Gameday: Comets vs Adirondack
March 21, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
ADIRONDACK PHANTOMS (24-32-1-4) @ UTICA COMETS (27-27-3-4)
Utica Memorial Auditorium, 7 pm
Radio: 94.9 K-Rock
Tonight's Game: The Utica Comets start a critical three game weekend tonight, with the Adirondack Phantoms in town for the final time this season. The Comets have won five of their past six entering tonight's action.
When They Last Met: The Comets gave up a late goal with just 2:58 left in the third period to lose a 3-2 decision against the Phantoms on Feb. 28 at The AUD. Wingers David Marshall and Benn Ferriero scored for Utica, while Tye McGinn netted two goals for Adirondack. Goaltender Yann Denis picked up the victory with 27 saves on 29 shots.
Comets Outlook: The Utica Comets righted the ship and earned a weekend split, as they collected a 3-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat last Saturday evening at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre. The Comets were led offensively by a pair of goals from Colin Stuart and a multi-point night, courtesy of two assists, from Alex Friesen. Brandon DeFazio also found the back of the net for the Comets. Goaltender Joacim Eriksson turned aside 38 of 39 shots to earn the number one star and his 20th victory of the season.
Phantoms Outlook: Adirondack dropped a 5-4 decision to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last Sunday at Webster Bank Arena in Connecticut. Jeremy Langlois and Andrew Clark led Bridgeport with two goals and an assist apiece, while defenseman Jake Newton also added two helpers. Center Kyle Flanigan led the Phantoms with three assists, with Derek Whitmore leading the way with two goals.
Here Come The Comets: Since Jan. 18, the Comets have been the AHL's second highest producing team with 34 points, courtesy of a 16-7-2 record. Utica, which trails just St. John's in both wins and points during that span, has moved into sole possession of 11th place in the Western Conference, eight points shy of the final playoff position.
Dani California: Center Cal O'Reilly remains on fire, with assists in each of his past seven games, extended with helpers in both games against Abbotsford this weekend. The former Nashville Predator has also collected 12 points over 11 games since he returned from injury in late February and has 19 helpers over his past 19 games.
Brain Friese: Center Alex Friesen collected three points this past weekend and now has five over his past five games played. The center scored each of his two goals this season last week and recorded a multi-point game against the Heat on Saturday, with two assists. Friesen's first helper broke his existing career high of five points.
The Eriksson Will Come Out Tomorrow: Goaltender Joacim Eriksson stole the show in Abbotsford with a 71 save effort over the two game spell in British Columbia. Eriksson is also now the AHL's third most played goaltender, with over 2430 minutes played and is one of 12 netminders with 20 or more victories.
A Brandon New High: Comets winger Brandon DeFazio broke his AHL career high with his twelfth goal of the season on Saturday in Abbotsford. The Oakville native had 11 goals in each of his past two seasons, with Bridgeport and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Boys II Gren: Winger Alexandre Grenier scored in his first game back, with a power-play marker in Friday evening's defeat in Abbotsford. Grenier had missed the previous eight games with an injury suffered in Syracuse on Feb. 21. The Laval, QC is now second on the Comets with 16 goals this season.
Scouting The Phantoms: Winger Jason Akeson leads the Phantoms offensively, with 18 goals, 35 assists and 53 points, in addition to six power-play goals. Akeson's point total also ranks 13th in the AHL amongst all players. Center Kris Newbury is second in both assists (22) and points (36), while winger Tye McGinn now tied with Akeson with 18 goals.
Defenseman and NHL veteran Bruno Gervais leads all Adirondack blueliners with 26 points (10-16-26), while teammate Brandon Manning leads the way with 19 assists. Gervais' point total is fourth best on the Phantoms overall, while Manning also leads the team in both penalty minutes, with 210 and shots on goal, with 171.
Goaltender Cal Heeter has carried the load in Glens Falls, with 36 appearances, while Yann Denis has seen time in 30 games this season. Heeter has 15 victories, a .915 save percentage and a 2.52 goals against average, and is currently tied for second in the league with four shutouts. Rookie netminder Carsen Chubak leads the Phantoms with a .917 save percentage over seven games played.
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