Last Week in Review: Capped off by a thrilling come-from-behind victory on Saturday against rival Syracuse, the Comets collected three out of a possible six points with a 1-1-1-0 record last week. The week kicked off with a 3-1 loss to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at The AUD. The Comets followed that up with a frustrating 2-1 overtime loss to the St. John’s IceCaps, before their memorable 4-2 Saturday road victory against the Crunch.
The Comets wrapped up the week tied for fourth place (23 points) with the Syracuse Crunch in the Eastern Conference’s North Division.
Business Side of Things:
The Streak: The Comets have sold out 26 straight home dates, including all 13 games played at The AUD during 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs, as well as every game this season. The sellout streak dates back to April 10, 2015. An extremely limited number of tickets are available for the Comets next game on Friday vs the Toronto Marlies. A limited number of tickets remain available for purchase at EmpireStateTix.com for the Comets game on Wednesday, Dec. 16 vs. the Rochester Americans. Tickets are completely sold out for Comets games scheduled for Dec. 19 vs. Hartford, Dec. 27 vs. Syracuse, and Dec. 31 vs. Albany.
Partnership with I LOVE NY: Last week the five New York State American Hockey League teams announced a partnership with Empire State Development’s Division of Tourism/I LOVE NEW YORK. The announcement, first made at the Third Tourism Summit held in October, is part of a $50 million commitment to the tourism industry to promote statewide tourism, create jobs, and attract more visitors to every region of New York.
Coat Drive: The Utica Comets are proud to announce their involvement in the Rob Esche “Save of the Day” Foundation coat drive, led by Darren Archibald and “Archie’s Army”. The coat drive will take place during Comets home games on Dec. 11 vs. Toronto, and Dec. 16 vs. Rochester. Comets fans are encouraged to bring new, or very lightly used coats to the Fan Zone table, located behind section 205. All donated coats will be donated to the Thea Bowman House by Comets forward Darren Archibald.
Wednesday, December 2: Utica Comets vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms – L 1-3 SOLD OUT
The Utica Comets fell to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Wednesday night by the score of 3-1 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The loss snapped the Comets four game-winning streak.
Richard Bachman made 16 saves for the Comets, and Michael Zalewski (1-0-1) netted the lone goal for the Comets. Utica outshot the Phantoms 28-19.
Friday, December 4: Utica Comets vs St. John’s IceCaps – OTL 1-2 SOLD OUT
Despite outshooting the St. John’s IceCaps 31-15, the Utica Comets dropped a hard fought overtime game to the IceCaps by the score of 2-1 at the Utica Memorial Auditorium on Friday night.
Ashton Sautner (1-0-1) had the lone goal for the Comets, while Joe Cannata saved 13 of the IceCaps 15 shots on goal.
Saturday, December 5: Utica Comets @ Syracuse Crunch – W 4-2
The Utica Comets and Syracuse Crunch added yet another unbelievable chapter to the ever-growing I-90 rivalry on Saturday night. The Comets scored four third period goals in the final 6:13 of the game to erase a 2-0 Crunch lead at the War Memorial at the OnCenter. The win serves as the Comets first third period comeback victory of the season, as well as the Crunch’s first blown third period lead.
Nicklas Jensen (1-0-1), Wacey Hamilton (1-0-1), Alex Friesen (1-0-1), and Alexandre Grenier (1-0-1) all scored third period goals, while Bachman made 18 saves, including four highlight-reel, game-saving saves in the third period, in the victory.
A Look Ahead:
The Comets prepare for a home-and-home series against the Toronto Marlies after facing the Rochester Americans.
Wednesday, December 9: Utica Comets (10-9-2-1) vs Rochester Americans (10-11-1-0)
Where: Blue Cross Arena
When: 7:05 pm ET
NHL Affiliate: Buffalo Sabres
Season Series: 1-1-0-0
Comets vs. Americans: The Comets are 12-10-0-0 all-time vs. the Rochester Americans. Both teams have held serve on their home ice.
About the Americans: Despite signing two of the Comets leaders (Cal O’Reilly and Bobby Sanguinetti) in the off-season, the Amerks have struggled to get any momentum going so far. As a team they have allowed the second most goals in the league (80), and have scored the fourth fewest (53). The special teams for Rochester has also struggled with a power-play unit that ranks at 25th, and a penalty-killing until that ranks as 28th in the league. The Amerks top point-getter, O’Reilly (3-11-14) is currently a member of the Buffalo Sabres after being recalled to the big club on Saturday. In his absence, Jason Akeson (4-9-13), and Phil Varone (8-4-12) lead the team in points. In net, Andrey Makarov (11 GP) and Nathan Lieuwen (9 GP) have split time since Linus Ullmark’s call-up back on Oct. 23. Makarov has a 4-5-1-0 record, a 3.34 goals against average, and a .899 save percentage, while Lieuwen has collected a 5-4-0-0 record, 3.66 GAA, and an .891 save percentage.
Friday, December 11: Utica Comets (10-9-2-1) vs. Toronto Marlies (18-5-1-0)
Where: Utica Memorial Auditorium
When: 7:00 pm ET
NHL Affiliate: Toronto Marlies
Season Series: 0-0-0-1
Comets vs. Marlies: The Comets (7-5-2-1) and Marlies (8-6-1-0) both have winning records against each other.
About the Marlies: The Comets biggest test of the season comes this weekend in the form of a home-and-home with the American Hockey League’s best team, the Toronto Marlies. Have doubts about the Marlies being the best team so far? They lead the league in points (37), wins (18), point percentage (.771%), and goals for (96). Oh, and they have the league’s top scorer this season in William Nylander (13-16-29), and have two other players in the Top 10. T.J. Brennan (8-13-21), and Josh Levio (7-14-21) are tied for eighth in the league with 21 points each. With the AHL’s third-ranked goaltender, Garrett Sparks, on recall with the Maple Leafs, the Marlies have not missed a step with Jonathan Bernier on the roster. In two games played, Bernier is a perfect 2-0-0-0, with two shutouts. The Marlies other option in net is Antoine Bibeau, who possesses a 6-3-0-0 record, a 3.64 GAA, and an .869 save percentage.
Friday, December 11: Utica Comets (10-9-2-1) vs. Toronto Marlies (18-5-1-0)
Where: Ricoh Coliseum
When: 3:00 pm ET
NHL Affiliate: Toronto Marlies
Season Series: 0-0-0-1
Comets vs. Marlies: The Comets (7-5-2-1) and Marlies (8-6-1-0) both have winning records against each other.
About the Marlies: The Comets biggest test of the season comes this weekend in the form of a home-and-home with the American Hockey League’s best team, the Toronto Marlies. Have doubts about the Marlies being the best team so far? They lead the league in points (37), wins (18), point percentage (.771%), and goals for (96). Oh, and they have the league’s top scorer this season in William Nylander (13-16-29), and have two other players in the Top 10. T.J. Brennan (8-13-21), and Josh Levio (7-14-21) are tied for eighth in the league with 21 points each. With the AHL’s third-ranked goaltender, Garrett Sparks, on recall with the Maple Leafs, the Marlies have not missed a step with Jonathan Bernier on the roster. In two games played, Bernier is a perfect 2-0-0-0, with two shutouts. The Marlies other option in net is Antoine Bibeau, who possesses a 6-3-0-0 record, a 3.64 GAA, and an .869 save percentage.
Shooting Star of the Week: Travis Ehrhardt
Travis Ehrhardt has posted points at a career-best clip so far, highlighted by a four-point night on Nov. 28 at Portland. The 5’11” defenseman has already scored four times this season in just 20 games, and has matched his career-high mark for goals in a season set with the Grand Rapids Griffins back during the 2009-10 season. In the team’s past four games Ehrhardt has collected four points (2-2-4), including setting-up the game-tying goal during the Comets third-period rally on Saturday. The Calgary, AB native leads the team with two short-handed goals, and signed an AHL contract with the team on Nov. 19.
Comets Leaders
Goals: Hunter Shinkaruk (11)
Assists: Linden Vey (11)
Points: Hunter Shinkaruk (19)
Power Play Goals: Hunter Shinkaruk (6)
Penalty Minutes: Andrey Pedan (37)
Shorthanded Goals: Travis Ehrhardt (2)
Shots on Goal: Alexandre Grenier, Taylor Fedun (57)
Plus/Minus: Taylor Fedun (+9)
GAA: Joe Cannata (2.24)
Save Percentage: Joe Cannata (.915)
Wins: Joe Cannata (6)
Milestone Alerts:
Head Coach Travis Green is 8 regular season wins away from 100 career wins.
Blair Jones is 1 point away from his 300th career professional point.
Alexandre Grenier is 5 points away from his 100th career professional point.
Alexandre Grenier is 1 goal away from claiming sole possession of goals for a Comet
Wacey Hamilton is 5 games from his 200th AHL game and 3 games away from his 200th professional game.
Rapid Fire:
Road Warriors: After starting 1-5-1-0 on the road, the Comets have won four straight such games dating back to their Nov. 22 contest in Hartford. The franchise record for consecutive road wins is five, which was set during last year’s playoff push from Mar. 14 to April 4.
New Sheriff in Town: Alexandre Grenier’s empty-net goal in Saturday’s game not only served as the exclamation point in the Comets thrilling come-from-behind victory, it tied him with Brandon DeFazio for goals scored in a Comets sweater with 38. The Vancouver Canucks third round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Level Draft enjoyed back-to-back to seasons with 17 goals entering this season. In 22 games this season, Grenier has four goals to go along with nine assists and 20 penalty minutes. The 6’4” forward also chipped in six goals during last season’s memorable Calder Cup Playoffs.
Lucky Number 3: When the Comets fail to reach the three goal mark in a game, the team is 0-8-2-0 this season. When they successfully strike three times, the team is 10-1-0-1.
Shots, shots, and more shots: On the season the Comets have outshot opponents by 88 shots (655 to 567). In the team’s last three games, the Comets have held opponents to 20 shots or less in each game, and have totaled a 92-54 advantage. The Comets average just under 30 shots per game (29.77), and have held their opponents to 25.77 shots per game.
Not Your Average Joe: Joe Cannata’s 2.24 goals against average is the ninth best mark in the American Hockey League. Last season the Comets goaltender split time between the Comets and the ECHL’s Ontario Reign. With Utica he appeared in five games, posting a record of 3-2-0, a goals against average of 1.99, and a save percentage of .932. In 21 games with the Ontario Reign, Cannata posted a record of 12-6-2, a 2.02 goals against average, and a .927 save percentage. He also posted two shutouts for Ontario during the 2015 Playoffs.
