Last Week in Review: The Utica Comets collected five out of a possible six points with a 2-0-0-1 record last week during their three-game home stand. The week had a homecoming feel added to it as several fan favorites returned to the Comets line-up at some point. Forward Darren Archibald rejoined the team on Tuesday when he signed a PTO. Jacob Markstrom, Alex Biega, and Brendan Gaunce rejoined the Comets later in the week when the Vancouver Canucks reassigned the trio to the Comets roster on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Comets kicked off the week with a 3-2 victory over the Portland Pirates in the first match-up of the two franchises. The Comets first shootout of the season ended 5-4 in favor of the Toronto Marlies on Friday night at The AUD. Hunter Shinkaruk’s second hat trick of the season, and Jacob Markstrom’s 20-save performance carried the Comets to a 5-1 win over the Providence Bruins.
Business Side of Things:
The Streak: The Comets have sold out 23 straight home dates, including all 13 games played at The AUD during 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs, and dating back to Friday, April 10 of last season. The Comets next two homes dates, Nov. 20 vs Hartford, and Nov. 21 vs Bridgeport, are sold out. A limited number of tickets remain for the Nov. 25 game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Wednesday, November 4: Utica Comets vs. Portland Pirates – W 3-2 SOLD OUT
The Utica Comets were delighted the sold out home crowd on Wednesday night, as they defeated the Portland Pirates by the score of 3-2 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. Darren Archibald scored in his first game back with the Comets, after recently being signed to a Professional Tryout Contract.
Archibald (1-0-1), Ashton Sautner (1-0-1), and Blair Jones (1-0-1) scored for the Comets, while Joe Cannata made 25 saves in the victory.
Friday, November 6: Utica Comets vs. Toronto Marlies – SOL 4-5 SOLD OUT
The Utica Comets fell 5-4 in a shoot out against the Toronto Marlies, after a hard fought back-and-forth battle at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Friday night. The high-scoring game saw four lead changes, two apiece.
Wacey Hamilton (1-0-1), Brendan Gaunce (1-0-1), Mike Zalewski (1-0-1), and Travis Ehrhardt (1-0-1) scored for the Comets, while Jacob Markstrom made 30 saves in loss. Alexandre Grenier (0-2-2), and Carter Bancks (0-2-2) enjoyed multi-point nights.
Saturday, November 7: Utica Comets vs. Providence Bruins – W 5-1 SOLD OUT
The Utica Comets successfully captured five out of a possible six points this week with a convincing 5-1 win over the Providence Bruins at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Saturday night. Hunter Shinkaruk led the way with his second hat trick of the season.
Shinkaruk (3-0-3), Brendan Gaunce (1-2-3), and Michael Zalewski (1-0-1) all found goals for the home team, while Jacob Markstrom completed his two-game conditioning assignment with a 20-save win.
A Look Ahead:
The Comets hit the road for a pair of games this weekend.
Friday, November 13: Utica Comets (5-4-1-1) vs Springfield Falcons (4-5-1-0)
Where: Mass Mutual Center
When: 7:00 pm ET
NHL Affiliate: Arizona Coyotes
Season Series: 0-0-0-0
Comets vs. Falcons: This is the first match-up between the franchises.
About the Falcons: After winning four straight games from Oct. 28 to Nov. 6, the Falcons lost their last game 4-0 to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers this past Saturday. Leading the way in points for the Falcons is former Comet Dustin Jeffrey (5-7-12). However, on Sunday Jeffrey was called up to the Arizona Coyotes. Lucas Lessio (3-4-7), and Alex Grant (2-5-7) take over the top spot on Springfield’s active points-leader list with seven each. Lucas Domingue has emerged as the go-to guy in net for the Falcons. In six games the Mont St-Hilaire, QC native owns a 3-2-1-0 record, a 2.34 goals against average, and a .920 save percentage.
Saturday, November 14: Utica Comets (5-4-1-1) vs Syracuse Crunch (5-4-0-1)
Where: War Memorial at the OnCenter
When: 7:00 pm ET
NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning
Season Series: 1-0-0-0
Comets vs. Crunch: The Comets are 6-2-2-1 all-time vs the Syracuse Crunch.
About the Crunch: Since the Comets beat their arch rival on Oct. 24 at The AUD, the Crunch have collected seven out of a possible 10 points with wins over Toronto, Hershey, and Lehigh Valley. Leading the way in goals (6), points (9), plus/minus (+6) and shots (34) is right winger Jonathan Marchessault. Anthony DeAngelo (3-5-8) and Jeff Tambellini (3-4-7) come into the week in second and third, respectively. In net, four different goaltenders have started a game for Syracuse. Andrei Vasilevskiy is a perfect 2-0-0-0, with a 1.00 goals against average, and a .966 save percentage. Latvian Olympian goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis, has played in three games so far, and has posted a 2-1-0-0 record, to go along with a 2.69 goals against average, and a .902 save percentage.
Shooting Star of the Week: Brendan Gaunce
In the middle of a three-game goal-scoring streak that dates back to Oct. 24 vs the Syracuse Crunch, the 2012 26th overall draft pick mixed in his first National Hockey League call-up, and first NHL goal. Yes, we are cheating a little and stretching out his week a few extra days to include his NHL accolades, but the forward also chipped in four points (2-2-4) since his return to the Comets line-up on Nov. 6.
Gaunce, 21, enjoyed a 29-point (11-18-29) during his rooking campaign last season. He also added nine points (4-5-9) in 21 playoff games, including a two-goal performance in an elimination Game 5 game against the Chicago Wolves.
Comets Leaders
Goals: Hunter Shinkaruk (9)
Assists: Linden Vey (7)
Points: Hunter Shinkaruk (12)
Power Play Goals: Hunter Shinkaruk (4)
Penalty Minutes: Alex Friesen (22)
Shorthanded Goals: Travis Ehrhardt (1)
Shots on Goal: Alexandre Grenier (25)
Plus/Minus: Taylor Fedun, Andrey Pedan (+3)
GAA: Joe Cannata (2.14)
Save Percentage: Joe Cannata (.917)
Wins: Joe Cannata (4)
Milestone Alerts:
Head Coach Travis Green is 13 regular season wins away from 100 career wins.
Travis Ehrhardt is 6 games away from his 200th AHL game.
John Negrin is 11games away from his 200th AHL game.
Linden Vey is 5 games away from his 300th career professional game.
Blair Jones is 6 points away from his 300th career professional point.
Darren Archibald is 4 games away from his 300th career professional game.
Carter Bancks is 8 games away from his 200th AHL game, and 6 away from his 300th professional game.
Wacey Hamilton is 14 games away from his 200th AHL game.
Rapid Fire:
We’re Going Streaking!: Comets forward Brendan Gaunce is riding a three-game goal-scoring streak that dates back to Oct. 24 vs the Syracuse Crunch. In that span Gaunce has collected five points (3-2-5) in the AHL, and a goal in the NHL.
Chart Topper: Hunter Shinkaruk recorded his second hat trick of the season on Saturday. His nine goals is the most by an active American Hockey League player this season. Providence Bruins’ Frank Vatrano leads the league with 10 goals, but is currently on recall with Providence’s parent team, the Boston Bruins. The Vancouver Canucks’ 24th overall draft pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Level Draft enjoyed a 31-point rookie season last year with 16 goals in 74 games.
A Man Up: The Comets power-play unit scored twice Saturday night vs. the Bruins, which matched a franchise high for power-play goals in a game. That mark has been set 20 times. Currently, the Comets power play sits in 11th place in the AHL with a 19.1% conversion rate.
Bachman’s Back…Alright!: After becoming a household name to Comets fans as a member of the Oklahoma City Barons during the Western Conference Quarterfinals playoff series, Richard Bachman joins the team that vanquished his 2015 Calder Cup Playoff hopes. This season, Bachman stopped 28 of the Arizona Coyotes’ 31 shots on goal on Oct. 15 en route to a win in his lone appearance for the Canucks this season. He stopped 28 of the Arizona Coyotes’ 31 shots on goal on Oct. 15.
The 2015 American Hockey League All-Star played the majority of last season with the Oklahoma City Barons where he finished with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 23 games. He also played in seven games for the Edmonton Oilers, posting a 2.84 goals-against average and .911 save percentage. The 2015 American Hockey League All-Star played the majority of last season with the Oklahoma City Barons where he finished with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .918 save percentage in 23 games. He also played in seven games for the Edmonton Oilers, posting a 2.84 goals-against average and .911 save percentage.
Enter Sandman: When the Comets escape a period, any period, with the game’s lead, they are a 5-0. The team is 3-0 when leading after one period, and 5-0 when leading after two. As a franchise the team is 56-0-4-0 all-time when leading after two periods of play. The team is 39-3-2-4 when they escape the first period with a lead.
The Power of J: Goaltender Clay Witt started last Saturday’s game vs the Albany Devils. It is just third time in the franchise’s history (186 games) that the Comets net was occupied by a goaltender who’s first name did not start with the letter “J” (Joacim Eriksson, Joe Cannata, Jacob Markstrom). In such games the Comets are 0-3 all-time. Mathieu Corbeil, Pat Nagle, and Clay Will each suffered a defeat in their lone starts.
A Hat Trick of Medicine: Three of the top five point-scorers for the 2010-11 Medicine Hat Tigers are on the Comets roster. Linden Vey (116 points), Hunter Shinkaruk (42), and Wacey Hamilton (73) paced the Tigers to a third round exit in the WHL. Curtis Valk also played in 56 games for the Tigers, and recorded 17 points.
