Comets dropped another one tonight.
Toronto 5 Utica 2
Toronto had 2 empty net goals.
It was another of the games the Comets have been playing for the past month and 1/2. They come out hard, but can't score. In the 2nd they surrender a goal, often a PP as the one was.
1-0 after 2 periods.
The Marlies got 2 early ones in the 3rd and it was game over. The Comets over this period average 1 and 1/2 - 2 goals per game.
Also par for the course the Comets outshot the Marlies 39-23. They simply can't score. They had 6, and that's not a misprint, I said 6 clean all the way to, the net breakaways. Not once in the 6 did the player attempt any kind of move. They just shot the puck from straight on.
There were also multiple 2 on 1s and shot passes to a player breaking to the net and receiving that pass any where from the high slot to the crease.
If I never see Woods, Darcy, or Gardiner in a Comets uniform again it will be too soon. They simply are incapable of filling the center role in the AHL.
Seamus Malone is a 5/10", 181 lb, 22 yr-old rookie C/LW on an ATO out of NCAA Wisconsin where he put up 26Pts/37GP in this his 4th and last season. Tonight was his 5th game with the Comets and he scored his 2nd goal. He also scored in the Comets recent shootout win over Laval. He has more puck skills than those other 3 guys put together. He came in as a C/LW. So, of course, Cull plays him at LW with Woods as his center and Jasek on the RW. The kid does more with the puck than either of his linemates. His passes are crisp and on target. He can make a move or 2 to be sure he gets his passes away in open ice and not at the defender in his way as is the custom of the majority of the rest of the Comets. Gaunce may be the only other one.
I fully expect to see Woods, Darcy, and Gardiner back in camp in the Fall and they will eventually be signed to another AHL contract and be counted on to play key roles once again. Forgetting how poorly they have filled those roles the past 2 seasons. They will get these roles because they will be the best of the center talent invited to camp except maybe one better like Kero this season. Kero is not actually a good center either, but he puts up points, particularly goals. A large number of his assists were either on the PP (which has recently more than **** the bed) or on rebound scores from his shots. I'm skeptical of Malone getting a contract.
The Marlies dressed 5 familiar faces to Utica fans:
MacMaster
Carcone (1G), It was a rocket from the LW boards, face off circle high, off the far post just below the crossbar. It was his 13th/37GP as a Marlie and 19th overall counting his 6th/20GP with Utica.
Subban
Molino
Toronto plays a fast up tempo game in which they come up the ice in waves and pass the puck quickly and often. It is a fast possession game that works to get open shots. The Comets actually defended as a team as well as they have all season, but when you can't score it's enough to stay in it, but not enough to win it.
Disaster looks to strike twice in as many Saturday nights when the Comets visit Syracuse again tomorrow. It was 6-2 last week and is likely to be more of the same.
Lind, Gadjovich, Arseneau, Chatfield, and Hamilton, were once again injury scratches.
Corrado (1A)
Tom Sestito is also a Marlie, but is currently injured.