AHL Utica Comets

Utica Comets Weekly Notebook

Published on October 27, 2014 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release


Last Week In Review: The Utica Comets had a perfect week going 3-0-0-0 during the season's first homestand. The Comets kicked off the home portion of their schedule with a dominating 3-0 victory over the Adirondack Flames on Wednesday night. The Home Opener was followed up with a 5-2 victory over the San Antonio Rampage, and a convincing 4-0 win against the Toronto Marlies.

The story that has stolen headlines, and will continue to command the spotlight is Jacob Markstrom's shutout streak. The 6'6" goaltender currently has gone 232 minutes and 13 seconds without allowing a goal. The shutout streak dates back to the Comets first game of the season, when Trevor Smith scored 7:27 into the game. This season Markstrom has started four games, posted three shutouts, a .25 goals against average, and a .991 save percentage.

Through seven games the Comets sit atop the Western Conference's North Division with a 5-1-1-0 record, and 11 points. The Rochester Americans sit three points behind the Comets in the race for the division crown.

Wednesday, October 22: Utica Comets vs. Adirondack Flames - W 3-0 SOLD OUT

Led by Jacob Markstrom in net, the Comets snuffed out the Flames with a 3-0 win in front of a sold out Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Markstrom stopped all 29 Flames shots on goal, while Hunter Shinkaruk, Nicklas Jensen and Brandon DeFazio provided goals in the victory.

The Comets penalty kill remained perfect for the year, killing all three Adirondack power plays on the evening.

Friday, October 24: Utica Comets vs. San Antonio Rampage - W 5-2 SOLD OUT

According to Travis Green, the Comets were admittedly out played during Friday's game vs. the Rampage. However that was not evident on the scoreboard. Ronalds Kenins two-goal night, and Joacim Eriksson's 38 save performance powered the Utica Comets to a 5-2 victory over the San Antonio Rampage in front of a sold out crowd at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Despite being outshot 41-21 the Comets beat Dan Ellis three times, and chipped in two empty-net goals en route to the five goal evening. For the second game in a row Brandon DeFazio (1-1-2) scored a short-handed goal. Kenins (2-0-2), Cal O'Reilly (1-1-2), and Dustin Jeffrey (1-1-2) all enjoyed two-point nights as well.

For the first time this season the Comets allowed a power-play goal despite killing six other Rampage power plays.

Saturday, October 25: Utica Comets vs. Toronto Marlies - W 4-0 SOLD OUT

The Comets goaltending continued to be the big story for the club, as Jacob Markstrom tallied his third straight shutout as the Comets cruised to a 4-0 win over the Toronto Marlies Saturday evening at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.

Markstrom turned away all 27 shots he faced against the Marlies which lowered his goals against average to a remarkable .25. Markstrom extended his shutout streak to 232:13 in the win. The last goal, and only goal he let in this season was 7:27 into the first period of their first game in Toronto on Oct. 11.

The Comets killed both Marlies' power play attempts to retain their spot atop the AHL Penalty Kill rankings.

A Look Ahead:

The Comets will enjoy two games on the road, both in New York State this week, as they head to Binghamton to take on the Senators Wednesday night, and to Glens Falls to take on the Adirondack Flames on Saturday night. Sandwiched between the two road games is a Halloween match-up vs. the Binghamton Senators.

Wednesday October 29: Utica Comets (5-1-1-0) @ Binghamton Senators (2-3-2-0)

Where: Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

When: 7:05pm EST

NHL Affiliate: Ottawa Senators

Season Series: 0-0-0-0

Comets vs. Senators: This is the first meeting between the two teams this season.

About the Senators: The Senators have stumbled out of the gate, with two wins in seven games. Six of the seven games have been decided by the slimmest of margins, including both Senators victories. Two defenseman, Chris Wideman (3-5-8) and Aaron Johnson (1-4-5) lead the Senators in scoring so far this year. In net, its been the Andrew Hammond show. Hammond has started all seven of the team's games. He has posted a 3.59 goals against average, and a .909 save percentage.

Friday October 31: Utica Comets (5-1-1-0) vs. Binghamton Senators (2-3-2-0)

Where: Utica Memorial Auditorium

When: 7:00pm EST

NHL Affiliate: Ottawa Senators

Season Series: 0-0-0-0

Comets vs. Senators: This will be the second meeting between the two teams this season.

About the Senators: The Senators have stumbled out of the gate, with two wins in seven games. Six of the seven games have been decided by the slimmest of margins, including both Senators victories. Two defenseman, Chris Wideman (3-5-8) and Aaron Johnson (1-4-5) lead the Senators in scoring so far this year. In net, its been the Andrew Hammond show. Hammond has started all seven of the team's games. He has posted a 3.59 goals against average, and a .909 save percentage.

Saturday November 1: Utica Comets (5-1-1-0) vs. Adirondack Flames (2-5-1-0)

Where: Glens Falls Civic Center

When: 7:00pm EST

NHL Affiliate: Toronto Marlies

Season Series: 1-0-0-0

Comets vs Flames: The Comets and Flames have squared off just once this season, with the Comets coasting to a 3-0 victory in their Home Opener this past Wednesday.

About the Flames: The Comets closest divisional rival continues to stumble out of the starting blocks after dropping two out of three of their games last week. After losing 4-1 to the Americans in Rochester on Friday, the Flames pasted them in Adirondack on Saturday night, by a score of 7-3. Michael Ferland paces the Flames with seven points (3-4-7) in the team's eight games. After splitting goaltending duties to start the season Jon Ortio seemingly has taken the reigns over after he has started four of the team's last six games. To date, Ortio has posted a 2-3-1-0 record, a 3.85 goals against average, and a .883 save percentage.

Shooting Stars Of The Week: Jacob Markstrom

We are not quite sure what the more impressive stats are, Markstrom's stats just last week, or his stats through this point of the season. So we will give you both and let you decide:

Last week: 2 GP; 2 W; 2 SO; 56 SVS; 0.00 GAA; 1.000 SV%

Season: 4 GP, 3 SO; 4 W; 108 SVS; .25 GAA; .991 SV%

Comets Leaders

Goals: Dustin Jeffrey (4)

Assists: Cal O'Reilly (7)

Points: Cal O'Reilly (8)

Power Play Goals: Alex Grenier (2)

Penalty Minutes: Darren Archibald (27)

Shorthanded Goals: Brandon DeFazio (2)

Shots On Goal: Brandon DeFazio & Nicklas Jensen (23)

Plus/Minus: Peter Andersson (+7)

GAA: Jacob Markstrom (.25)

Save Percentage: Jacob Markstrom (.991)

Wins: Jacob Markstrom (4)

We're Going Streaking

The easy one, Jacob Markstrom currently holds a shutout streak of 232:13 minutes. In other news, Cal O'Reilly has scored a point in three straight games, notching six points over that stretch. Nicklas Jensen (2-2-3) and Dustin Jeffrey (2-2-4) are also in the midst of three-game point streaks.

Rapid Fire

Strength in Lack of Numbers: The Comets penalty kill unit is off to a sizzling start by killing 26 of 27 penalties. But that's not all, the PK unit is contributing on the other end of the ice with short-handed goals in each of the past three games.

Double the Fun: The goaltending success story is not entirely on Markstrom. His counterpart, Joacim Eriksson, has been lights out as well as he has stopped 92 of the 98 shots faced this season. The Swedish duo have held opposing teams to just seven total goals in seven games, good for a 1.00 GAA average, and a .966 save percentage.

Home Sweet Home: The Comets are loving the home-cooking so far with a sparkling 3-0 record at The AUD.

You Get One, And You Will Like It: One goal per game. That's what the Comets as a team are allowing. Through seven games the Comets defense have allowed just seven goals against.

Bo Knows: Vancouver Canucks 2013 first-round draft pick, Bo Horvat, was assigned to the Comets on a conditioning assignment last week, and has appeared in three Comets games to this point. The forward has fired six shots on goal, without a point. With the assignment, the Comets currently have five first round draft picks on the roster.

Milestones Reached: Hunter Shinkaruk scored his first career American Hockey League goal on Friday vs the San Antonio Rampage.

________________

Get Your Tickets: Select tickets for the Comets Home Opener on Oct. 22 remain available. Also, cheer on the Utica Comets with your group, business or school! Special pricing and opportunities are available through our Group Sales Office. Give us a call at (315) 790-9070 or visit our web page at www.uticacomets.com for more information.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 27, 2014


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