AHL Utica Comets

Gameday: Comets vs. Rochester

Published on November 23, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


ROCHESTER AMERICANS (7-6-2-2) @ UTICA COMETS (3-10-1-1)

Utica Memorial Auditorium, 7 PM

Radio: 94.9 K-Rock

The Comets look to complete the weekend sweep against Rochester tonight as the Americans come to town for the back half of the home and home series. Utica won last night's game by a 3-2 scoreline and its now seeking its first victory on home ice.

Comets Outlook: Pascal Pelletier deflected home a Henrik Tommernes point shot with just 3:43 to play as the Comets defeated the Americans 3-2. Alex Grenier and Patrick Mullen each found the back of the net as well for Utica, who defeated the Americans for the first time in franchise history. After they fell behind 2-0 early in the first period in Rochester, the Comets netted three unanswered goals for their third straight victory away from The AUD. Joacim Eriksson recorded 24 saves on 26 shots for his third victory of the season.

Americans Outlook: Dan Catenacci and Chad Ruhwedel each scored for Rochester during their 3-2 loss to Utica. Nathan Lieuwen suffered his first defeat of the season against the Comets, despite 28 saves on 31 shots. Mike Zigomanis picked up his seventh point of the season over four games versus Utica and Johan Larsson picked up two assists in just his second AHL game of the season.

Road Warriors: The Comets have now accounted for each of their three wins on the road and have won three straight games away from the Mohawk Valley. Utica has outscored opponents 9-5 over the three game winning streak and has earned six of its eight points away from the AUD.

Pascal Pots The Winner: Comets center Pascal Pelletier scored his first game winning goal of the season against the Americans and extended his team leading point total to 12 (3-9-12). Pelletier has scored each of his three goals this season at Blue Cross Arena.

Alexandre The Great: With his first period goal against Rochester, Alexandre Grenier now has three goals over Utica's last four games. Grenier now ranks second on the Comets with five goals on the season and is the team leader with a +4 rating.

Eriksson's A Bad, Bad Man: Joacim Eriksson has recorded each of Utica's three wins over their winning streak and has improved his record to 3-3 away from The Aud. The Sweden native has recorded a .938 save percentage and a 1.67 goals against average during his three victories.

O'nly One Game: It took new Comet Cal O'Reilly just one game to find the scoresheet after he recorded an assist on Patrick Mullen's second period goal against Rochester. O'Reilly played in his first AHL game since Apr. 15, 2012 and the assist was the 209th of his career in the league.

Home Not So Sweet Home: The Comets have recorded each of their two victories away from The AUD, and enter tonight's game just 0-6-1-1 on home ice. The Comets, who have been outscored 28-16 in Utica this season, are one of two teams, along with conference rivals, the Charlotte Checkers, who have yet to record a victory on home ice.

Yann Of Steel: The Comets were recently assigned defenseman Yannick Weber from the Vancouver Canucks. The blueliner has amassed 125 games at the NHL level and 148 games in the AHL. A Switzerland native, Weber has compiled 88 points (31-57-88) throughout his AHL career and was named an AHL All-Star in 2009. Weber also appeared in the 2010 Winter Olympics with Switzerland, where he took part in five games.

Scouting The Americans: Rochester is still without leading scorer Luke Adam, who was recently recalled to the NHL's Buffalo Sabres Phil Varone (4-13-17) and Mike Zigomanis (7-8-15) lead the way for the Americans' offense and have combined for 10 points against the Comets this season.

Chad Ruhwedel and Alexander Sulzer are the defensive leaders for the Americans with seven (2-5-7) and eight (3-5-8) points apiece. Sulzer Rasmus Ristolainen will look to play in his third AHL contest Saturday, after he skated in 19 games in Buffalo to begin the season.

Both Matt Hackett and Nathan Lieuwen have each seen their shares of success this season between the pipes for Rochester. Hackett enters as the leader of the timeshare thus far, with a 4-5-2 record, a .905 save percentage and a 3.14 goals against average (G.A.A.). Boosted by a 35 save performance last weekend against the Comets, Lieuwen enters with a winning record, at 3-2-1-0, a .899 save percentage and a 3.49 G.A.A.

Check out the Utica Comets Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from November 23, 2013


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