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AHL Utica Comets

Gameday: Comets vs. Abbotsford

December 18, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


ABBOTSFORD HEAT (20-7-1-1) @ UTICA COMETS (8-15-1-1)

Utica Memorial Auditorium, 7 pm

Radio: 94.9 K-Rock

Tonight's Game: The Utica Comets are going for three in a row on home ice for the first time in franchise history, as they host the Abbotsford Heat tonight at The AUD. This will mark Abbotsford's second of three trips to the Mohawk Valley this season.

When They Last Met: On Nov. 30, Pascal Pelletier completed a two game sweep of the Heat with the first overtime game winner in franchise history, which finalized a 4-3 win for the Comets.  Kellan Lain scored twice for Utica, while Colin Stuart added one of his own. Ben Street led the way for Abbotsford with two points (1-1-2) whereas Turner Elson and Josh Jooris scored one apiece for the Heat.

Comets Outlook: The Utica Comets evened their shootout record to 1-1 this season, with a 3-2 victory over the Lake Erie Monsters in a Sunday afternoon game at The AUD.  Kellan Lain and Nicklas Jensen each scored for the Comets, while Alexandre Grenier ended the game in the fourth round of the shootout, after Jensen's game winner.  Jensen and Pascal Pelletier also scored in the shootout, while Joacim Eriksson won his second straight start with 26 saves on 28 shots.

Heat Outlook: The Heat dropped a 4-2 decision to the Iowa Wild in their final of a six game home stand on Thursday evening. Erik Haula and Kris Foucault each scored a pair of goals for the Wild and Jon Landry added two helpers. Haula also finished with a game high +4 rating and goaltender Johan Gustafsson turned away 28 of the 30 shots he faced for the victory. Markus Granlund and Derek Smith scored in the loss for the Heat.

Tic-Tac-Toe, Three In A Row: The Comets are in search of their third straight win on home ice, following a successful weekend at The AUD. The Comets reached five straight on the road earlier in the season in a stretch from Nov. 8 through Nov. 30.

Jokie-Dokie: Comets netminder Joacim Eriksson had a big week between the pipes as he went a perfect 2-0-0-0 in two starts. Eriksson turned aside 68 of 72 shots, good for a .944 save percentage and his four goals against over two games gave him a 1.92 goals against average.

DJensen Unchained: Nicklas Jensen finally broke out of his goal-scoring slump with his power play goal against the Monsters. Jensen, who also converted on a beautiful one-handed move in the shootout, lit the lamp for the seventh time in his AHL career with the previous six coming as a member of the Chicago Wolves over the past two seasons.

Four Square: Colin Stuart's banner performance against Binghamton was just the third time this season an AHL player has scored four goals in a game. Stuart joins Oklahoma City's Linus Omark and Providence's Matt Fraser in the exclusive club, the first time in his career he has reached the four-goal landmark.

Twenty Points In My Pocket: Center Pascal Pelletier became the first player in franchise history to reach the 20-point mark (5-15-20) after he amassed two assists this past weekend. Pelletier's 15 assists have him ranked tied for 18th in the AHL but he ranks first amongst active players who have skated in 21 games or less.

Cooling Down The Heat: After their two game sweep of Abbotsford on Thanksgiving Weekend, the Comets remain the league's only team with two victories this season at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. The Heat are one of the AHL's top home teams this season, tied for fourth in the league with nine wins on home ice.

Scouting The Heat: The AHL player of the month during November, Ben Street, is Abbotsford's leading scorer with 26 points (16-10-26). Street, who is also tied for second in the AHL in both goals and power-play goals, also ranks tied for tenth in points.  Winger Markus Granlund, who is second behind Street on the Heat, is tied for seventh in the league with 12 goals.

Chad Billings has been one of the AHL's elite offensive blueliners this season.  Billings is tied for the AHL lead amongst defensemen with 19 assists and 25 points (6-19-25).  Billings' 19 assists are also tied for fifth in the entire AHL.

Joni Ortio, who made his season debut in late November at The AUD, is tied for second in the AHL with 12 wins.  Ortio also ranks tied for eighth in the league with a .923 save percentage and tenth with a 2.26 goals against average. The Finland native has also recorded the Heat's only shutout of the season against Iowa on Nov. 23.

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