AHL Utica Comets

Gameday: Comets vs Abbotsford

Published on October 30, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


The Utica Comets look to snap out of their season opening slump as they host the Abbotsford Heat in the first of twelve meetings this season between the two teams. The Heat made the nearly 3,000 mile trip to the Aud from British Columbia as the AHL's version of the Canucks-Flames rivalry comes to Utica.

When They Last Met: Tonight will be the first ever regular season meeting between these two franchises. The Heat defeated the Comets 5-2 in a preseason game at the Abbotsford Sports and Entertainment Centre on Sept. 22, the first official game in Comets franchise history.

Comets Outlook: Despite a comeback effort in the third period on Saturday that saw the Comets score two goals, Utica came up just short as they dropped their sixth straight decision, this by a 3-2 score to Hamilton. The Bulldogs had the best of the Comets over the first two periods as Maxime Macenauer, Louis LeBlanc and Akim Aliu beat Utica goaltender Joacim Eriksson to go up 3-0 through two frames. Utica made a game of it in the third as Peter Andersson and Colin Stuart scored to narrow the margin to one, but the Comets could not find an equalizer. Benn Ferreiro recorded two assists in the defeat and Eriksson finished with 21 saves.

Heat Outlook: Abbotsford was also last in action on Saturday as they dropped a 3-1 home decision to the Lake Erie Monsters. Corbin Knight scored the game's opening goal to put the Heat on top through one, but the Monsters netted three unanswered markers for the victory. Reto Berra was the goaltender of record as he stopped 24 of 27 shots he faced. Mark Olver had a hand in all three Monster goals, as he finished the game with three points (0-3-3).

Canada Eh?: The Comets are currently in a stretch of four straight against Canadian opposition after a string of five in a row against New York opponents to begin the season. Following tonight's game, the Comets host Abbotsford again on Friday before the Toronto Marlies come to town for the first time on Tuesday. Both games are set for 7 p.m.

CoLinsanity:Colin Stuart moved into a tie for the Comets lead in goals (2), as he beat Bulldogs goaltender Dustin Tokarski late in the third. The Comets forward is also tied for fourteenth in the AHL with two power play goals.

Pistol Pete: Comets defenseman Peter Andersson found the back of the net for the first time as a Comet on Saturday. The goal was also just the second of Andersson's AHL career, who last scored on Dec. 13 as a member of the Chicago Wolves. That goal was also scored against Hamilton.

Blue Streak: Pascal Pelletier has played in five of Utica's six games and has recorded a point in each. Pelletier was recalled to the Canucks, which caused him to miss the meeting with the Crunch, but he recorded an assist in his first game back against Hamilton. Pelletier is also tied for the second longest assist streak in the AHL with four games.

Binary Benn: Benn Ferriero played a part in both Comets goals against Hamilton as he recorded his first multi-point game of the season. The winger had the primary helper on Andersson's goal and also picked up a point on Stuart's marker as well.

Roster Moves: The Comets will be without Ludwig Blomstrand and Sacha Guimond who were both assigned to the ECHL this week. Blomstrand is with Vancouver's ECHL affiliate in Kalamazoo and Guimond returns to the Gwinnett Gladiators, where he spent a portion of last season.

Robbie's Return: Abbotsford assistant coach Robbie Ftorek spent the 1992-93 season as the Head Coach of the Utica Devils. Ftorek was behind the bench for the Devils' final game, a 3-2 Game 5 loss against the Rochester Americans, in the Divisional Semi-Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Scouting The Heat: The theme for Abbotsford thus far this season has been balanced scoring, as 13 different Heat players have found the back of the net. Leading the way has been centers Corban Knight (3-4-7) and Paul Byron (1-6-7), who lead the team with seven points apiece. Byron's six assists are also tops on the team and tied for 16th in the AHL. Left winger Ben Hankowski leads all Heat forwards with four goals.

Defenseman Chad Billings is tied with Hankowski for the team lead in goals and the Ferris State graduate leads all Heat defenseman with four points (4-0-4). Billings is also the only defenseman on the Heat roster who has skated in all nine games thus far this season.

Reto Berra has carried the load thus far between the pipes for Abbotsford. The Switzerland native has appeared in eight of the Heat's nine games. Entering with a 4-3-0-1 record, the netminder has compiled a 2.38 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. Berra ranks tied for fifth in the AHL in wins, third in minutes played and fourth in saves with 202.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 30, 2013


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