Utica Comets Weekly Notebook
December 22, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Utica Comets News Release
Last Week in Review: The Utica Comets won both games they played last week and in the process have run their point streak to eight games, with a record of 5-0-3-0 in that span. On Friday night, in front of another sold out Utica Memorial Auditorium crowd, the Comets clawed back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Texas Stars 3-2 in overtime. On Saturday night the Comets snapped yet another Adirondack Flames' point streak, with a convincing 4-1 win in Glens Falls, NY.
Through 29 games the Comets stand at 19-5-5-0. With a total of 43 points, the Comets sit atop the Western Conference's North Division, with a five-point lead over the second place Adirondack Flames. The Comets 49 points also paces the entire American Hockey League heading into the holiday break.
Friday, December 19: Utica Comets vs. Texas Stars - W 3-2 SOLD OUT
After trailing the Texas Stars 2-0, the Utica Comets scored three unanswered goals to win 3-2 in overtime on Friday night at The Utica Memorial Auditorium.
Bobby Sanguinetti (1-0-1), Brendan Gaunce (1-0-1), and Dustin Jeffrey (1-0-1) were the goal-scorers for the Comets in front of the sold-out Utica Memorial Auditorium. Along with being credited with the first star of the game, Sanguinetti now has eight goals on the season and leads the rest of the defensemen on the team in goals, assists and points. Joacim Eriksson received the third star of the game after stopping 23 of the 25 shots on net he faces from the Stars.
Saturday, December 20: Utica Comets @ Adirondack Flames- W 4-1
For the fourth time this season, the Utica Comets shutdown the Adirondack Flames, this time with a final score of 4-1 at the Glens Falls Civic Center on Saturday evening.
Jacob Markstrom didn't disappoint in his first game back with the Comets since Nov. 21, saving 19 out of 20 shots taken by the Flames all while improving his goals-against average to a remarkable 1.69. Four different Comets players scored goals in the victory, including Brendan Gaunce, who scored his second goal in as many nights.
A Look Ahead:
The Comets have a pair of games immediately following the holiday break.
Friday December 26: Utica Comets (19-5-5-0) vs Adirondack Flames (18-11-1-1)
Where: Utica Memorial Auditorium
When: 7:00pm EST
NHL Affiliate: Calgary Flames
Season Series: 4-0-0-0
Comets vs. Flames: The Comets have won all four games against their North Division rival to this point.
About the Flames: The Flames have been nipping at the heels of the Comets all season long. Currently in second place in the North Division, the Flames sit five points back of the division leading Comets. The Flames have recorded a point in eight of their last nine games, with their lone point-less game coming this past Friday against the Comets. Emile Poirier (8-8-16), Ben Hanowski (11-4-15), and Bill Arnold (6-9-15) are the Flames' points leaders through 31 games. After starting the season with a two-goalie system, Joni Ortio has taken the reigns over full-time in net. In 22 games, he has posted a 14-6-1-0 record, with a 2.74 GAA, and a .911 save percentage.
Saturday December 27: Utica Comets (19-5-5-0) vs. Lake Erie Monsters (13-10-2-3) SOLD OUT
Where: Utica Memorial Auditorium
When: 7:00pm EST
NHL Affiliate: Colorado Avalanche
Season Series: 1-0-0-0
Comets vs. Monsters: The Comets defeated the Lake Erie Monsters 4-1 back on November 7 at the Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland.
About the Monsters: Despite owning a plus-500 record, the Monsters currently reside in last place in the Midwest Division with a record of 13-10-2-3. Their standings within the division is a reflection of just how good their division is as the Monsters' 31 points would be good for third place in four other divisions. Center Colin Smith (8-11-19), and Defenseman Maxim Noreau (7-12-19) pace the Monsters in the points department. With their main goaltender Calvin Pickard up with the NHL club, Sami Aittokallio and Roman Will have split the duties in net. Aittokallio has appeared in eight games and has posted a 5-2-1-0 record, with a 2.96 GAA, and a .907 save percentage. In nine games Will has recorded a 2-4-1-1 record, a 3.40 GAA and a .870 save percentage.
Shooting Stars Of The Week: Brendan Gaunce
The Canucks 2012 first round draft pick responded with a vengeance after being a healthy scratch for the first time in his career. Gaunce scored a goal in each of the Comets two victories over the weekend.
Comets Leaders
Goals: Brandon DeFazio (9)
Assists: Cal O'Reilly (24)
Points: Cal O'Reilly (27)
Power Play Goals: Alex Grenier (5)
Penalty Minutes: Andrey Pedan (64)
Shorthanded Goals: Brandon DeFazio (2)
Shots On Goal: Brandon DeFazio (76)
Plus/Minus: Bobby Sanguinetti (+16)
GAA: Jacob Markstrom (1.77)
Save Percentage: Jacob Markstrom (.938)
Wins: Joacim Eriksson (11)
We're Going Streaking
-The Comets have earned a point in eight straight games, which is just a game shy of the Comets season, and franchise high. In that stretch the Comets are 5-0-3-0.
-The Comets went nine straight games earning a point from Oct. 22 to Nov. 5. During that time they recorded an 8-0-1-0 record.
-The Comets have earned a point in in eight 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 6-0-2-0.
-Goaltender Joacim Eriksson (7-0-3-0) has not lost in regulation since the Frozen Dome Classic on November 22, which is a span of nine games.
-Brendan Gaunce has recorded a point (2-1-3) in three straight games.
Rapid Fire
Sleigh Ride Leaders: Through 29 games this season, the Comets have collected a league high 43 points, and have opened up a five-point lead over their division rivals. Through 29 games the Comets average 1.48 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 377 PIMs in 29 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 87.5% success rate, the Comets rank second in the AHL. The Comets have killed their last nine penalties, and have also killed their opponent's last 19 power play opportunities. Earlier this season the Comets killed 30 of 31 opponent's power play opportunities as well.
Cardiac Comets: The Comets have played in a league high 20 one-goal games. Their 12 wins in one-goal games is also a league high. Last year the Comets were one of three teams (Norfolk Admirals, Providence Bruins) to play in a league high 46 one-goal games. The Comets had the second most one-goal game wins with a record of 24-13-5-4.
The Point Man: Comets Captain Cal O'Reilly has 27 points (3-24-27) to this point, which is tied for the seventh most points in the entire American Hockey League. Cal's .93 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 24 assists is tied for second best in the league, just two off the leader, Brian O'Neill of the Manchester Monarchs.
Win the Period, Win the Game: When the Comets escape a period with a lead, any period, they have gone on to win the game. The Comets have exited the first period with a lead 10 times to this point, and in those games the team is a perfect 10-0-0-0. The second period has seen even more success. In 16 games that the Comets have entered the third period with a lead, they are 16-0-0-0.
Short Stuff: Brandon DeFazio is tied for the league lead with two short-handed goals.
5th Line: Comets fans have sold out The AUD nine times this year, in those nine sold out games the Comets are 7-0-2-0. The Utica Memorial Auditorium has seen 51,565 fans walk through the door to attend a Comets game. Comets games average 3,683 fans per game, which is 96.6% capacity. Last year Comets games averaged 3,435 fans, which was 90% of The AUD's capacity.
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