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AHL Utica Comets

Gameday: Comets at Rochester

February 14, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


UTICA COMETS (18-22-3-4) @ ROCHESTER AMERICANS (23-17-3-3)

Blue Cross Arena, 7 pm

Radio: 94.9 K-Rock

Tonight's Game: The Comets complete a five game road trip as they visit the Rochester Americans to take on their familiar foe at Blue Cross Arena.

When They Last Met: The Americans defeated the Comets 5-2 at The AUD on January 3. Winger Alex Hutchings scored two goals to pace the Rochester offense, while Joel Armia and Nick Crawford had a goal and an assist apiece. Matt Hackett took home the victory with 33 saves on 35 shots, while Joe Cannata made 21 saves in defeat. Kellan Lain and Pascal Pelletier both scored for Utica.

Comets Outlook: The Utica Comets lost a heartbreaking 5-4 decision against Rockford last Sunday. Alex Broadhurst capped off a four-point night (2-2-4) with the game winner 2:09 into overtime. Winger Nicklas Jensen, who netted his second career night with a natural hat trick during the second period, led Utica offensively. Jason LaBarbara picked up the victory with 29 saves on 33 shots, while Joacim Eriksson took the loss despite a 32 save performance.

Americans Outlook: The Americans dropped a 5-1 decision to the Grand Rapids Griffins at the First Niagara Center on Saturday. Martin Frk (1-1-2), Cory Emmerton (1-1-2), Jeff Hoggan (1-1-2) and Nathan Paetsch (0-2-2) each recorded two points for the Griffins, while netminder Tom McCollum turned aside 27 of 28 shots to earn the win. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen scored the lone goal for Rochester, while Hackett took the defeat.

Jensis The Menace: With his three-goal outing against Milwaukee on Sunday, Nicklas Jensen netted his first hat trick as a Comet and the second of his AHL career. Jensen had previously collected three goals against the Peoria Rivermen on Apr. 15, 2012 as a member of the Chicago Wolves. The Denmark native has also amassed five goals over his past four games and nine goals over his past ten road games.

The Hunger Biegames: Defenseman Alex Biega posted two points (0-2-2), a +2 rating and a shootout game winner over Utica's four road games last week. The multi-point game was the ninth of his career. Biega has also amassed a +9 rating over his past 11 games and is tied with Peter Andersson for the team best mark on the season. Biega also leads all Comet defensemen with 11 assists.

Four Score and One Game Ago: The Comets set a franchise record against Rockford with a four-goal output during the game's second period. Begun by a Darren Archibald tally and boosted by Nicklas Jensen's natural hat trick, the Comets put four of their 13 shots past netminder Jason LaBarbara. Utica was able to flip a 2-0 deficit into a 4-3 advantage over just 13:36 of game clock.

Road Warriors: The Comets have now picked up points in seven of their past nine contests away from home. Utica has also improved its record to 10-10-2-1 on the road after they lost four straight to open the season. The Comets are one of just two teams in the Western Conference, along with Toronto, to have more wins on the road (10) than at home (8).

Don't I Know You?: The Comets and Americans have seen quite a bit of one another this season, with tonight's meeting the eighth of the year between the two squads. With the two teams to square off again tomorrow, Rochester will become Utica's most commonly faced opponent this season. The Comets will have played the Americans nine times, one more than their eight meetings against the Abbotsford Heat.

Scouting The Americans: Center Luke Adam leads the way for Rochester in both goals and points, entering the week with 34 points (20-14-34) this season. Adam is one of just eight players in the AHL with 20 goals to date. Phil Varone leads the team with 25 assists and is second with 33 total points(8-25-33). Rochester recently received winger Linus Omark from Buffalo during the Olympic break. Omark had 29 points (14-15-29) in 29 AHL games this season with Oklahoma City, before he was traded to the Buffalo organization.

Defenseman Brayden McNabb has been the offensive catalyst from the blueline, with 22 points (5-17-22) over just 28 games played. McNabb is also tied with Adam for the team lead with a +13 rating.

Nathan Lieuwen and Matt Hackett have split the load in net for the Americans, with each netminder amassing at least 20 starts. Lieuwen's .924 save percentage and 2.37 goals against average are tops on the roster, while Hackett has a team high 13 victories. Lieuwen has also recorded two shutouts.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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