AHL Utica Comets

Gameday: Comets vs Binghamton

December 13, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


BINGHAMTON SENATORS (14-7-0-3) @ UTICA COMETS (6-14-1-1)

Utica Memorial Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Radio: 94.9 K-Rock

Tonight's Game: The Utica Comets look to get back in the win column tonight after they dropped each of their three contests a week ago. The Comets welcome the Binghamton Senators to The AUD for the first of two meetings in 14 days in the Mohawk Valley.

When They Last Met: Tonight is the first ever regular season meeting between these two teams.

Comets Outlook: The Comets made their first trip of the season to Adirondack and ran into a hot goaltender in Cal Heeter as they dropped a 3-1 decision to the Phantoms. Darren Archibald scored Utica's only goal as Heeter turned aside 18 of Utica's 19 shots. Joe Cannata made 26 saves but was unable to avoid his second loss in as many starts. Adirondack's franchise scoring leader, Jason Akeson, picked up two points (1-1-2) as his team won for the eleventh time this season.

Senators Outlook: The Senators dropped their third shootout decision of the season, a 4-3 loss against the Hershey Bears on home ice. The Senators peppered the Bears with 42 shots but two third period goals from Hershey forced the game to a shootout. Senators forward Mark Stone had two points (1-1-2), while Andre Petersson and Mike Hoffman each found the back of the net for Binghamton. Ryan Stoa and Stanislav Galiev each scored in the shootout against Andrew Hammond to give Hershey the victory and drop Binghamton to 2-3 in shootouts.

Noah's Arch: Winger Darren Archibald was the lone goal-scorer for the Comets against the Phantoms last Saturday.  The big winger has now picked up three points (2-1-3) since he returned to Utica from an eight game stint in the NHL with Vancouver.

A Tale Of Two Periods: The Comets set individual period records in both the first and second period against the Phantoms. Utica allowed a season low four shots during the first period, but then went on to surrender a season high 19 shots in the second stanza.

Czech-Mate: Defenseman Adam Polasek was reassigned to Utica from Kalamazoo of the ECHL this week. The defenseman, who took part in training camp with the Comets, is a veteran of 72 career AHL games.. A native of Ostrava, Czech Republic, Polasek has recorded two points (1-1-2) over 11 games with the Wings this season and is scoreless in two games with the Comets.

No Flash In The Yann: The Comets will be without defenseman Yannick Weber, who was recalled to Vancouver after an impressive seven game stint in Utica. The defenseman recorded seven points (2-5-7) over his seven games played. Six of Weber's points came with the man-advantage, which helped vault Utica's power play to 13th in the league at 19.0%.

Nothing New In New York:  When the puck drops against the Senators on Friday night, the Comets will have faced each of their five opponents from New York State. The 2013-14 season is the first in AHL history with six teams from the Empire State.

Lets Go Streaking: Brandon DeFazio and Cal O'Reilly each enter tonight's action with a two game point streak at The AUD that dates back to the Nov. 26 game against Lake Erie. DeFazio, who has amassed points in three of his past four games in Utica, is also carrying a +5 rating in games played in the Mohawk Valley this season.

Unlucky Thirteen: After their defeat against Adirondack on Saturday, the Utica Comets have now lost each game this season when they enter the third period trailing. The Comets are 0-13-0-0 in these situations and are one of seven teams in the AHL this season who have not came from behind for a win in the third period.

Scouting The Senators: Senators leading scorer Mike Hoffman was recently reassigned to the AHL, where he ranks fifth in the league with 27 points (12-15-27).  Hoffman's 12 goals are tied for seventh best, fifth amongst active AHL skaters. Center Stephane Da Costa is second on the Senators roster with 21 points (7-14-21).

Rookie defenseman Cody Ceci, who was recently recalled to Ottawa of the NHL, leads all Senator blueliners in points with 17 (2-15-17) and his assist total is second best amongst defensemen in the AHL.  Chris Wideman is currently the leading scorer on the Binghamton blueline with 12 points (2-10-12). Fredrik Claussen leads not only all Senator defensemen, but all AHL skaters with a +17 rating.

Nathan Lawson leads all Binghamton goaltenders with eight wins, a .927 save percentage and a 2.45 goals against average. Lawson has been one of the league's best this season as he ranks fourth in save percentage, ninth in saves and tied for twelfth in victories.

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