Gameday: Comets vs. Rockford
February 1, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
UTICA COMETS (16-20-2-4) @ ROCKFORD ICEHOGS (20-21-4-2)
Utica Memorial Auditorium, 7 pm
Radio: 94.9 K-Rock
Tonight's Game: The Comets are rolling with a point in each of their last six games as the Rockford IceHogs are in town for the first time in franchise history. The Comets have moved to within eight points of eighth place in the Western Conference with a 16-0-2-4 record on the season.
When They Last Met: Tonight is the first meeting between the Comets and IceHogs.
Comets Outlook: On Pink The Rink night at The AUD, 3,815 hockey fans packed the building as the Comets defeated the rival Syracuse Crunch from just up the NYS Thruway. Brandon DeFazio, Pascal Pelletier and Darren Archibald each scored for Utica, who moved to 16-20-2-4 on the season. Joacim Eriksson, who was just 65 seconds away from his fourth career AHL shutout, made 31 saves on 32 shots for the victory.
IceHogs Outlook: The IceHogs dropped a 4-1 decision to the Rochester Americans last evening at Blue Cross Arena. Philippe Lefebvre scored Rockford's only goal as Rochester netminder Matt Hackett made 23 saves to earn the victory. Colton Gillies, Brayden McNabb, Alex Hutchings and Kevin Sundher each scored for the Americans, while defenseman Mark Pysyk led the way with two assists. Jason LaBarbara made 29 saves on 33 shots for Rockford.
This Thing Pascalled Love: Pascal Pelletier continues to rack up the points as he finished with two (1-1-2) against Syracuse on Friday. Pelletier is now tied for fifth in the AHL with 30 assists this season and is in sole possession of 14th with 38 points. Pelletier will see familiar colors tonight, as he played one season with Rockford in 2008-09, where he recorded 55 points (29-26-55) over 71 games.
Joacim And Get It: CCM/AHL Player of the Week Joacim Eriksson has earned points for Utica in nine of his past ten starts, including eight victories. The Galve, Sweden native has moved into the league's top 20 in both save percentage (.915) and wins (12). Eriksson has been in net for 68.4 percent (26 of 38) of Comet points this season.
3rd Rock From The Andersson: Utica defenseman Peter Andersson has earned a positive rating in each of his past six games to take over the team lead in plus/minus this season, at +9. Andersson has also already exceeded his career high in scoring, with 11 points (1-10-11) over 36 games played.
Barrel O' Monkeys: Centerman Cal O'Reilly picked up another assist, with the primary helper on DeFazio's goal. O'Reilly currently ranks second on the Comets with 0.60 assists per game and third overall with 15 assists on the season. The Toronto, ON native is the career leader amongst all Utica players with 222 AHL helpers.
Sweet Home Utica: After a dreadful start on home ice, where the Comets dropped each of their first eight games at The AUD, the team has rebounded to post an 8-5-0-2 record in the 15 games since. Of all AHL teams, however, Utica is still tied for the fourth fewest amount of points with Hartford, at 20 on the season.
Everybody Love Everybody: The Comets are one of the league's cleanest teams with just 557 penalty minutes, second fewest in the league behind Abbotsford (543). As a result, Utica has been shorthanded only 156 times, the lowest total in the AHL.
Employee Of The Month: Despite beginning January at 1-4-1-1, Utica's recent run of points pushes the Comets' record to 6-4-1-2, the first month over the .500 mark in franchise history. Utica's .577 winning percentage during January was tied with Worcester for 12th best in the AHL.
Scouting The IceHogs: AHL All-Star and Rockford defenseman Adam Clendening leads all scorers with 33 points (6-27-33) over 46 games played.
Winger Terry Broadhurst leads all Rockford forwards with 25 points (8-17-25), while Brad Winchester and Joakim Nordstrom top the roster with 13 goals each. Nordstrom is also the team lead in plus minus with a +8 rating. Forward Jeremy Morin leads the team in points-per-game at .77.
The IceHogs have employed five goaltenders this season, with Jason LaBarbara and Kent Simpson currently on the roster. LaBarbara leads all Rockford netminders with a .923 save percentage and a 2.54 save percentage, while Simpson is tied for the team lead in wins, with seven.
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