2018-19 Utica Comets, Pt. V

[Bad Goalie]

I see the Comets have added another forward on a PTO.

Mike Szmatula, 26 yr-old, diminutive 5'9", 175 lb, LW
Playing in his rookie pro season with the Adirondack Thunder,
48 GP/2fG/15A/39 PTS.
He is a rookie at 26 after 2 seasons at NCAA Northeastern, satout one year due to the NCAA transfer rule and then played 2 years at NCAA U. of Minnesota.

Cull finally giving himself a little breathing room at forward.
Played the last game with no extras and still only had 1 healthy D-man. They haven't played since Sunday, but an illness is sweeping through the club. Hamilton, Lind, and Dahlen missed practice yesterday because of it. What more can happen to shorten this roster, Benning at the TDL?

 

[VanJack]

I could be wrong, but just can't see Benning dealing anyone off the Utica roster at the deadline. The only exception might be if another AHL player was coming back in minor league swap.

In a perfect world, guys like Edler, Tanev, Sutter and Gudbranson could bring back picks and younger pro prospects who might be able to actually bolster the Utica roster. But the probability of that happening is near 'zero'.

The best hope for Utica is that the Canucks falter down the stretch and some of the players currently on the big club are papered and make their back to the Comets for playoff hockey.

 

[Blue and Green]

Lind and Dahlen out with illness tonight, Gadjovich injured.

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

Brendan Guhle shot appeared to hit the post but it's under review. Game is scoreless midway through the first. No goal.

 

[Lindgren]

Kulbakov is in goal for Utica.

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

Sounds like Roberts is calling this one from the stands. He's mixed right in with crowd voices.

 

[Lindgren]

It's a competitive night in the North Division playoff battle: The Rochester-Utica, Syracuse-Toronto, and Belleville-Binghamton matches are all tied after the first period.

 

[Lindgren]

Kero from Boucher to put the Comets ahead 1-0 early in the second.

And Gardiner makes it 2-0!

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

Kero from Boucher to make it 1-0. Bancks forecheck turned it over.

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

Reid Gardner!!! 2-0

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

Breeze makes it 3-0!

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

Kulbakov beaten on a wrister from distance 3-1 game

 

[Lindgren]

And suddenly it's tied at 3-3.

Toronto's and Belleville's games are also tied.

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

Amerks catch fire in the second period 3-3 after two.

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

Well there's one we let get away. Rochester wins it 4-3 via OT pp. Comets blew a 3-0 lead.

 

[Lindgren]

Well there's one we let get away. Rochester wins it 4-3 via OT pp. Comets blew a 3-0 lead.

Well, at least they got the single point.

Toronto and Syracuse are in overtime as well.

Update: Syracuse takes it in overtime.
Toronto and Utica stay tied, with each getting the single point.

Belleville beat bottom-feeder Binghamton, so they made up a bit of ground.

Syracuse and Rochester opened up a bit more room on Utica and Toronto.

 

[sting101]

jesus.
No Gaudette MacEwen Sautner Schenn Dahlen Lind Gadjovich......thats rough

 

[shottasasa]

Yeah, watched the first 5mins and realised they were all out and decided to skip it. Breisbois scores a goal so that’s nice. Hopefully he builds some momentum.

 

[VanJack]

Of all the Canuck prospects, Gaudette might have come the furthest and fastest. MacEwen would be a close second. If both these guys are available for the AHL playoffs they could be difference-makers.

 

[Bad Goalie]

2/23/19

Utica Comets at Binghamton Devils

Forwards:
Arseneau/Hamilton/Bancks
Gardiner/Gaunce/Pyatt
Boucher/Darcy/Jasek
Graham/Szmatula/Thomas

D-Pairs:
LeBlanc/Saucerman
McEneny/Chatfield
Brisebois/Sifers

Goal - Leighton

What a patch job this lineup is.

Scratches:
INJ-
Juolevi
Bachman
Blujus
Gadjovich

Ill-
Lind
Dahlen
Woods
Kero?

Hlthy-
Kulbakov

 

[Bad Goalie]

2:46 to go in the first. This one has been nothing for the Comets and lots of pressure by the Devils, but not a lot of quality shots.shots.

Comets D just working to clear the zone whenever possible.
Comets 4th line not getting a lot of ice time.

 

[Bad Goalie]

1:07 left and the penalty machine goes for slashing.
Hamilton AGAIN!

He is veteran enough to know that his team this shorthanded can ill afford stupid penalties.

Period ends 0-0

SOG 10-6
Bingo (Joe says 11-6, but the Binghamton site has it 10-6).
It's official 11-6

A single point with this lineup would be a plus.

Comets and Marlies tied for 3rd with 65 and Belleville right behind them with 62, but have played 2 more games than TO and Utica.

Just not the time of the season to end up with such a weak lineup. Every Comet not injured, sick, or in Vancouver is in the lineup tonight including D-man Graham skating as a forward.

 

[Bad Goalie]

This illness appears to be the kind that spreads like wildfire. Comets next play Wednesday vs Rochester at home. Who knows who will be healthy and who will be sick at that time.

 

[Bad Goalie]

The Comets have 4 lines available, but Cull is mixing the personnel up front shift to shift.

 

[Bad Goalie]

2nd about to get underway.

Comets need to show a little more spunk or this one is not going to end on a positive note.