stonecoldstevebernier Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 The Comets take it 5-2, with the Bruins holding the shot advantage 30-27. Utica was in control for the first 40 but that final frame was all Bruins, and they really got in Demko's crease to make life difficult for him... he got run over once and then knocked back into the net a second time late, and you hope that he didn't come away anything more than a stinger. That's nine wins in his last ten starts now, and if he goes down so do the Comets. A bit of panicky defensive play in the third but overall a good bounce back win from yesterday, and another crucial two points for the Comets to keep pace in the standings. Guys like Virtanen and Carcone are starting to impact the game on a more regular basis and both got rewarded with goals today, as did Grenier who the Comets desperately need to step up and play like the offensive leader he can be. Subban was better than yesterday but still had his shaky moments; Pedan was a similar story. Valk was a noticeably energetic player out there and is always looking to create something offensively. In the only other divisional game today, Albany looks like they'll fall to Springfield as they trail 3-0 late. That would put the North Division at: Syracuse, 75 PTS (64 GP) Albany, 72 PTS (64 GP) Toronto, 71 PTS (64 GP) St. John's, 70 PTS (64 GP) Utica, 69 PTS (64 GP) 1st 7:58 UTI Jake Virtanen (7) ASST: Chad Billins (13) 11:51 UTI Alexandre Grenier (17) ASST: Chad Billins (14), Thatcher Demko (4) 2nd 10:15 UTI Michael Carcone (3) ASST: Pascal Pelletier (17), Mike Zalewski (11) 15:49 UTI Curtis Valk (16) ASST: Michael Carcone (12), Mike Zalewski (12) 3rd 4:16 PRO Austin Czarnik (3) ASST: Matt Grzelcyk (22), Jake DeBrusk (24) 7:55 PRO Chris Porter (5) ASST: Jake DeBrusk (25), Chris Casto (11) 19:23 UTI Cody Kunyk (13) ASST: Alexandre Grenier (25), Tom Nilsson (3) (EN) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beary Sweet Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 Big win by the Comets over the Bruins 5-2. They pretty much had this game wrapped up through 2 when they were up 4-0 but Bruins put up a fight in the 3rd but fell well short. Jake got things started this afternoon as Billins knocked a puck away from Bruins defenseman and Jake chipped the puck ahead and put one top shelf. Then Billins stringed Grenier on a rush down the right flank and put a pretty forehand to backhand deke by the Bruins netminder. Halfway through the 2nd, the Zalewski, Pelletier and Carcone line work their magic along the boards and Pelletier was able to find Carcone who managed to put it home while almost falling at the same time. Shortly after, a 2 on 1 break with Carcone and Zalewski breaking in. Carcone's shot was stopped but Valk manage to find the loose puck in the blue paint and bang it home. Kunyk later sealed the deal with a empty netter. Demko was stellar producing a 28 save performance. Carcone and Billins were 1st and 2nd stars respectively while Bruins Debrusk was the other. Hope they continue to put the pedal on the gas as the standings tighten up! Go Comets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 With 12 games left the Comets have three games against Syracuse, one game against Albany, one game against St.Johns, and one game against Toronto. Things are set up for a crazy finish to say the least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted March 19, 2017 Share Posted March 19, 2017 1 hour ago, DeNiro said: With 12 games left the Comets have three games against Syracuse, one game against Albany, one game against St.Johns, and one game against Toronto. Things are set up for a crazy finish to say the least. It would be so sweet to knock the Marlies out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UticaComment Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Am I missing something? Doesn't the AHL base standings on the winning percentage and not points gained? And that's why the standings look a little strange here and there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derp... Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 Looking over their schedule some more, they have 4 games against bottom dwellers (3 rochester, 1 hartford), 2 games against WBS (probably calder cup fav's) and 6 games against teams who are all right in their same tier of skill and points. 4 Points from these: 2 vs WBS (probably L's) 3 vs Rochester (need 4 points here) 6 points out of 8 form these: 1 vs Hartford 1 vs Toronto 1 vs St. Johns 1 vs Albany 3 Points from these: 3 vs Syracuse That would give them 82 points on the year Really weird note is that Bridgeport, might actually finish with more points than any team in the Comets division (North) and miss the playoffs because their division (Atlantic) is so stacked. They would get passed by 4 teams who make the playoffs with worse records lol. As it stands now the 4th place team in the North would be the team with the lowest points percentage among all playoff teams. Comets sit 5th right now, 1 back of that. Having said that though they only play in their division until the conference finals which means the 4 worst playoff teams battle it out to get to the conference finals. Where as the 4 of the best playoff teams will need to play each other before making the conference finals. If the Comets do get into the payoffs, there is a good chance they could win a round or two. Especially if 2 things happen, 1 Demko plays very well, and 2 they get an influx of players from Van. At least Gaunce, LaBate, Bachman (obvs.) but hopefully Goldobin and Boeser too. Exciting times in Utica for sure. Let's see what Green can get these guys to do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuckledraggin Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 That's a brutal schedule for these guys with a Sunday afternoon game to end the 3 in 3. It's 3 different cities in less than 48 hours, so nobody can really question the conditioning of these guys at this point of the season. They'll do it all over again next week with 2 bus rides in between those games and a noon start on Sunday. The most impressive is Demko getting the start in all 3 of those games as Green looks to ride him into the playoffs. I thought Garteig might get a chance in one of those, because he did play well in the last 2 periods of his loss last week, but that 1st period definitely cost his team a chance at the win. Here's hoping Markstrom gets back so Bachman can take the pressure off of Demko. He's playing great, but there's a risk of injury with that quick of a turnaround on the 3 games in 3 days. Let's Go Comets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 1 hour ago, canuckledraggin said: That's a brutal schedule for these guys with a Sunday afternoon game to end the 3 in 3. It's 3 different cities in less than 48 hours, so nobody can really question the conditioning of these guys at this point of the season. They'll do it all over again next week with 2 bus rides in between those games and a noon start on Sunday. The most impressive is Demko getting the start in all 3 of those games as Green looks to ride him into the playoffs. I thought Garteig might get a chance in one of those, because he did play well in the last 2 periods of his loss last week, but that 1st period definitely cost his team a chance at the win. Here's hoping Markstrom gets back so Bachman can take the pressure off of Demko. He's playing great, but there's a risk of injury with that quick of a turnaround on the 3 games in 3 days. Let's Go Comets! Unless Bachman comes back, they'll ride Demko until the end........of the season or of hope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Vintage Canuck- Posted March 20, 2017 Share Posted March 20, 2017 "I think Darren Archibald. He's got career-bests in everything. He's been a tremendous asset." - Ben Birnell (Utica Comets reporter) on Comets MVP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecoldstevebernier Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 A little bit of luck for the Comets today - St John's blows a 4-0 lead vs Lehigh Valley and loses 5-4 in overtime. Obviously it would've been nice for them to get zero, but one is definitely better than what looked like a certain two. Toronto's up 4-0 vs Rochester after the second period so unless lightning strikes twice it looks like they'll win that one. Assuming Toronto wins, the Comets will be two points back of St. John's with a game in hand. Syracuse, 75 PTS (64 GP) Toronto, 73 PTS (65 GP) Albany, 72 PTS (64 GP) St. John's, 71 PTS (65 GP) Utica, 69 PTS (64 GP) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Vintage Canuck- Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 3 minutes ago, -Vintage Canuck- said: Awesome, good experience for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derp... Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Woop woop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beary Sweet Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Excited to see how he fits into the lineup and hope that he makes an immediate impact. With another 3 games in 3 days set coming up this weekend, it's very well possible MacKenzie will have a shot to play some crucial games for the Comets down the stretch. Hope he makes out of his opportunities! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Doubt he gets in the lineup unless there's injuries. These games are too crucial for Green to go with guys he doesn't know. They are 9-2 in their last 11 as well. Pretty tough to take anyone out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 1 hour ago, DeNiro said: Doubt he gets in the lineup unless there's injuries. These games are too crucial for Green to go with guys he doesn't know. They are 9-2 in their last 11 as well. Pretty tough to take anyone out. agreed, h'es there to soak up the experience. He'll only play in an emergency, most likely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 St.Johns and Albany both lose today (Ice Caps with the loser point). Setting up for a great weekend where the Comets could potentially get into a playoff spot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stawns Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 33 minutes ago, DeNiro said: St.Johns and Albany both lose today (Ice Caps with the loser point). Setting up for a great weekend where the Comets could potentially get into a playoff spot. Damn, I wish theyd send down Gaunce, Labate and Goldy, but that seems unlikely with the lastest injuries in Van. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonecoldstevebernier Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Yeah, fantastic night on the scoreboard for the Comets. They've been overdue for some luck there, and now Friday's game becomes even bigger. On McKenzie, I doubt he sees game action unless there's an injury or a call-up. The Comets have 16 healthy forwards now and I don't see Green dressing a player fresh out of junior when the playoffs are on the line. When a player's been banged up recently and he's had to dress Roy or Clark, they've barely seen any ice time. If they can clinch with a couple of games to go though, Green will likely rest players for the playoffs and he could see a game or two then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boudrias Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 14 hours ago, stawns said: Damn, I wish theyd send down Gaunce, Labate and Goldy, but that seems unlikely with the lastest injuries in Van. Totally agree. Calder playoffs are more important to the org than the experience of playing out the string for the players you mentioned. At a minimum send Gaunce and LaBate down. With injuries in Van dressing a forward roster has become a challenge. Biega has been played forward, looked good I might add, I would add Larsen to that forward list if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.