Utica Comets Weekly Notebook
December 15, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
Last Week in Review: The Utica Comets won just one of their three games during the week, but recorded a point in all three, and ended the week with a 1-0-3-0 record. On Wednesday night the Comets defeated the Rochester Americans 3-1 in Rochester's first trip to The AUD this year. On Friday night, in front of another sold out crowd at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, the Comets let a two-goal third period lead slip away to the Toronto Marlies, and lost 4-3 in OT. The following night, vs the Syracuse Crunch 2-1 in a thrilling OT game at The AUD.
Through 27 games the Comets stand at 17-5-5-0. With a total of 39 points, the Comets sit atop the Western Conference's North Division, with a four-point lead over the second place Adirondack Flames. The Comets 39 points also paces the entire American Hockey League. Only the Rockford IceHogs have the same amount of points as the Comets.
Wednesday, December 10: Utica Comets vs. Rochester Americans - W 3-1
The Utica Comets extended their win streak to three after beating the Rochester Americans 3-1 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium Wednesday evening. After returning home from a four-game road trip, the Comets have secured a total seven points in the last five games.
A pair of defensemen, Bobby Sanguinetti (2-0-2) and Kane Lafranchise (1-1-2), scored all three of the Comets goals. Joacim Eriksson put on yet another stellar performance for the club stopping 26 of the Amerks 27 shots.
Friday, December 12: Utica Comets vs. Toronto Marlies - OTL 4-3 SOLD OUT
The Toronto Marlies overcame a 3-1 third period deficit to win 4-3 in overtime over the Utica Comets on Friday evening at The Utica Memorial Auditorium. Despite the loss, the Comets have still obtained a total of eight points in the last six games.
Bobby Sanguinetti (1-1-2) and Nicklas Jensen (2-0-2) both recorded two points for the Comets. Even with the Comets' new all-time franchise record for shots on goal (49), the Utica club couldn't beat the third star of the night, Toronto's goaltender Antoine Bibeau. The Quebec native stopped 46 of the Comets 49 shots on net.
Saturday, December 13: Utica Comets vs. Syracuse Crunch - OTL 2-1 SOLD OUT
The Utica Comets lost in overtime for the second night in a row in a 2-1 final in front of a sold out crowd at The Utica Memorial Auditorium on Saturday evening. In a total of eight sold-out games this season, the Comets still boast a record of 6-0-2-0.
Brandon DeFazio scored the only goal tonight for the Comets bringing his point total to 15 on the season. Despite letting in two goals, Joacim Eriksson still stopped 29 of the Crunch's 31 shots.
A Look Ahead:
The Comets have a pair of games before heading into the league-wide Christmas break.
Friday December 19: Utica Comets (17-5-5-0) vs Texas Stars (10-8-7-0)
Where: Utica Memorial Auditorium
When: 7:00pm EST
NHL Affiliate: Dallas Stars
Season Series: 1-1-0-0
Comets vs. Stars: This Comets and Stars have squared off in two tight games so far this season. The Stars won the first game 1-0, and just two weeks ago the Comets defeated the Stars 4-3 in overtime. Both games were played at Texas' Cox Convention Center.
About the Stars: In the month of December the Stars are 3-2-1-0. With points in four out of their last six games, the Stars sit in third place in the West division, seven points back of first place Oklahoma City Barons. Reigning AHL MVP and current Stars' point leader, Travis Morin (10-14-24), was recently recalled by their NHL parent club. After Morin, Justin Dowling (7-10-17) and Brendan Ranford (4-12-16) pace the Stars in the points department. In net it's been split duties. Recently returned from the Dallas Stars, Jussi Rynnas, has appeared in 10 games, and has posted a record of 5-1-4-0, a 2.58 GAA, and a .913 save percentage. Jack Campbell has appeared in 11 games, and has posted a 2-5-3-0 record, a 3.37 GAA, and a .898 save percentage.
Saturday December 20: Utica Comets (17-5-5-0) @ Adirondack Flames (17-10-1-0)
Where: Glens Falls Civic Center
When: 7:00pm EST
NHL Affiliate: Calgary Flames
Season Series: 3-0-0-0
Comets vs. Flames: The Comets have won all three games against their North Division rival to this point.
About the Flames: The Flames are surging. Winners of their last four games, and five out of their last six, the Flames are putting a full-court press on the Comets for the division lead. Ben Hanowski (11-3-14) and Emile Poirier (6-8-14) are the Flames' points leaders with 14 apiece. After starting the season with a two-goalie system, Joni Ortio has taken the reigns over full-time in net. In 20 games, he has posted a 13-5-1-0 record, with a 2.81 GAA, and a .910 save percentage.
Shooting Stars Of The Week: Bobby Sanguinetti
The 2006 first round draft pick has lit up the scorer's sheet as of late. In three games last week Sanguinetti (2-2-4) netted four points, and a +4 rating. He also has a point in four out of the Comets' past five games, including three multi-point games
Comets Leaders
Goals: Brandon DeFazio (9)
Assists: Cal O'Reilly (23)
Points: Cal O'Reilly (26)
Power Play Goals: Alex Grenier (5)
Penalty Minutes: Andrey Pedan (64)
Shorthanded Goals: Brandon DeFazio (2)
Shots On Goal: Brandon DeFazio (72)
Plus/Minus: Bobby Sanguinetti (+13)
GAA: Jacob Markstrom (1.77)
Save Percentage: Jacob Markstrom (.937)
Wins: Joacim Eriksson (10)
We're Going Streaking
-The Comets have earned a point in six straight games, which is just three game's shy of the Comets season, and franchise high. In that stretch the Comets are 3-0-3-0.
-The Comets have earned a point in in seven straight home games, which is a franchise high. Their last regulation home loss came back on November 12 vs the Chicago Wolves. In that stretch the Comets are 5-0-2-0.
-Goaltender Joacim Eriksson (5-0-3-0) has not lost in regulation since the Frozen Dome Classic on November 22, which is a span of eight games.
-Captain Cal O'Reilly has an assist in five straight games, which dates back to Dec. 3 vs the Texas Stars.
Rapid Fire
King of the North: Through 27 games this season, the Comets have collected a league high 39 points, and have opened up a four-point lead over their division rivals. Through 27 games the Comets average 1.37 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 345 PIMs in 27 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 86.3% success rate, the Comets rank sixth in the AHL. The Comets have killed their last nine penalties, and have also killed 17 of their last 19 penalties.
Cardiac Comets: The Comets and St. John's IceCaps have each skated in 18 one-goal games, which leads the American Hockey League in that category. The Comets 11 wins in those 18 one-goal games is also a league high.
The Point Man: Comets Captain Cal O'Reilly has 26 points (3-23-26) to this point, which is tied with the second highest points mark in the entire American Hockey League. Cal's .96 points per game pace is better than his .86 points per game he posted in 52 games as a Comet during the 2013-14 season. O'Reilly's 23 assists is tied for second best in the league, just one off the leader, Tim Kennedy of the Hershey Bears.
Score First, Ask Questions Later: Scoring the game's first goal has led to success for the Comets. In the 16 games that they have scored first, the Comets have collected 29 of their 39 points and have posted a 14-1-1-0 record. When they escape a period with a lead, it's a virtual lock for success. The Comets are 9-0-0-0 in games they lead after the first period, and are 15-0-0-0 when they head to the third period with a lead.
Bobby Score-ineti: Bobby Sanguinetti's recent four-game point streak has vaulted him into seventh place in the American Hockey League in points scored. In 24 games the first round draft pick has scored seven goals and 10 assists. He also has the fifth highest +/- amongst defensemen with a +13 rating. Sanguinetti's .63 points per game is on par with his career points per game of .62, in 301 AHL 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 eight times this year, in those eight sold out games the Comets are 6-1-1-0. The Utica Memorial Auditorium has seen 47,730 fans walk through the door to attend a Comets game. Comets games average 3,672 fans per game, which is 96.25% capacity. Last year Comets games averaged 3,435 fans, which was 90% of The AUD's capacity.
Milestones Reached:
-Bobby Sanguinetti skated in his 300th American Hockey League game on Friday vs. the Toronto Marlies.
-Kane Lafranchise scored his first regular season American Hockey League goal on Wednesday vs. the Rochester Americans.
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