Utica Comets Weekly Notebook
December 1, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
Last Week in Review: The Utica Comets had a bounce back week as they claimed victory in two of their three contests. On Wednesday night they avenged their loss at the Frozen Dome Classic by defeating their I-90 rival 5-4 at The AUD. On Friday night, in front of another sold out crowd at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, the Comets snapped the red-hot Flames' nine-game winning streak, with a thrilling 2-1 win. The following night in Albany the Comets were victimized by the Devils and lost by a score of 2-1.
Through 21 games the Comets stand at 14-5-2-0. With a total of 30 points, the Comets sit atop the Western Conference's North Division, with a five-point lead over the second place Adirondack Flames. Their 30 points are also good for the second highest point total in the American Hockey League, trailing only the Rockford IceHogs, who have 32 points in 22 games.
Wednesday, November 26: Utica Comets vs. Syracuse Crunch - W 5-4 SOLD OUT
The Utica Comets exacted revenge and got back to their winning ways all in one night with a 5-4 victory over the Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Darren Archibald (2-1-3) lit up the scorer's sheet in this one. His two-goal night, including the game-winner, helped push the Comets to their first win in three games. Brandon DeFazio (1-1-2), Nicklas Jensen (0-2-2), and newcomer Will Acton (0-2-2) all contributed to the Comets success with two points apiece.
Friday, November 28: Utica Comets vs. Adirondack Flames - W 2-1 SOLD OUT
The Utica Comets broke the Adirondack Flames nine-game winning streak in a 2-1 victory at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in front of the sixth sold out crowd The AUD has seen this year, on Friday night.
Joacim Eriksson, the first star of the game stopped 26 shots on the 27 he faced and tallied his seventh win of the season. Wacey Hamilton and Cal O'Reilly each netted a goal for the Comets.
The win stretched the Comets lead in the division back to five points.
Saturday, November 29: Utica Comets @ Albany Devils- L 2-1
The Utica Comets could not make their win streak hit three games after a 2-1 loss at the hands of the Albany Devils Saturday afternoon at the Times Union Center.
Will Acton scored his first goal while donning the Comets sweater and recorded his third point in three games. Joe Cannata started in net for the Comets for the first time this season stopping 22 of the 24 shots he faced from the Devils.
A Look Ahead:
The Comets head to the South and have three games on tap this week.
Tuesday December 2: Utica Comets (14-5-2-0) vs Oklahoma City Barons (11-4-2-2)
Where: Cox Convention Center
When: 8:00pm EST
NHL Affiliate: Edmonton Oilers
Season Series: 0-0-0-0
Comets vs. Barons: This is the first match-up between the teams.
About the Barons: The Barons are in the midst of a seven game point streak (6-0-0-1). Winners of six of their last seven games, the Barons sit just one point back of the even hotter division leader, the San Antonio Rampage. Center Jason Williams (7-12-19), and defenseman Brad Hunt (5-12-17) pace the Barons in the points department. Former Comet center, Kellan Lain, has appeared in two games for the Barons, but has yet to register a point after being traded from the Comets on November 20. In net it's been split duties. Richard Bachman has played in nine games, while Laurent Brossoit has appeared in seven. Bachman has a 5-1-3-0 record, a .906 save percentage, and a 2.66 goals against average, while Brossoit has a 4-3-0-0 record, a .915 save percentage, and a 2.67 goals against average.
Wednesday December 3: Utica Comets (14-5-2-0) vs. Texas Stars (7-6-6-0)
Where: Cedar Park Center
When: 8:30pm EST
NHL Affiliate: Dallas Stars
Season Series: 0-1-0-0
Comets vs. Stars: Despite 29 shots on goal, the Comets were shutout 1-0 by Jussi Rynnas and the Texas Stars on October 18 at the Cedar Park Center.
About the Stars: The defending Calder Cup champions are led by the reigning American Hockey League Most Valuable Player, Travis Morin. Morin (9-13-22) has a 10-point lead on Justin Dowling (5-7-12), John Klingberg (4-8-12), Brendan Ranford (4-8-12), and Scott Glennie (1-11-12) who are the next best point-getters on the Stars. The Stars are yet another team that deploy a two-goalie system. Jussi Rynnas, and Jack Campbell each have appeared in 10 games for the Stars. Rynnas has compiled a 5-1-4-0 record, a .913 save percentage, and a 2.58 goals against average. Campbell has posted a 2-5-2-0 record, a .901 save percentage and a 3.32 goals against average.
Friday December 5: Utica Comets (14-5-2-0) vs. San Antonio Rampage (13-6-1-0)
Where: AT&T Center
When: 8:30pm EST
NHL Affiliate: Florida Panthers
Season Series: 2-0-0-0
Comets vs. Rampage: The Comets are a perfect 2-0 vs the Rampage, with a win at home and on the road.
About the Rampage: Just a year removed from finishing last in their division, the Rampage are not only leading their division with 27 points, but they are the second hottest team in the American Hockey League with a point in their last nine games (8-0-1-0). Bobby Butler (10-10-20), Drew Shore (5-14-19), and Mark Mancari (5-12-17) pace the Rampage in points. Dan Ellis has taken the lion's share of the Rampage's goaltending duties and has a record of 8-4-0-0 to go with a 2.13 goals against average, and .918 save percentage. Michael Houser taken the net in eight games, and has a 5-2-1-0 record, with a 3.76 goals against average, and a .873 save percentage.
Shooting Stars Of The Week: Will Acton
The newly acquired center has quickly made his presence known for the Comets. In three games as a Comet he has posted three points (1-2-3).
Comets Leaders
Goals: Brandon DeFazio (8)
Assists: Cal O'Reilly (16)
Points: Cal O'Reilly (18)
Power Play Goals: Alex Grenier (4)
Penalty Minutes: Andrey Pedan (60)
Shorthanded Goals: Brandon DeFazio (2)
Shots On Goal: Brandon DeFazio (55)
Plus/Minus: Bobby Sanguinetti (+11)
GAA: Jacob Markstrom (1.77)
Save Percentage: Jacob Markstrom (.937)
Wins: Jacob Markstrom & Joacim Eriksson (7)
We're Going Streaking
-Goaltender Joacim Eriksson has won his last two starts.
-Defenseman Alex Biega has a +1 rating in the past three games.
-The Comets are have a home winning streak of four games, which stretches from 11/17/14 vs the Chicago Wolves, to 11/28/14 vs the Adirondack Flames. The run of four straight home wins is the franchise's longest home winning streak.
Rapid Fire
King of the North: Through the quarter point of the season, the Comets have collected 30 points, and have opened up a five-point lead over their division rivals. Through 21 games the Comets average 1.43 points per game. Last year's division winners, the Toronto Marlies, won the division with a total 96 points, and averaged 1.26 points per game.
On Your Best Behavior: The Comets have 297 PIMs in 21 games which is the fifth fewest penalty minutes in the American Hockey League. When they do take penalties, the team's penalty killing unit is stifling. Working at an 85.5% success rate, the Comets rank seventh in the AHL.
Hunter Clutch-aruk: Rookie forward Hunter Shinkaruk is tied for second in the American Hockey League with three game-winning goals. His game-winning tallies have come on October 22 vs Adirondack, November 7 at Lake Erie, and November 14 vs the Chicago Wolves.
Thou Shall Not Pass: Comets Captain Cal O'Reilly has 16 assists to this point, which is tied with Milwaukee's Brendan Leipsic, and Rochester's Phil Varone for the AHL lead in assists. Cal's .86 points per game pace is directly in line with his .86 points per game pace he posted in 52 games as a Comet during the 2013-14 season.
Score First, Ask Questions Later: Scoring the game's first goal has led to success for the Comets. In the 13 games that they have scored first, the Comets have posted a 12-1-0-0 record. When they escape a period with a lead, it's a virtual lock for success. The Comets are 7-0-0-0 in games they lead after the first period, and are 14-0-0-0 when they head to the third period with a lead.
Second is Best: The second period is where the Comets have found most of their success. The middle stanza has produced 29 goals for the Comets. In the first (15) and third (14) periods, the Comets have combined for their other 29 goals this season. The shots department follows suite, with the Comets getting 256 total shots in the second period, followed by 228 in the first, and 164 in the third.
Amongst goalies with five or more games played, both Jacob Markstrom and Joacim Eriksson rank in the Top 10 in goals against average. Markstrom (0.99 GAA) is tops in the league, while Eriksson (2.13) is 10th. Milwaukee's Magnus Hellburg (0.64 GAA) is the only goaltender with a better GAA than Markstrom, but has only appeared in three games.
Short Stuff: Brandon DeFazio is tied for the league lead with two short-handed goals.
5th Line: Comets fans have sold out The AUD three out of six games this year, in those six sold out games the Comets are 6-0-0-0. The Utica Memorial Auditorium has seen 36,920 fans walk through the door to attend a Comets game. Comets games average 3,692 fans per game, which is 96.7% capacity. Last year Comets games averaged 3,435 fans, which was 90% of The AUD's capacity.
Milestones Reached:
-Friday's game vs. the San Antonio Rampage will the franchise's 100th game.
________________
Get Your Tickets: Select tickets for all future Comets games 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.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2014
- Patrick Kennedy Rejoins Comets - Utica Comets
- Sharks Back on Track - Worcester Sharks Weekly - Worcester Sharks
- San Antonio Rampage Weekly Update - San Antonio Rampage
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- Griffins Host Barons for Brief Home Visit Amid Four-Game Week - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Sound Tigers Announce Time Change - Bridgeport Islanders
- Faragher Returns to Norfolk as Ducks Call on Bobkov - Norfolk Admirals
- Monarchs Agree to AHL Contract with Gratton - Manchester Monarchs
- Gourde, Hudon, Forsberg Named CCM/AHL Award Winners for November - AHL
- Charles Hudon Named CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Springfield Falcons' Anton Forsberg Named CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month - Springfield Falcons
- Stars to Host H-E-B Food Drive Night on Wednesday - Texas Stars
- Griffins Don Blue/Red Jerseys for Matchup against Barons - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Springfield Falcons Weekly - Springfield Falcons
- Weekly: Bulldogs Face Division Rivals in Three of Four Games this Week - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Utica Comets Weekly Notebook - Utica Comets
- Checkers to Host 64 Local Non-Profits on "Giving Tuesday" - Charlotte Checkers
- Week 8 Recap: Midwest Division Race Tightens Up - Rockford IceHogs
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Ricoh Rock Report - St. John's IceCaps
- Prince Named CCM/AHL Player of the Week - Binghamton Senators
- Binghamton's Shane Prince Named CCM/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Cehlin Recalled from Cincinnati - Milwaukee Admirals
- Hockey Canada Selection Camp Roster Includes Winnipeg Jets Prospects - St. John's IceCaps
- Rampage Reassign D Josh McFadden to Cincinnati - San Antonio Rampage
- Rampage Reassign G Sam Brittain to Cincinnati - San Antonio Rampage
- Hershey Weekly - Hershey Bears
- IceCaps Announce Sale of Post-Christmas Tickets - St. John's IceCaps
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
