an 8-3 defeat against the Devils on Jan. 17.. Benn Ferriero, Alexandre Grenier and Brandon DeFazio scored for Utica in a losing effort. Goaltenders Mathieu Corbeil and Joe Cannata each surrendered four goals for the Comets, who fell to 11-20-2-3 with the defeat.

Comets Outlook: For the first time in franchise history, the Utica Comets completed a third period come from behind victory, as they defeated the Binghamton Senators 3-2. Nicklas Jensen and Frank Corrado scored third period goals and captain Colin Stuart also scored for the Comets, who moved to 22-23-3-4 as they earned their fourth consecutive victory. Center Cal O'Reilly collected two assists for the second consecutive evening and goaltender Joacim Eriksson turned aside 27 of 29 shots for the victory.

Devils Outlook: The Devils defeated the Norfolk Admirals by a 4-1 scoreline last evening at the Times Union Center. Stefan Matteau, Reid Boucher, Kelly Zajac and Mike Sislo each scored for Albany, who picked up a point for the seventh time in its last ten games.  Keith Kinkaid earned the victory with 25 saves on 26 shots, while Viktor Fasth took the loss with 29 stops.  Norm Ezekiel scored the lone goal for Norfolk.

The Comeback Kids: For the first time this season, the Utica Comets completed a third period come from behind performance, as they overturned a 2-1 deficit in Binghamton last evening.  The Comets had previously been 0-19-0-2 when trailing after two periods and became the AHL's final team to accomplish this feat. 

The Eriksson Belt: Goaltender Joacim Eriksson won his third straight start with a 25 save effort against the Binghamton Senators last evening.  Eriksson has now held his opposition to two goals or less in 13 of his past 18 starts. Amongst all netminders in the AHL with more than 30 games played, the Galve, Sweden ranks tenth in the AHL with a .914 save percentage.

Fifty Jense: With another power-play tally last evening in Binghamton, winger Nicklas Jensen is now the team leader with six goals on the man advantage. Jensen, who now has 14 goals this total this season, has netted 13 over his past 20 games played and leads all Comets with eight goals during the month of February.

Stuart's Ice Cream Shop: Winger and team captain Colin Stuart has dominated the Binghamton Senators this season, with five goals over three games, including a tally last evening.  The Rochester, MN native also has eight goals in ten career games against Binghamton and now ranks fourth on the Comets with 12 goals this season.

Frank The Tank: Defenseman Frank Corrado scored his second game-winning goal of the season last evening, with a third period tally from the right point.  Corrado previously scored a game winner on Jan. 21 against Chicago.  Corrado now ranks second on the Comets with five goals this season.

Scouting The Devils: Forward Joe Whitney leads all Albany scorers with 41 points (19-22-41) over 49 games.  Whitney's goal and assist totals are both team highs and he recorded two points (0-2-2) in the AHL All-Star game last week. Kelly Zajac is the top rookie scorer on the Devils with 27 points (7-20-27) and ranks ninth amongst AHL first year players with the 20 helpers.

Defenseman Raman Hrabarenka leads all Albany defensemen with 17 points (5-12-17) over 30 games played, while he and fellow blueliners Dan Kelly and Reece Scarlett are tied for the team high with 15 assists.

Keith Kinkaid leads the Devils in all goaltending categories, including appearances (29) wins (15), save percentage (.914) and goals against average (2.30).  Rookie netminder Scott Wedgewood has made 24 appearances of his own and currently possesses an 8-11-3 record, with a .889 save percentage and a 2.77 goals against average.

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