AHL Utica Comets

Gameday: Comets vs Abbotsford

Published on November 29, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


UTICA COMETS (4-11-1-1) @ ABBOTSFORD HEAT (17-5-0-1)

Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre, 10p.m. EST

Radio: 94.9 K-Rock

The Utica Comets travel to Western Canada for the first time during the regular season as they look to extend their road-winning streak to four games against the Abbotsford Heat. The Comets have not dropped one away from The AUD since a 4-0 loss on Nov. 7 against the Lake Erie Monsters.

When They Last Met: The Comets and Heat have met twice thus far this season, with both meetings in Utica. Abbotsford was victorious by 5-4 and 4-3 scorelines, with the former going to overtime and ended on a Corbin Knight game winner. Blair Jones was the hero in the second game, as his goal with less than five minutes to play sealed the deal and the four point trip for the Heat.

Comets Outlook: Despite an early goal just 40 seconds into the game, the Utica Comets could not take down the Lake Erie Monsters as they dropped another one-goal game at home. Brandon DeFazio and Henrik Tommernes each found the back of the net for the Comets, who fell to 1-7-1-1 on home ice. Joacim Eriksson made 23 saves on 26 shots, but the netminder could not extend his two game winning streak. Sami Aittokallio earned the win in his first start against Utica with 16 saves on 18 shots on net.

Heat Outlook: Joey McDonald was sensational between the pipes, while Ben Street scored twice in the second period as the Heat downed the Iowa Wild 2-1 to complete a two game sweep of Utica's fellow new team. The Heat were outshot 43-19 but McDonald was the difference as he made a season high 42 saves. Street's multi-goal game was his third of the season and it extended his team lead in goals to 11.

Shutout Shutdown: Joacim Eriksson entered Tuesday's game with a shutdown streak of 112:30, which dated back to the first period against Rochester on Friday. Eriksson's feat ended at 114:00 after he surrendered a goal just 90 seconds into the first period as Karl Stollery beat him with a wrist shot.

One Tree Downhill: Utica found itself on the wrong side of yet another one goal game as the Comets lost for the seventh time this season where the score was decided by one goal. The AUD has been particularly unkind to its hometown Comets as the team is now just 0-4-1-1 in one goal games at home.

Pascal Me Maybe: Another game, another point for Utica center Pascal Pelletier. The Labrador City, NL native now has 14 points (3-11-14) over 13 games, which leads all members of the Comets. Pelletier's 11 assists rank tied for 25th in the AHL, but are also the highest total in the league for players who have skated in 13 games or less.

Work Hard, Power Play Hard: The Utica Comets now have scored a power play goal in their last three games, courtesy of Henrik Tommernes' blast from the point against the Monsters. The Comets are in the top half of the league in powerplay percentage as they sit 14th at 16.9%, despite the second fewest opportunities with the man advantage.

Fast Out Of The Gates: Brandon DeFazio's tally just 40 seconds into the game against Lake Erie was the fastest goal in Utica Comets franchise history. The winger's goal in the first period broke teammate Alex Grenier's existing record which came against the Toronto Marlies, as buried a feed from DeFazio himself 70 seconds in.

Canuck Country: Despite the game taking place nearly 3,000 miles from The AUD, the Comets will have a bit of a hometown feeling, as Abbotsford is just a short drive from the parent club in Vancouver.

Scouting The Monsters: The Heat's leader in points, Blair Jones, has been recalled to the Calgary Flames, which leaves Street (11-8-19) and Knight (7-11-18) as the top scoring forwards on the squad. Street's 11 goals are tied for fourth in the AHL and second amongst currently active players.

Chad Billings has been a force to be reckoned with on the Abbotsford blueline and he enters tonight's action trailing TJ Brennan for the league lead in points by a defenseman by just one, with 20 points (6-14-20) to his credit. Billings' 14 assists are tied for the league amongst defensemen, and his six goals rank tied for third.

Joey McDonald and Joni Ortio have both put up solid numbers for the Heat, as the pair have combined for a 13-1-0-0 on the season. Ortio's nine wins rank tied for second in the league, his.928 ranks fourth amongst qualified AHL goaltenders, while his 2.26 goals against average is ninth best in the league. After being reassigned from Calgary, McDonald has posted a 4-1-0-0 mark in five games played, with a .933 save percentage and a 2.17 goals against average.

Check out the Utica Comets Statistics

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