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AHL Utica Comets

Gameday: Comets vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

April 19, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS (42-25-3-5) @ UTICA COMETS (33-31-5-4)

Utica Memorial Auditorium, 7pm

Radio: 94.9 K-Rock

Tonight's Game: The season has reached the final day for the Utica Comets, who conclude their 2013-14 slate with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in town. The Comets have guaranteed themselves a winning record, as they enter tonight's action at 34-32-5-4.

When They Last Met: The Utica Comets earned another win in typical Comets fashion, a 2-1 grind over the Penguins on Mar. 22. Pascal Pelletier and Colin Stuart each scored for the Comets, who improved to 28-28-3-4 with the victory. Joe Cannata collected his eighth victory of the season with 22 saves on 23 shots, while Peter Mannino took the defeat with 27 stops for the Penguins.

Comets Outlook: The Utica Comets came from behind in the third period one more time, as they defeated the Toronto Marlies 3-2 last night at The AUD. Yann Sauve, Pascal Pelletier and Cal O'Reilly scored for the Comets, the first goal of the season for Sauve. Joe Cannata stole the show between the pipes for Utica, as he turned aside 37 of 39 shots, as he won for the eighth time over his past ten starts. Christopher Gibson made 28 saves in defeat for Toronto.

Penguins Outlook: It was a dramatic comeback for the Penguins, as they scored four unanswered goals, but they came up just short in a 5-4 loss to the Binghamton Senators. Chuck Kobasew led the way with a goal and an assist, while center Jean-Gabriel Pageau had a hat trick to lead the Senators. Andrew Hammond made 43 saves for Binghamton, while Peter Mannino had 22 saves in defeat for the Penguins.

Flare For The Dramatical: Utica Comets center Cal O'Reilly potted the game-winning goal last evening against Toronto, midway through the third period. Despite appearing in just 51 games this season, O'Reilly has cracked the AHL's top ten in power-play assists, with 22. O'Reilly's .44 PPA per game is third in the AHL amongst players with 50 or more games played, behind just Travis Morin (.47) and Mike Hoffman (.451).

Yes We Yann: Defenseman Yann Sauve found the back of the net for the first time this season with his goal last night against the Marlies. For Sauve, it was his first tally in the AHL since Mar. 25, 2012, when he played with the Chicago Wolves. The Rigaud, QC now has 14 points (1-13-14) this season, over his 66 games played.

Catch Me If You Cannata: Netminder Joe Cannata is now victorious in eight of his past ten appearances with the victory last evening. The Wakefield, MA native has allowed more than two goals only once over that span, including last evening's 37 save effort. Cannata has amassed a .937 save percentage over his run and has seen his number for the season rise to .907. The Merrimack College graduate's goals against average has also dropped to 2.83.

Jens Crafters: Nicklas Jensen returned to the scoresheet in a big way with the assist on Pelletier's tally during the third period comeback on Friday evening. Jensen, who returned from a 17 game stint with Vancouver on Wednesday, now has 21 points (15-6-21) with Utica this season.

Scouting The Marlies: Veteran winger Tom Kostopolous is the team leader in both goals (22) and points (46), in addition to shots on goal (145). Kostopolous also has 13 power-play goals, nine more than his closest teammate, a total that ties him for sixth in the entire AHL. Center Nick Drazenovic leads all Penguin scorers with 29 assists. Playmaking center Andrew Ebbett has collected 38 points (12-26-38) over his 43 games in Wilkes-Barre this season, while NHL regular Chuck Kobasew has recorded 10 goals in 11 games in his recent stint with the Penguins.

Defenseman Brendan Mikkelson has been the leader from the blueline in terms of scoring, with 38 points (8-30-38) over 72 games played. Defenseman Philip Samuelsson has a team best +17 rating, while teammate Scott Harrington is +9 with 23 points (5-18-23).

Jeff Deslauriers leads the Penguins in games played, with 40, but has appeared just twice since February. Peter Mannino has been the mainstay between the pipes in recent memory and has responded incredibly with an 11-3-1 record over 17 appearances. Mannino leads all Penguin goaltenders with an astounding 1.35 goals against average and an equally impressive .941 save percentage.

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