UticaHockey
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Yeah I bought the USA ticket package. The opening game against Switzerland is close to being sold out. I haven't looked to see how the other games are selling.
2023-24 Utica Comets and ECHL thread
- Thread starter NJDevs26
- Start date
Late Utica Comets 3/29/24 game recap
Final score -
Providence Bruins 7 Utica Comets 4
SOG:
Shots/goals
PRO 5/1 5/2 10/4 = 20/7
UTC 10/1 10/0 11/3 = 31
PP:
PRO - 1/3
UTC - 0/3
Scoring;
Legare (7- 6 Laval/1 Utica) from Felix (1) and van de Leest (1)
Criscuolo (14) from Stillman (8) and Laberge (11)
Engaras (6) from Laberge (12) and Criscuolo (23)
Criscuolo (15) from Gambardella (20) and Vilen (20)
Daws (12/19) 1 ENG
The Comets scored first at 13:10 of Period 1, but as is their Achilles heel, they surrendered the tie goal at 19:28 of the period. It was a bizarre goal that one can only pin on Daws.
The Comets were threatening in the Providence end. A shot was kicked out and then slapped past a Comet in the left circle with 4 Comets strung out in a line from the dots to the through the crease. A shot was kicked out to the left circle as you look at the net. It was struck by the sticks of a Comet and Bruin simultaneously squirted to the top of the circle. The Bruin slapped it out of the zone and down the ice. Anthony Richard and Vilen were even just past the top of the circle sprinting out of the zone after the puck. I don't know exactly what kind of speed Vilen has, Richard left Vilen in his ice shavings. He was clean unless Daws made a play. Nico came straight out above the middle of the 2 circles and Richard turned sharply to his left based on the position of Nico's stick. He read it right because Nico snapped a hard shot off his stick. It went to the right wing boards. Richard retrieved the puck off the boards and backhanded it into the open net.
Here's the rub!!!!!!!! Vilen still hadn't caught up to Richard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He wrongly assumed Daws would simply play the puck away from Richard. Always play the case of what might go wrong. Had he done such he would have arrived on the boards with the puck and Richard and the backhander would not have been launched, Daws would have been back in his net and hockey would have continued along the boards as the rest of the players would have entered in. Chances are the period ends with Utica still on top.
Daws was never the same after that goal.
The Comets hadn't given the Bruins much of anything in the period. They had played them as tough as any team this season. Just like they had played Hershey. That goal took the starch out of their sails. It shouldn't have. It was only 1 goal, but they spent more than another period and a half resetting their game. DiNeen is a terrible coach. He can't motivate nor settle his boys down and put them back on track whenever something goes wrong. He just stands in his spot and is basically emotionless. The game is left to the players.
Providence got 2 more in Period 2.
The 1st was a 2 on 1 shortie at 13:32.
The 3rd came 3 minutes later at 16:13. It looked to be a 1 on 1 with Vilen, but he was outskated up the ice again and it turnded into a breakaway.
The period ended 3-1
Period 3 was wild one.
2:50 into the period the Comets surrendered another 2 on 1 and it ended up inthe back of their net, 4-1.
Clarke was called for hooking at 5:13 anf the Bruins scored on the ensuing PP making it 5-1.
At that point the result seemed certain. However, somebody lit a fuse under the boys and they came roaring back.
Criscuolo ignited the fuse a at11:35 with his 14th of the season from the middle of the circles. 5-2
Around 2 and a half minutes later Engaras found the back of the net as the Comets were now storming the front of the Bruin's net with Daws on the bench. More than 5 minutes to go and the net was empty. They managed to retreive every puck and send it back on net. Their were bodies everywhere and Engaras potted the Comets 3rd. 5-3
The Comets went right back to it. Puck in the Bruins end. Providence acted as if they had no idea what was going on. Who were these guys?
They kept shooting from everywhere and finally with 3:04 to go it was suddenly 5-4 as Criscuolo scored again. This time from the left hash mark with another Comet right in front of the keeper directly in line with Criscuolo.
3:01 to go
Now Dineen will soon pull another hockey no-no. With 2:42 to go the Bruins ice the puck. Faceoff intheir end. Dineen pulls Nico. 2:42 is still a lot of time. The smart thing to do mis bring Daws halfway tothe blueline until the faceof is decided. if the Bruins gain control, he slinides back to the crease. If the Comerts control he rushes toi the bench.
Well the Bruins won the draw. Came doiwn the ice and scored. However, replay showed the goal scorer was probably offsaides but the LM said no and there is no replay inthe AHl so that was that.
6-4
Bruins won the faceoff and came back into the Comets zone and scored again on a wrisater that Daws should have had. 7-4
He was never on his game again after fiasco at the end of the 1st period.
6 goals allowed on 19 shots.
Basiclayy a goal every 3 shots. Can't win games with goaltending like that.
Since he came back down he's
- lost 2-1 to Bridgeport 2-1 in a shootout.
- Lost 4-1 in Rochester
- Lost this one to Providence 7-4.
He only looked good in the Bridgeport game.
Schmid meanwhile
- Lost to Belleville 5-2 before Poulter won his last game with the Comets 4-0 over league leading Hershey.
- Beat Hartford 4-2.
- Shutout Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3-0.
- Beat Laval 3-1.
and tonight (3/30)
- beat Springfield 4-3 in a game the Thunderbirds could easily have scored 4 or 5 more goals except Akira made outstanding save on breakaways, 2 on 1s, and 2 rapid fire series of shots in his net front. The only thing to keep him at the #2 * spot was the 2 goals and 2 assists by Shane Bowers in a 4 - goal Comets night.
I'll fill you in on that one tomorrow.
Final score -
Providence Bruins 7 Utica Comets 4
SOG:
Shots/goals
PRO 5/1 5/2 10/4 = 20/7
UTC 10/1 10/0 11/3 = 31
PP:
PRO - 1/3
UTC - 0/3
Scoring;
Legare (7- 6 Laval/1 Utica) from Felix (1) and van de Leest (1)
Criscuolo (14) from Stillman (8) and Laberge (11)
Engaras (6) from Laberge (12) and Criscuolo (23)
Criscuolo (15) from Gambardella (20) and Vilen (20)
Daws (12/19) 1 ENG
The Comets scored first at 13:10 of Period 1, but as is their Achilles heel, they surrendered the tie goal at 19:28 of the period. It was a bizarre goal that one can only pin on Daws.
The Comets were threatening in the Providence end. A shot was kicked out and then slapped past a Comet in the left circle with 4 Comets strung out in a line from the dots to the through the crease. A shot was kicked out to the left circle as you look at the net. It was struck by the sticks of a Comet and Bruin simultaneously squirted to the top of the circle. The Bruin slapped it out of the zone and down the ice. Anthony Richard and Vilen were even just past the top of the circle sprinting out of the zone after the puck. I don't know exactly what kind of speed Vilen has, Richard left Vilen in his ice shavings. He was clean unless Daws made a play. Nico came straight out above the middle of the 2 circles and Richard turned sharply to his left based on the position of Nico's stick. He read it right because Nico snapped a hard shot off his stick. It went to the right wing boards. Richard retrieved the puck off the boards and backhanded it into the open net.
Here's the rub!!!!!!!! Vilen still hadn't caught up to Richard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He wrongly assumed Daws would simply play the puck away from Richard. Always play the case of what might go wrong. Had he done such he would have arrived on the boards with the puck and Richard and the backhander would not have been launched, Daws would have been back in his net and hockey would have continued along the boards as the rest of the players would have entered in. Chances are the period ends with Utica still on top.
Daws was never the same after that goal.
The Comets hadn't given the Bruins much of anything in the period. They had played them as tough as any team this season. Just like they had played Hershey. That goal took the starch out of their sails. It shouldn't have. It was only 1 goal, but they spent more than another period and a half resetting their game. DiNeen is a terrible coach. He can't motivate nor settle his boys down and put them back on track whenever something goes wrong. He just stands in his spot and is basically emotionless. The game is left to the players.
Providence got 2 more in Period 2.
The 1st was a 2 on 1 shortie at 13:32.
The 3rd came 3 minutes later at 16:13. It looked to be a 1 on 1 with Vilen, but he was outskated up the ice again and it turnded into a breakaway.
The period ended 3-1
Period 3 was wild one.
2:50 into the period the Comets surrendered another 2 on 1 and it ended up inthe back of their net, 4-1.
Clarke was called for hooking at 5:13 anf the Bruins scored on the ensuing PP making it 5-1.
At that point the result seemed certain. However, somebody lit a fuse under the boys and they came roaring back.
Criscuolo ignited the fuse a at11:35 with his 14th of the season from the middle of the circles. 5-2
Around 2 and a half minutes later Engaras found the back of the net as the Comets were now storming the front of the Bruin's net with Daws on the bench. More than 5 minutes to go and the net was empty. They managed to retreive every puck and send it back on net. Their were bodies everywhere and Engaras potted the Comets 3rd. 5-3
The Comets went right back to it. Puck in the Bruins end. Providence acted as if they had no idea what was going on. Who were these guys?
They kept shooting from everywhere and finally with 3:04 to go it was suddenly 5-4 as Criscuolo scored again. This time from the left hash mark with another Comet right in front of the keeper directly in line with Criscuolo.
3:01 to go
Now Dineen will soon pull another hockey no-no. With 2:42 to go the Bruins ice the puck. Faceoff intheir end. Dineen pulls Nico. 2:42 is still a lot of time. The smart thing to do mis bring Daws halfway tothe blueline until the faceof is decided. if the Bruins gain control, he slinides back to the crease. If the Comerts control he rushes toi the bench.
Well the Bruins won the draw. Came doiwn the ice and scored. However, replay showed the goal scorer was probably offsaides but the LM said no and there is no replay inthe AHl so that was that.
6-4
Bruins won the faceoff and came back into the Comets zone and scored again on a wrisater that Daws should have had. 7-4
He was never on his game again after fiasco at the end of the 1st period.
6 goals allowed on 19 shots.
Basiclayy a goal every 3 shots. Can't win games with goaltending like that.
Since he came back down he's
- lost 2-1 to Bridgeport 2-1 in a shootout.
- Lost 4-1 in Rochester
- Lost this one to Providence 7-4.
He only looked good in the Bridgeport game.
Schmid meanwhile
- Lost to Belleville 5-2 before Poulter won his last game with the Comets 4-0 over league leading Hershey.
- Beat Hartford 4-2.
- Shutout Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3-0.
- Beat Laval 3-1.
and tonight (3/30)
- beat Springfield 4-3 in a game the Thunderbirds could easily have scored 4 or 5 more goals except Akira made outstanding save on breakaways, 2 on 1s, and 2 rapid fire series of shots in his net front. The only thing to keep him at the #2 * spot was the 2 goals and 2 assists by Shane Bowers in a 4 - goal Comets night.
I'll fill you in on that one tomorrow.
Last edited:
3/30/24 Springfield Thunderbirds @ Utica Comets recap
Final Score -
Utica Comets 4 Springfield Thunderbirds 3
Forwards:
10 Dowling/ 26 Schmelzer/ 51 Criscuolo
79 Laberge/ 16 Engaras/ 11 Lagare
67 Parent/ 21 Stevens/ 15 Gambardella
48 Middendorf/ 14 Bowers/ 61 Stillman
D-Pairs:
3 MacKinnon/ 5 Russo
83 Vilen/ 23 Wotherspoon
52 van de Leest/ 22 Felix
Goal - 40 Schmid
SOG:
SPR - 10 12 7 = 29
UTC - 13 13 10 = 36
PP:
SPR - 1/5
UTC - 1/5
Scoring:
Bowers (7) from Stillman (8) and Felix (2)
MacKinnon (3) from Russo (19) and Bowers (3)
Middendorf (4) from Vilen (21) and Bowers (4)
Bowers (8) from Criscuolo (24) and Dowling (8) PP
Period 1
Comets got it going early when Shane Bowers and Erik Middendorf skated in on Thunderbird keeper Colten Ellis 2 on 1. Bowers had carried the puck all the way into the T-Birds zone from the Utica blueline. He glanced over at Middendorf and then fired from the left dot across Ellis to the right side of the net and off the far post and in.
1-0 Comets at 4:00.
Just over 8 minutes later Gambardella suffered what appears to have been a serious injury. He required a lengthy period of time and medical attention on the ice before being helped to the dressing room. It appears to have been a leg injury. The officials used the time for a TV TO with 8:55 to go.
He came back out for the 2nd and played a shift. Got knocked down, got back up and I didn't see him go, but soon noticed he wasn't on the bench. They don't have many actual experienced guys left. He has been a real leader down the stretch and would be a big loss.
The Comets Dumped the puck into the Springfield zone and Bowers carried it in on the left wing, dumped it to the end boards, and followed it in. He battled for the puck directly behind the net and sent it up the right wing boards to Russo at the point. He passed it across to MacKinnon just inside the middle of the blueline. He snapped off a long wrister that found the bottom of the net to Ellis' right.
2-0 Comets at 12:26
At 14:33 MacKinnon was called for slashing. With time on the penalty running out the T-Birds scored a PPG at 16:28.
2-1 Comets
The Comets went right back on the attack.
With a little over 2 minutes to go MacKinnon passed the puck from the right end boards around to Middendorf headed up the LW boards at the blueline. He carried it into the SPR zone and dropped it back to Dowling at the blueline. He fired across the ice to Bowers outside the top of the circle on the RW boards. Bowers got into trouble but the puck squirted back to Vilen, who hit Middendorf coming out of the corner at the bottom of the circle. He made a power move and drove to the net and fired from the bottom of the circle 5 feet from Ellis on the corner of his crease. The puck bounced off Ellis and back at Middendorf who hadn't stopped coming to Ellis. There was a collision and a net front pileup and the puck ended up in the net. I think Erik got a stick on the rebound.
3-1 Comets at 17:57
Wow! What a period for the home guys.
Period 2
It was back and forth for the the first 12 minutes or so and Schmid was called upon to make the bigger stops.
At 11:04 Dickinson was called for hooking and Stillman and Kalynuk were called for roughing at the same time. Comets to the PP.
Just like the night before, Vilen was outskated the length of the ice and this time Biten was in all alone on Schmid and scored a short handed goal to make it 3-2. Vilen has been burned like this 2 nights in a row and he has been caught more times than that in recent Comets play that didn't end up in the net. He has shown not to be as fast as he maybe thinks he is. The footraces have started basically even and he doesn't come close to staying with the opponent.
T-birds goal at 12:15 makes it 3-2.
That wasn't enough for the team. A little over 3 minutes later the Comets left a T-Bird standing all alone on Schmid's left doorstep with the puck all the way over on the opposite side. A pass was wired to that guy from Schmid's right post and he fired it into the open net. Schmid had absolutely no chance.
It's tied 3-3 after 2 periods.
Period 3
The 3rd period was evenly played with neither side getting too cute. Utica was the more desperate team because they absolutely had to have these 2 points.
At 15:17 the crucial error was made. Will Bitten was called for holding. It was more like a mugging. Ridiculous loss of control on his part. The irony was his arguing the call all the way across the ice to the box and then his Assistant Captain, former Comet Adam Gaudette, carrying on the argument with more yapping.
It's a Comets PP.
1st minute gone with a lot of perimeter passing and a couple missed nets.
Then a pass to Dowling on the half boards. He fired a shot from the the right circle that came off Ellis. Criscuolo and a T-Bird thrust their sticks at the rebound and Criscuolo won. He tapped it to Bowers coming off the right post and he snapped it into the net.
Bowers at 16:42
COMETS TAKE THE LEAD 4-3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3:18 left in regulation.
1st minute is gone and the Comets mainly keep the puck in the Springfield end.
Schmelzer misses a chance on the doorstep as Ellis turns him aside with 1:51 to go. A huge congestion in Ellis' crease as the Comets jab and poke and all but put Ellis and the puck in the net.
1:42 to go.
1:15 to go and Ellis finally gets a chance to head to the bench.
1 minute to go
Comets send it down the ice slowly. No icing.
Springfield finally gets the puck into the Comets end, but a lot of perimeter passing. Passes inside or shot attempts were blocked. Akira a couple stops on slow moving pucks and the clock ran out with the Comets in possession.
Huge 4 point night for Bowers in just his 2nd game back after returning from an injury that put him on the shelf February, 14th. 2 goals, 2 assists, and his 2nd goal was the game winner.
Akira Schmid was very good and without several of his stops on great opportunities, this would have been a Springfield victory.
The weekend left the Comets exactly where they were when they began on Friday. After winning on Wednesday they entered the weekend with a chance to gain some ground on one of either Laval or Belleville. The two played each other twice on the weekend and split. Had Utica won on Friday they would currently be in 6th place 1 point behind Laval for the final playoff slot with 2 games in hand on Laval.
Instead nothing has changed. The Comets are still in 7th and last place 1 point behind Belleville and 3 behind Laval. Belleville and Utica have both played 64 games while Laval has played 66.
The only plus in the last 3 games was defeating Laval on Wednesday to cut their lead from 5 to 3 points.
It's still anybody's chance among these 3 for that final spot.
Final Score -
Utica Comets 4 Springfield Thunderbirds 3
Forwards:
10 Dowling/ 26 Schmelzer/ 51 Criscuolo
79 Laberge/ 16 Engaras/ 11 Lagare
67 Parent/ 21 Stevens/ 15 Gambardella
48 Middendorf/ 14 Bowers/ 61 Stillman
D-Pairs:
3 MacKinnon/ 5 Russo
83 Vilen/ 23 Wotherspoon
52 van de Leest/ 22 Felix
Goal - 40 Schmid
SOG:
SPR - 10 12 7 = 29
UTC - 13 13 10 = 36
PP:
SPR - 1/5
UTC - 1/5
Scoring:
Bowers (7) from Stillman (8) and Felix (2)
MacKinnon (3) from Russo (19) and Bowers (3)
Middendorf (4) from Vilen (21) and Bowers (4)
Bowers (8) from Criscuolo (24) and Dowling (8) PP
Period 1
Comets got it going early when Shane Bowers and Erik Middendorf skated in on Thunderbird keeper Colten Ellis 2 on 1. Bowers had carried the puck all the way into the T-Birds zone from the Utica blueline. He glanced over at Middendorf and then fired from the left dot across Ellis to the right side of the net and off the far post and in.
1-0 Comets at 4:00.
Just over 8 minutes later Gambardella suffered what appears to have been a serious injury. He required a lengthy period of time and medical attention on the ice before being helped to the dressing room. It appears to have been a leg injury. The officials used the time for a TV TO with 8:55 to go.
He came back out for the 2nd and played a shift. Got knocked down, got back up and I didn't see him go, but soon noticed he wasn't on the bench. They don't have many actual experienced guys left. He has been a real leader down the stretch and would be a big loss.
The Comets Dumped the puck into the Springfield zone and Bowers carried it in on the left wing, dumped it to the end boards, and followed it in. He battled for the puck directly behind the net and sent it up the right wing boards to Russo at the point. He passed it across to MacKinnon just inside the middle of the blueline. He snapped off a long wrister that found the bottom of the net to Ellis' right.
2-0 Comets at 12:26
At 14:33 MacKinnon was called for slashing. With time on the penalty running out the T-Birds scored a PPG at 16:28.
2-1 Comets
The Comets went right back on the attack.
With a little over 2 minutes to go MacKinnon passed the puck from the right end boards around to Middendorf headed up the LW boards at the blueline. He carried it into the SPR zone and dropped it back to Dowling at the blueline. He fired across the ice to Bowers outside the top of the circle on the RW boards. Bowers got into trouble but the puck squirted back to Vilen, who hit Middendorf coming out of the corner at the bottom of the circle. He made a power move and drove to the net and fired from the bottom of the circle 5 feet from Ellis on the corner of his crease. The puck bounced off Ellis and back at Middendorf who hadn't stopped coming to Ellis. There was a collision and a net front pileup and the puck ended up in the net. I think Erik got a stick on the rebound.
3-1 Comets at 17:57
Wow! What a period for the home guys.
Period 2
It was back and forth for the the first 12 minutes or so and Schmid was called upon to make the bigger stops.
At 11:04 Dickinson was called for hooking and Stillman and Kalynuk were called for roughing at the same time. Comets to the PP.
Just like the night before, Vilen was outskated the length of the ice and this time Biten was in all alone on Schmid and scored a short handed goal to make it 3-2. Vilen has been burned like this 2 nights in a row and he has been caught more times than that in recent Comets play that didn't end up in the net. He has shown not to be as fast as he maybe thinks he is. The footraces have started basically even and he doesn't come close to staying with the opponent.
T-birds goal at 12:15 makes it 3-2.
That wasn't enough for the team. A little over 3 minutes later the Comets left a T-Bird standing all alone on Schmid's left doorstep with the puck all the way over on the opposite side. A pass was wired to that guy from Schmid's right post and he fired it into the open net. Schmid had absolutely no chance.
It's tied 3-3 after 2 periods.
Period 3
The 3rd period was evenly played with neither side getting too cute. Utica was the more desperate team because they absolutely had to have these 2 points.
At 15:17 the crucial error was made. Will Bitten was called for holding. It was more like a mugging. Ridiculous loss of control on his part. The irony was his arguing the call all the way across the ice to the box and then his Assistant Captain, former Comet Adam Gaudette, carrying on the argument with more yapping.
It's a Comets PP.
1st minute gone with a lot of perimeter passing and a couple missed nets.
Then a pass to Dowling on the half boards. He fired a shot from the the right circle that came off Ellis. Criscuolo and a T-Bird thrust their sticks at the rebound and Criscuolo won. He tapped it to Bowers coming off the right post and he snapped it into the net.
Bowers at 16:42
COMETS TAKE THE LEAD 4-3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3:18 left in regulation.
1st minute is gone and the Comets mainly keep the puck in the Springfield end.
Schmelzer misses a chance on the doorstep as Ellis turns him aside with 1:51 to go. A huge congestion in Ellis' crease as the Comets jab and poke and all but put Ellis and the puck in the net.
1:42 to go.
1:15 to go and Ellis finally gets a chance to head to the bench.
1 minute to go
Comets send it down the ice slowly. No icing.
Springfield finally gets the puck into the Comets end, but a lot of perimeter passing. Passes inside or shot attempts were blocked. Akira a couple stops on slow moving pucks and the clock ran out with the Comets in possession.
Huge 4 point night for Bowers in just his 2nd game back after returning from an injury that put him on the shelf February, 14th. 2 goals, 2 assists, and his 2nd goal was the game winner.
Akira Schmid was very good and without several of his stops on great opportunities, this would have been a Springfield victory.
The weekend left the Comets exactly where they were when they began on Friday. After winning on Wednesday they entered the weekend with a chance to gain some ground on one of either Laval or Belleville. The two played each other twice on the weekend and split. Had Utica won on Friday they would currently be in 6th place 1 point behind Laval for the final playoff slot with 2 games in hand on Laval.
Instead nothing has changed. The Comets are still in 7th and last place 1 point behind Belleville and 3 behind Laval. Belleville and Utica have both played 64 games while Laval has played 66.
The only plus in the last 3 games was defeating Laval on Wednesday to cut their lead from 5 to 3 points.
It's still anybody's chance among these 3 for that final spot.
Last edited:
- Dec 20, 2018
- 21,772
- 46,980
Can’t wait for the people who come to this thread after today and are really confused by this post when they first see it.
Devils731
Registered User
- Jun 23, 2008
- 12,336
- 16,448
For anyone that wants to go, “Wait, they’re already playing today?”
Mgd31
Registered User
In his last five games he's given up 7 goals on 135 shots against if my brain is working (which it may not be). I guess that's about a 95% save percentage in round numbers. It's good to see him right the ship.
4/2/24
Utica Comets @ Bridgeport
Early morning game (10:30). I was busy with life activities and just now am getting to watch the game. This post will be more of a recap than a blow by blow of the game.
Forwards:
10 Dowling/ 26 Schmelzer/ 51 Criscuolo
48 Middendorf/ 14 Bowers/ 61 Stillman
67 Parent/ 21 Stevens/ 92 Clarke
79 Laberge/ 16 Engaras/ 11 Legare
D-Pairs:
3 MacKinnon/ 5 Russo
83 Vilen/ 23 Wotherspoon
93 Misyul/ 8 Hatakka
Goal - 40 Schmid
Scratches:
Daws (BU)
Kallgren (H)
Fitzgerald (H)
Vukojevic (H)
Osmanski (H)
Felix (H)
Gambardella (Inj)
Ibragimov (Inj)
Period 1
First 6 minutes basically little doing.
Then Schmelzer skated out of his own zone all the way to the bottom of the LW circle on the boards and stopped. Delayed for a second and then made a good pass to Hatakka who had come down to the bottom of the RW circle on the rush and he 1 timed the Schmelzer pass and......................
SCORED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hatakka from Schmelzer at 6:03
1-0 Comets
Wotherspoon 1-timer gloved.
TV TO
12:53 to go
Engaras hits the post at 11:03
Engaras then gets called for high sticking at 9:08. His 10th penalty in 46 GP.
Isles had nothing going on that PP. No SOG. Instead the Comets had 2 chances.
TVTO
8:43 to go
Clarke continues to blow opportunity after opportunity by passing up clear scoring chances while trying to dipsy-doodle around an opponent or through 2 or more in order to get closer to the net. He is inept with the puck unless he receives it unchallenged so he can look, choose his spot, and shoot. He cannot handle the puck!
LaDue scores for the Isles at 7:47.
It's waved off because Schmid was interfered with by Kubiak. A conference ensues and the call stands.
TV TO
5:21 to go
Schmid a big save on a 1-timer from between the circles.
Isles hit the post at 2:41.
End of 1
Comets lead 1-0
SOG:
10-7 Utica
Period 2
Schmid a save and a better one on the rebound
Schmid 2 more in the same sequence.
Misyul robbed from the left side hash mark after sneaking down low.
Tyce Thompson checked hard on the RW boards in the Bridgeport end. He doesn't like it and goes after Kyle. MacKinnon steps in and says uh-uh.
Tyce Thompson squares off with MacKinnon. Tyce throws 3 rights that all hit helmet. MacKinnon gets his right hand free and lands 2 square and the 2nd one takes him to the ice.
Tyce always seemed to act like he was tough when a Comet, but either got his clock cleaned or got wrestled to the ice. He isn't really all that tough.
Thompson is wobbling trying to get up and drops to 1 knee. He has to be helped off the ice by 2 teammates.
2 each for roughing and 5 for fighting at 16:05.
Parent turns it over in his zone and the Isles hem the Comets in. They finally get control and Bowers makes a good pass to get it out and Parent turns it over in the Isles zone. Not a good shift for Xavier.
Comets having a run of poor play here. Turning pucks over in all3 zones. Schmid bailed them out again, this time on his doorstep, in the middle of this stretch.
Schmid a stop on his doorstep off the rush and stops the rebound as well for a whistle.
TV TO
11:40 to go
Comets gettin g into all sorts of trouble trying to whgat looks like hold onto their lead. It's 1-0 with over 10 minutes to go in the 2nd. Time to get back to playing offensive hockey!
TV TO
9:57 to go
Schmid another big stop form the circle and the rebound immediately off his pad.
Russo shoots from the middle of the blueline and it hits Clarke inthe body and goes in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goes in off ClarkeClarke on shot from Russo at 3:52.
2-0 Comets
From the Utica blueline Misyul hits Stillman in stride at the redline on the RW. Just across the blueline he hits Middendorf heading down the middle. From the left faceoff he sputs the puck right on the stick of Bowers directly in front and he tips right past a helpless Skarek.
G-------O-------A--------L!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bowers at 18:16.
3-0 Comets
The Comets come right back in and Clarke passes the puck from the LW halfboards across to Russo. He shoots and Skarek stops it but the rebound slides off to his left and Paent is right there to send it back into the net on a backhander.
Another goal :26 seconds later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Parent at 18:42
4-0 Comets
You can't say enough about the work Schmid has done all period to set he Comets up for this scoring burst.
3 goals in 2:18!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Period 2 comes to an end.
Comets 4-0
SOG:
10-10
2-period total:
20-17 Utica
Period 3
Comets to the PK at 11:42
Stevens 2 for slashing
Comets clear it.
Schmelzer a breakaway and he's stopped on a 5-hole attempt.
Isles 2 open shots. Both wide.
Comets clear it down.
PK is successful.
TV TO
9:28 to go
Schmid catches a shot across the bow.
Misyul attempts a flip shot out of the zone from deep in his zone. it doesn't get out, but the Comets had headed out. It's stopped at the blueline and passed to Twarynski at the top of the left circle and it's a 2 on 1 down low on Misyul. It's passed to Jeffires at the bottom of the right circle and he had an uncontested shot for a G-O-A-L.
That breaks up the shutout.
First AHL goal for Jeffries at 12:00
4-1 Comets
Comets to the PP at 13:03.
They immediately surrender a shorthanded chance and Schmid makes the stop and holds it between his arm and body.
Comets should be getting into the Isles zone and just passing it around the outside and killing the 2 minutes. Instead they are forcing passes and turning it over and allowing the Isles to break out, but they aren't mustering any offense on several opportunities.
PP is over.
Comets "Katy-bar-the-door" is not all that pretty, but it was successful with the aid of a couple saves by Akira.
GAME OVER
Comets win it 4-1
Utica Comets @ Bridgeport
Early morning game (10:30). I was busy with life activities and just now am getting to watch the game. This post will be more of a recap than a blow by blow of the game.
Forwards:
10 Dowling/ 26 Schmelzer/ 51 Criscuolo
48 Middendorf/ 14 Bowers/ 61 Stillman
67 Parent/ 21 Stevens/ 92 Clarke
79 Laberge/ 16 Engaras/ 11 Legare
D-Pairs:
3 MacKinnon/ 5 Russo
83 Vilen/ 23 Wotherspoon
93 Misyul/ 8 Hatakka
Goal - 40 Schmid
Scratches:
Daws (BU)
Kallgren (H)
Fitzgerald (H)
Vukojevic (H)
Osmanski (H)
Felix (H)
Gambardella (Inj)
Ibragimov (Inj)
Period 1
First 6 minutes basically little doing.
Then Schmelzer skated out of his own zone all the way to the bottom of the LW circle on the boards and stopped. Delayed for a second and then made a good pass to Hatakka who had come down to the bottom of the RW circle on the rush and he 1 timed the Schmelzer pass and......................
SCORED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hatakka from Schmelzer at 6:03
1-0 Comets
Wotherspoon 1-timer gloved.
TV TO
12:53 to go
Engaras hits the post at 11:03
Engaras then gets called for high sticking at 9:08. His 10th penalty in 46 GP.
Isles had nothing going on that PP. No SOG. Instead the Comets had 2 chances.
TVTO
8:43 to go
Clarke continues to blow opportunity after opportunity by passing up clear scoring chances while trying to dipsy-doodle around an opponent or through 2 or more in order to get closer to the net. He is inept with the puck unless he receives it unchallenged so he can look, choose his spot, and shoot. He cannot handle the puck!
LaDue scores for the Isles at 7:47.
It's waved off because Schmid was interfered with by Kubiak. A conference ensues and the call stands.
TV TO
5:21 to go
Schmid a big save on a 1-timer from between the circles.
Isles hit the post at 2:41.
End of 1
Comets lead 1-0
SOG:
10-7 Utica
Period 2
Schmid a save and a better one on the rebound
Schmid 2 more in the same sequence.
Misyul robbed from the left side hash mark after sneaking down low.
Tyce Thompson checked hard on the RW boards in the Bridgeport end. He doesn't like it and goes after Kyle. MacKinnon steps in and says uh-uh.
Tyce Thompson squares off with MacKinnon. Tyce throws 3 rights that all hit helmet. MacKinnon gets his right hand free and lands 2 square and the 2nd one takes him to the ice.
Tyce always seemed to act like he was tough when a Comet, but either got his clock cleaned or got wrestled to the ice. He isn't really all that tough.
Thompson is wobbling trying to get up and drops to 1 knee. He has to be helped off the ice by 2 teammates.
2 each for roughing and 5 for fighting at 16:05.
Parent turns it over in his zone and the Isles hem the Comets in. They finally get control and Bowers makes a good pass to get it out and Parent turns it over in the Isles zone. Not a good shift for Xavier.
Comets having a run of poor play here. Turning pucks over in all3 zones. Schmid bailed them out again, this time on his doorstep, in the middle of this stretch.
Schmid a stop on his doorstep off the rush and stops the rebound as well for a whistle.
TV TO
11:40 to go
Comets gettin g into all sorts of trouble trying to whgat looks like hold onto their lead. It's 1-0 with over 10 minutes to go in the 2nd. Time to get back to playing offensive hockey!
TV TO
9:57 to go
Schmid another big stop form the circle and the rebound immediately off his pad.
Russo shoots from the middle of the blueline and it hits Clarke inthe body and goes in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Goes in off ClarkeClarke on shot from Russo at 3:52.
2-0 Comets
From the Utica blueline Misyul hits Stillman in stride at the redline on the RW. Just across the blueline he hits Middendorf heading down the middle. From the left faceoff he sputs the puck right on the stick of Bowers directly in front and he tips right past a helpless Skarek.
G-------O-------A--------L!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bowers at 18:16.
3-0 Comets
The Comets come right back in and Clarke passes the puck from the LW halfboards across to Russo. He shoots and Skarek stops it but the rebound slides off to his left and Paent is right there to send it back into the net on a backhander.
Another goal :26 seconds later!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Parent at 18:42
4-0 Comets
You can't say enough about the work Schmid has done all period to set he Comets up for this scoring burst.
3 goals in 2:18!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Period 2 comes to an end.
Comets 4-0
SOG:
10-10
2-period total:
20-17 Utica
Period 3
Comets to the PK at 11:42
Stevens 2 for slashing
Comets clear it.
Schmelzer a breakaway and he's stopped on a 5-hole attempt.
Isles 2 open shots. Both wide.
Comets clear it down.
PK is successful.
TV TO
9:28 to go
Schmid catches a shot across the bow.
Misyul attempts a flip shot out of the zone from deep in his zone. it doesn't get out, but the Comets had headed out. It's stopped at the blueline and passed to Twarynski at the top of the left circle and it's a 2 on 1 down low on Misyul. It's passed to Jeffires at the bottom of the right circle and he had an uncontested shot for a G-O-A-L.
That breaks up the shutout.
First AHL goal for Jeffries at 12:00
4-1 Comets
Comets to the PP at 13:03.
They immediately surrender a shorthanded chance and Schmid makes the stop and holds it between his arm and body.
Comets should be getting into the Isles zone and just passing it around the outside and killing the 2 minutes. Instead they are forcing passes and turning it over and allowing the Isles to break out, but they aren't mustering any offense on several opportunities.
PP is over.
Comets "Katy-bar-the-door" is not all that pretty, but it was successful with the aid of a couple saves by Akira.
GAME OVER
Comets win it 4-1
4/2/24
Utica Comets 4 Bridgeport Islanders 1
SOG:
UTC - 10 10 9 = 29
BRI - 7 10 7 = 24
PP:
UTC - 0/1
BRI - 0/2
Scoring
Hatakka (5) from Schmelzer (30)
Clarke (24) from Russo (20) and Parent (28)
Bowers (9) from Middendorf (5) and Stillman (10)
Parent (12) from Russo (21) and Clarke (23)
Schmid - 23/24
3 *s
3 - Akira Schmid (Utica Comets) SA 24 / SV 23
2 - Alex Jeffries (Bridgeport Islanders) 1 G
1 - Graeme Clarke (Utica Comets) 1 G/1A
Except for Schmid, the 3 Stars are merely stat chasing.
With this win the Comets have have once again climbed out of the cellar by 1 point over the Bellville Senators. The Sens now have a game in hand and will not play again until Friday vs Springfield in Belleville.
They now trail 5th place Laval by a single point with a game in hand and the 4th place Marlies by 2 points, but TO has 2 games in hand onthe Comets.
4th Toronto - 71
5th Laval - 70
6th Utica - 69
7th Belleville - 68
Next up for Utica is a back to back with Toronto in Toronto this coming Saturday and Sunday. The Comets hold their fate in their oiwn hands.
Utica Comets 4 Bridgeport Islanders 1
SOG:
UTC - 10 10 9 = 29
BRI - 7 10 7 = 24
PP:
UTC - 0/1
BRI - 0/2
Scoring
Hatakka (5) from Schmelzer (30)
Clarke (24) from Russo (20) and Parent (28)
Bowers (9) from Middendorf (5) and Stillman (10)
Parent (12) from Russo (21) and Clarke (23)
Schmid - 23/24
3 *s
3 - Akira Schmid (Utica Comets) SA 24 / SV 23
2 - Alex Jeffries (Bridgeport Islanders) 1 G
1 - Graeme Clarke (Utica Comets) 1 G/1A
Except for Schmid, the 3 Stars are merely stat chasing.
With this win the Comets have have once again climbed out of the cellar by 1 point over the Bellville Senators. The Sens now have a game in hand and will not play again until Friday vs Springfield in Belleville.
They now trail 5th place Laval by a single point with a game in hand and the 4th place Marlies by 2 points, but TO has 2 games in hand onthe Comets.
4th Toronto - 71
5th Laval - 70
6th Utica - 69
7th Belleville - 68
Next up for Utica is a back to back with Toronto in Toronto this coming Saturday and Sunday. The Comets hold their fate in their oiwn hands.
- Dec 20, 2018
- 21,772
- 46,980
They wore them on the ice too.
And was this posted? At least one team is in playoffs.
And they made another signing, C/RW Alex Young, who was an overage 2020 7th Rd (#196) pick for the Sharks.
UticaHockey
Registered User
Yeah, I just checked into AHL.com for the day's transactions up to this time and saw the Wendt signing. Then went to NJ and saw the signing to a 24-25 ELC and thus, right now he is on an ATO and assigned by NJ to Utica. Means he can't burn a year off of his ELC. It will start next year.
He had good numbers this season with 44Pts /38 GP. His shooting % (26.1) was tops in the NCAA, his (9 PPGs) #9, and his 23G were #10. He was on the long list as a Hobey Baker Award Nominee.
He tailed off in the NCAAs with only 4 assists and 0 G in 4 GP.
He is a RW. Something the Comets could use considering their RW list at the moment is Clarke, Stillman, and Legare. Halonen plays there when he's here, but is a natural LW. Clarke and Stillman are signed for next season and Halonen could end up in NJ.
Comets don't play until Saturday in Toronto. If he doesn't join the team before tomorrow, Dineen is unlikely to just stick him in the lineup. The Comets Playoff chances are real and within their grasp. It would be dumb to insert a player who knows nothing of their systems. If that is how he sees it, I wouldn't expect his debut until next Friday after a week of practice.
I have another concern as the Comets face their last 7 games of the regular season - Nico Daws vs Akira Schmid.
The Comets are 6-3 in their last 9 games.
The string began with Isaac Poulter's last start, a 4-3 victory over AHL leading Hershey.
Schmid has strung together 5 straight wins.
Nico Daws has lost all 3 of his starts and only looked good in the first, a 2-1 shootout loss to AHL's last place Bridgeport. His mates didn't put forth a very exemplary effort.
After a terrible outing from Daws vs Providence (6G/19 SOG), Dineen gave Schmid the next 2 starts instead of following the alternating system that was the pattern he established with the arrival of Daws and the demotion of Poulter. With a playoff berth at stake, I think he needs to rely on Akira as much as possible.
- The Comets have back to backs this coming Saturday and Sunday in Toronto. (4/6 & 7)
- Then it's back to backs vs Providence the next Friday and Saturday in Providence. (4/12 & 13)
- Finally they finish with 3 in 3 on the last weekend:
Friday 4/19 Syracuse at home.
Saturday 4/20 in Syracuse
Sunday 4/21 Rochester at home.
I don't know Dinnen's thoughts, but if Daws is the same guy in Toronto that we saw vs Providence, I'd run Schmid until he loses the net. It will only be 5 games remiaining after this weekend. I don't think he'd suffer playing 4 of the 5.
The Comets simply have to win. Any losses in the last 7 games can mean the end to their playoff chances. As it is they will need losses from the 2 in the battle with them, Laval and Belleville. Matching losses are in the favor of their combatants. Because the standings would remain the same. Utica has a game in nhand on Laval, 1 point ahead of them and Belleville has a game in hand on the Comets who they trail by 1 point. The team that finishes the highest of the 3 will make the playoffs.
Dineen can't be concerned with making sure Daws and Schmid are treated equally at this point in the season because NJ wants them to develop. Take that stand next season.
The Comets are 6-3 in their last 9 games.
The string began with Isaac Poulter's last start, a 4-3 victory over AHL leading Hershey.
Schmid has strung together 5 straight wins.
Nico Daws has lost all 3 of his starts and only looked good in the first, a 2-1 shootout loss to AHL's last place Bridgeport. His mates didn't put forth a very exemplary effort.
After a terrible outing from Daws vs Providence (6G/19 SOG), Dineen gave Schmid the next 2 starts instead of following the alternating system that was the pattern he established with the arrival of Daws and the demotion of Poulter. With a playoff berth at stake, I think he needs to rely on Akira as much as possible.
- The Comets have back to backs this coming Saturday and Sunday in Toronto. (4/6 & 7)
- Then it's back to backs vs Providence the next Friday and Saturday in Providence. (4/12 & 13)
- Finally they finish with 3 in 3 on the last weekend:
Friday 4/19 Syracuse at home.
Saturday 4/20 in Syracuse
Sunday 4/21 Rochester at home.
I don't know Dinnen's thoughts, but if Daws is the same guy in Toronto that we saw vs Providence, I'd run Schmid until he loses the net. It will only be 5 games remiaining after this weekend. I don't think he'd suffer playing 4 of the 5.
The Comets simply have to win. Any losses in the last 7 games can mean the end to their playoff chances. As it is they will need losses from the 2 in the battle with them, Laval and Belleville. Matching losses are in the favor of their combatants. Because the standings would remain the same. Utica has a game in nhand on Laval, 1 point ahead of them and Belleville has a game in hand on the Comets who they trail by 1 point. The team that finishes the highest of the 3 will make the playoffs.
Dineen can't be concerned with making sure Daws and Schmid are treated equally at this point in the season because NJ wants them to develop. Take that stand next season.
- Apr 20, 2005
- 2,613
- 1,476
Schmid seems to wear down with heavy usage (as does Daws). I think Daws will need to play at least three of the final seven games
Mgd31
Registered User
- Dec 20, 2018
- 21,772
- 46,980
I posted a big info dump on Wendt and then moved it to the Prospects Board. Maybe I overthought that lol. Anyhoo check it out.
Here are their stat Stat Comparisons
We’re getting them at the same age, coming off big years, but Halonen went to college earlier and started producing earlier. He also stood out more as the lead scorer in his last year at Michigan Tech.
This is Halonen’s card from EPRinkside’s 2022 NCAA Free Agency Guide
This is Wendt’s from this year
TL;DR 5 is better than you think, it’s the average for C grade prospects.
In some ways Halonen is a more intriguing prospect, above average (5 is average) “Hockey Sense” & “Physical” is appealing in bottom six prospect.
Wendt has better skating though and that helps.
You did post a nice piece on him. For once you got a result. Congrats!
Your stats on Wendt are incomplete. 38GP/ 23 G (10th in the NCAA)/21A /44Pts.
In addition his shooting % was 26.1% (#1 in the NCAA) and he had 9 PPG (#9 in the NCAA).
His numbers look good.
Don't know about being a Halonen clone as you responded to. Both came on at the end of their NCAA season.
- Halonen put up 2g/1a in 12 GP after his NCAA career '21-22.
- In his 1st pro season with the Comets17G/13A/30Pts 57GP.
- This his 2nd pro season he was injured in NJ's preseason camp and missed the 1st half of the season. 30GP/16G/8/A. He has spent a large amount since becoming healthy, but only played 1 game. Another poor usage of a kid you think might be of help in the future. Play the kid or send him down and let him play.
There are no AHL stats for Wendt and the Comets only have 7 games left. The comparison can only be a guess which makes no sense.
One avenue for AHL talent that I don't understand why it seems to have totally closed up is UDFA European players. The Devils were consistently bringing over about 1 of these guys a year from 2006 to 2019 - Oduya*, Harant, Malmivaara, Salmela, Viukhola, Pesonen, Kalinin, Mozik, Auvitu, Yakovlev - I could understand why the pandemic would have players unwilling to come over, but that's all gone now. It's also possible that the European leagues are scouted better and so fewer of them slip through multiple drafts. But yeah, I don't get why the Devils haven't signed any European free agents in a long time.
* Oduya was drafted but not by NJ, so save it, pedants
* Oduya was drafted but not by NJ, so save it, pedants
- Dec 20, 2018
- 21,772
- 46,980
Let’s take a look at our one playoff team, the Adirondack Thunder!
Bad News: Sadly Poulter lost in 2-3 in a SO to Allen Americans (OTT)
FUN NEWS: The newly signed Alex Young played on the top line in his first pro game.
And he scores! With slick helper from who else but Andre Ghantous.
Here’s two looks at the goal and Alex Young’s mom is f***ing psyched!
Young got an assist too, so a 2 pt debut. Sandra raised him right.
Bad News: Sadly Poulter lost in 2-3 in a SO to Allen Americans (OTT)
FUN NEWS: The newly signed Alex Young played on the top line in his first pro game.
And he scores! With slick helper from who else but Andre Ghantous.
Here’s two looks at the goal and Alex Young’s mom is f***ing psyched!
Young got an assist too, so a 2 pt debut. Sandra raised him right.
Last edited:
Got any reasoning as to why Ghantous isn't in Utica. 11Pts in 7 ECHL games says he just might be helpful.
My thoughts are Dineen is like Green was. Late in the season acquisitions don't get much more then a brief look because he isn't going to sit a guy that has been playing all along. "I'm going to go with the players who got us here." Right now Utica's "here" is close to nowhere and will be exactly that if they don't win every one of the 7 they have left.
4/6/24 (4 p.m.)
Utica Comets @ Toronto Marlies
Forwards:
20 Willman/ 26 Schmelzer/ Criscuolo
67 Parent/ 10 Dowling/ 92 Clarke
48 Middendorf/ 14 Bowers/ 61 Stillman
79 Laberge/ 16 Engaras/ 11 Legare
D-Pairs:
3 MacKinnon/ 5 Russo
83 Vilen/ 23 Wotherspoon
93 Misyul/ 2 Vukojevic
Goal - 40 Schmid
Scratches:
Daws (BU)
Kallgren (H)
Stevens (H)
Fitzgerald (H)
Hatakka (H)
Osmanski (H)
Felix (H)
Gambardella (Inj)
Ibragimov (Inj)
Wendt (added but not activated?) Little has been said other than he will eventually be playing. I said when his acquisition was announced that it was too close to the Toronto weekend to get him acclimated to the Comets and that Dineen would be skeptical about just inserting him into the lineup without a few practice sessions with so much much at stake. That might prove to have made little difference if they come out of this weekend empty handed.
Period 1
That got off to a very quick start.
Criscuolo scores for the Comets after TO turnover and cluster in front that saw Kyle gain possession and fired it home.
1-0 Comets 0:55
Didn't take the Marlies long to get even. Misyul fell down at the blueline and the Marlies broke in 2 on 1 and the shot may have been a pass but either way it deflected off Vukojevic's skate.
1-1 4:00
I'm not sure what the deal is with Hatakka. If he hasn't been called up, Dineen would be an idiot to play Vuk ahead of him. I didn't see any injury to him last game.
Toronto backhanded a pass to the goal mouth from The left boards and Steen put it home all alone in front. The Comets D has allowed opponents too much free access to their net front all season and the coaching staff has done nothing to address that.
2-1 Toronto 6:53
Big fight between Stillman and Pietroniro. Both landed some big punches.
5 each at 7:14
Stillman has left the ice area for the dressing room. Don't have any info as to the reason.
Comets are hanging on and the Marlies are playing like a hungry group.
Comets keep trying to make impossible passes through Marlies right in the way resulting in turnovers when they are threatening or trying to get out of their own end.
Willman had 2 really god chances but Hideby was big.
Comets D giving up the puck with no pressure and it ends up with Tornot getting chances. Vuk and MacKinnon the last 2 culprits.
2 Marlies allowed to proceed down the slot and a shot through Wotherspoon goes in.
3-1 TO 14:34
This looks nothing like a team that should be playing strong defense and looking to capitalize on transition in order to get themselves into the playoffs. They are miss passing, whiffing on passes, passes bouncing off their sticks especially in their own zone, forcing the puck to areas it's not going to go, turnovers, turnovers, backing in on their net, huge gaps between the forwards and the D-men allowing the Marlies to speed in on the defense with no help from behind.
The Marlies have too much scoring power, speed, and puck skills to play this loosely.
Period ends
3-1 Toronto
SOG:
12-11 Toronto
No PPs
Utica Comets @ Toronto Marlies
Forwards:
20 Willman/ 26 Schmelzer/ Criscuolo
67 Parent/ 10 Dowling/ 92 Clarke
48 Middendorf/ 14 Bowers/ 61 Stillman
79 Laberge/ 16 Engaras/ 11 Legare
D-Pairs:
3 MacKinnon/ 5 Russo
83 Vilen/ 23 Wotherspoon
93 Misyul/ 2 Vukojevic
Goal - 40 Schmid
Scratches:
Daws (BU)
Kallgren (H)
Stevens (H)
Fitzgerald (H)
Hatakka (H)
Osmanski (H)
Felix (H)
Gambardella (Inj)
Ibragimov (Inj)
Wendt (added but not activated?) Little has been said other than he will eventually be playing. I said when his acquisition was announced that it was too close to the Toronto weekend to get him acclimated to the Comets and that Dineen would be skeptical about just inserting him into the lineup without a few practice sessions with so much much at stake. That might prove to have made little difference if they come out of this weekend empty handed.
Period 1
That got off to a very quick start.
Criscuolo scores for the Comets after TO turnover and cluster in front that saw Kyle gain possession and fired it home.
1-0 Comets 0:55
Didn't take the Marlies long to get even. Misyul fell down at the blueline and the Marlies broke in 2 on 1 and the shot may have been a pass but either way it deflected off Vukojevic's skate.
1-1 4:00
I'm not sure what the deal is with Hatakka. If he hasn't been called up, Dineen would be an idiot to play Vuk ahead of him. I didn't see any injury to him last game.
Toronto backhanded a pass to the goal mouth from The left boards and Steen put it home all alone in front. The Comets D has allowed opponents too much free access to their net front all season and the coaching staff has done nothing to address that.
2-1 Toronto 6:53
Big fight between Stillman and Pietroniro. Both landed some big punches.
5 each at 7:14
Stillman has left the ice area for the dressing room. Don't have any info as to the reason.
Comets are hanging on and the Marlies are playing like a hungry group.
Comets keep trying to make impossible passes through Marlies right in the way resulting in turnovers when they are threatening or trying to get out of their own end.
Willman had 2 really god chances but Hideby was big.
Comets D giving up the puck with no pressure and it ends up with Tornot getting chances. Vuk and MacKinnon the last 2 culprits.
2 Marlies allowed to proceed down the slot and a shot through Wotherspoon goes in.
3-1 TO 14:34
This looks nothing like a team that should be playing strong defense and looking to capitalize on transition in order to get themselves into the playoffs. They are miss passing, whiffing on passes, passes bouncing off their sticks especially in their own zone, forcing the puck to areas it's not going to go, turnovers, turnovers, backing in on their net, huge gaps between the forwards and the D-men allowing the Marlies to speed in on the defense with no help from behind.
The Marlies have too much scoring power, speed, and puck skills to play this loosely.
Period ends
3-1 Toronto
SOG:
12-11 Toronto
No PPs
Period 2
If they continue with the style of play they displayed in the first period, a third period won't even be necessary.
Stillman has not returned for the 2nd.
Engaras gets thrown out of the faceoff circle more than the rest of the Comets combined.
Clarke is the worst passing forward on this team. They are either picked or nowhere near to the guy he is passing to.
Vilen tried to force a pass along the boards in the neutral zone when not pressured. It was picked, the marlies charged back in and the Comets were under pressure through 2 Marlie line changes as a result.
A major fault of the Comets today id s they are as a tem playing the puck and no attention to the body and the Marlies are just going past them all over the rink.
MacKinnon goes to the boxat 8:11 for hooking.
Criscuolo gets a semi-breakaway and he's stopped.
The Marlies get it back in and then the Comets attempted clear didn't get across their blueline. Puck brought back down towards the net and he is allowed to get as deep as he wanted to and roofed it.
PPG at the halfway point.
4-1 Toronto 9:46
You may not want my opinion, but I'd say this one is all over. The Comets are not even in this one. It's been all Marlies since Criscuolo scored in the 1st minute of the game.
The Comets can't make a pass, can't take a pass, can't pick up loose pucks. It's a complete failure to carry out the basic fundamentals of the game.
Clarke handed a turnover all alone in the slot between the Hash marks. What do you think he did? Shot it over the net!!!!!
He has missed the net so many times one would conclude it's the purpose of the game.
Comets to the PP at 14:11. Willman tripped. Comets struggle for 45 seconds to just corral the puck and set it up.
Cleared out.
Bring it in.
Cleared out.
Fight to get possession and it's cleared out.
4 seconds to go.
Lose the draw and it's over. No shots on goal.
Meanwhile Laval is winning 6-4 with 2 minutes left in their game. They lost last night to Syracuse. The standings when the day began had the Comets 1 point out of the playoffs with 2 games in hand.
Belleville is 1 point behind the Comets and play in Syracuse tonight. This is just as bad or even worse than their parent Devils. The Comets have the spot sitting right there and they can't make it happen
Comets get another PP and then Criscuolo is called for tripping. Going 4 on 4 and Vilen with time turns it over on the end boards and it's centered and the shot is off the post and in.
5-1 Toronto 19:51. I said it was over at 4-1 and now it's 5-1. No way they come back. Make me eat crow and I gladly would, but I'm not too concerned.
Period ends
5-1 Toronto
SOG:
14-4 Utica and the Marlies scored 2X.
If they continue with the style of play they displayed in the first period, a third period won't even be necessary.
Stillman has not returned for the 2nd.
Engaras gets thrown out of the faceoff circle more than the rest of the Comets combined.
Clarke is the worst passing forward on this team. They are either picked or nowhere near to the guy he is passing to.
Vilen tried to force a pass along the boards in the neutral zone when not pressured. It was picked, the marlies charged back in and the Comets were under pressure through 2 Marlie line changes as a result.
A major fault of the Comets today id s they are as a tem playing the puck and no attention to the body and the Marlies are just going past them all over the rink.
MacKinnon goes to the boxat 8:11 for hooking.
Criscuolo gets a semi-breakaway and he's stopped.
The Marlies get it back in and then the Comets attempted clear didn't get across their blueline. Puck brought back down towards the net and he is allowed to get as deep as he wanted to and roofed it.
PPG at the halfway point.
4-1 Toronto 9:46
You may not want my opinion, but I'd say this one is all over. The Comets are not even in this one. It's been all Marlies since Criscuolo scored in the 1st minute of the game.
The Comets can't make a pass, can't take a pass, can't pick up loose pucks. It's a complete failure to carry out the basic fundamentals of the game.
Clarke handed a turnover all alone in the slot between the Hash marks. What do you think he did? Shot it over the net!!!!!
He has missed the net so many times one would conclude it's the purpose of the game.
Comets to the PP at 14:11. Willman tripped. Comets struggle for 45 seconds to just corral the puck and set it up.
Cleared out.
Bring it in.
Cleared out.
Fight to get possession and it's cleared out.
4 seconds to go.
Lose the draw and it's over. No shots on goal.
Meanwhile Laval is winning 6-4 with 2 minutes left in their game. They lost last night to Syracuse. The standings when the day began had the Comets 1 point out of the playoffs with 2 games in hand.
Belleville is 1 point behind the Comets and play in Syracuse tonight. This is just as bad or even worse than their parent Devils. The Comets have the spot sitting right there and they can't make it happen
Comets get another PP and then Criscuolo is called for tripping. Going 4 on 4 and Vilen with time turns it over on the end boards and it's centered and the shot is off the post and in.
5-1 Toronto 19:51. I said it was over at 4-1 and now it's 5-1. No way they come back. Make me eat crow and I gladly would, but I'm not too concerned.
Period ends
5-1 Toronto
SOG:
14-4 Utica and the Marlies scored 2X.
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