2022-23 Utica Comets and ECHL thread
- Thread starter NJDevs26
- Start date
- Status
I'm very late checking into this one so only the basics
3/11/23
Utica Comets @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Forwards:
(24) Halonen/ (26) Schmelzer/ (9) Holtz
(15) Gambardella/ (25) Foote/ (92) Clarke
(90) Ibragimov/ (28) Pinho/ (12) Thompson
(79) Laberge/ (77) Talvitie (16) Engaras
D-P:airs:
(23) Wotherspoon/ (7) Nemec
(65) Hayes/ (22) Walsh
(55) Geertsen/ (5) Russo
Goal - (1) Poulter
Scratches:
Theut (BU)
Daws (ill)
Stevens (Inj)
Hutchison (Inj)
Vukojevic (Inj)
Hatakka (Inj)
Groleau (H)
Gourley (H)
Hawryluk (?)
3/11/23
Utica Comets @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Forwards:
(24) Halonen/ (26) Schmelzer/ (9) Holtz
(15) Gambardella/ (25) Foote/ (92) Clarke
(90) Ibragimov/ (28) Pinho/ (12) Thompson
(79) Laberge/ (77) Talvitie (16) Engaras
D-P:airs:
(23) Wotherspoon/ (7) Nemec
(65) Hayes/ (22) Walsh
(55) Geertsen/ (5) Russo
Goal - (1) Poulter
Scratches:
Theut (BU)
Daws (ill)
Stevens (Inj)
Hutchison (Inj)
Vukojevic (Inj)
Hatakka (Inj)
Groleau (H)
Gourley (H)
Hawryluk (?)
Final Score -
Utica Comets 4 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 1
Scoring:
Comets - 1 0 3 = 4
W-B/S - 1 0 0 = 1
SOG:
Comets - 11 9 9 = 29
W-B/S - 11 5 9 = 25
PP:
Comets - 0/3
W-B/S - 0/3
Comets Scoring:
Nemec (8) from Talvitie (9)
Halonen (15) from Schmelzer (23) and Holtz (3)
Clarke (21) None
Gambardella (9) None EN
Poulter 24/25
3***
#1 - Isaac Poulter (Utica Comets) 24/25
#2 - Brian Halonen (Utica Comets) 1 G
#3 - Simone Nemec (Utica Comets)
Poulter with a good comeback after a shaky game last night.
Since Daws fell ill Poulter has played all 4 games including tonight back to back. He is 3-0-1-0 in those 4 games.
Comets go again tomorrow vs Lehigh Valley. Poulter's backup is Jake Theut. He has never played an AHL game. I think I give Poulter another go. Why not?
Daws needs to get healthy. Comets go again next week on Wednesday in Belleville followed by back to backs in Laval on Friday and Saturday. Poulter will be ground into dust if Daws doesn't get healthy.
Utica Comets 4 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 1
Scoring:
Comets - 1 0 3 = 4
W-B/S - 1 0 0 = 1
SOG:
Comets - 11 9 9 = 29
W-B/S - 11 5 9 = 25
PP:
Comets - 0/3
W-B/S - 0/3
Comets Scoring:
Nemec (8) from Talvitie (9)
Halonen (15) from Schmelzer (23) and Holtz (3)
Clarke (21) None
Gambardella (9) None EN
Poulter 24/25
3***
#1 - Isaac Poulter (Utica Comets) 24/25
#2 - Brian Halonen (Utica Comets) 1 G
#3 - Simone Nemec (Utica Comets)
Poulter with a good comeback after a shaky game last night.
Since Daws fell ill Poulter has played all 4 games including tonight back to back. He is 3-0-1-0 in those 4 games.
Comets go again tomorrow vs Lehigh Valley. Poulter's backup is Jake Theut. He has never played an AHL game. I think I give Poulter another go. Why not?
Daws needs to get healthy. Comets go again next week on Wednesday in Belleville followed by back to backs in Laval on Friday and Saturday. Poulter will be ground into dust if Daws doesn't get healthy.
How's this for a quagmire 2-7, especially 4-7? 2 of these teams won't make the playoffs.
Team - GP -PTS - GR
Utica - 57 - 66 - 15
Syrac - 56 - 64 - 16
Roch - 55 - 59 - 17
Laval - 58 - 58 - 14
Belle - 59 - 57 - 13
Cleve -56 - 56 - 16
Games already played could haunt Belleville and Laval.
Tomorrow:
Utica at Lehigh Valley
Toronto at Rochester
What a slug-fest this is going to be. A slump of any kind could prove deadly.
Team - GP -PTS - GR
Utica - 57 - 66 - 15
Syrac - 56 - 64 - 16
Roch - 55 - 59 - 17
Laval - 58 - 58 - 14
Belle - 59 - 57 - 13
Cleve -56 - 56 - 16
Games already played could haunt Belleville and Laval.
Tomorrow:
Utica at Lehigh Valley
Toronto at Rochester
What a slug-fest this is going to be. A slump of any kind could prove deadly.
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PizzaAndPucks
New Jersey Angels diehard
- Nov 29, 2018
- 2,986
- 4,802
Flyers AHL affiliate has a nice arena. Hopefully the Comets get me a win today on the road and go 3 for 3 this weekend.
3/12/23
Utica Comets @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Forwards:
(24) Halonen/ (26) Schmelzer/ (9) Holtz
(15 Gambardella) / (25) Foote/ (92) Clarke
(90) Ibragimov/ (28) Pinho/ (12) Thompson
(79)Laberge/ (77) Talvitie / (16) Engaras
D-Pairs:
(23) Wotherspoon) / (7) Nemec
(65) Hayes / (22) Walsh
(55) Geertsen/ (5) Russo
Goal - (31) Theut
Scratches:
Poulter (BU)
Daws (ill)
Stevens (inj)
Hutchison (inj)
Vukojevic (inj)
Hatakka (inj)
Groleau (H)
Gourley (H)
Hawryluk (?)
Utica Comets @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Forwards:
(24) Halonen/ (26) Schmelzer/ (9) Holtz
(15 Gambardella) / (25) Foote/ (92) Clarke
(90) Ibragimov/ (28) Pinho/ (12) Thompson
(79)Laberge/ (77) Talvitie / (16) Engaras
D-Pairs:
(23) Wotherspoon) / (7) Nemec
(65) Hayes / (22) Walsh
(55) Geertsen/ (5) Russo
Goal - (31) Theut
Scratches:
Poulter (BU)
Daws (ill)
Stevens (inj)
Hutchison (inj)
Vukojevic (inj)
Hatakka (inj)
Groleau (H)
Gourley (H)
Hawryluk (?)
1st is underway.
4 minutes in and both teams have taken a shot requiring a save.
Theut starting for the Comets. It's the 1st AHL game in his career.
Maier in net for LV.
Gambardella misses the net from 10 feet.
Holtz with a breakaway and he's stopped by Maier who smothers the puck.
Thompson is the fall down king on the Comets.
LV offsides
TV TO
13:50 to go
4 minutes in and both teams have taken a shot requiring a save.
Theut starting for the Comets. It's the 1st AHL game in his career.
Maier in net for LV.
Gambardella misses the net from 10 feet.
Holtz with a breakaway and he's stopped by Maier who smothers the puck.
Thompson is the fall down king on the Comets.
LV offsides
TV TO
13:50 to go
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Wotherspoon shot stopped from about 15ft on a centering feed from Talvitie.
Comets offsides.
Foote shot wide.
Clarke continues to try to do too much. He won't pass until he is out of any option to shoot and it results in forced passes that end up turnovers.
Holtz gets the puck and is behind the D but wide and shoots from the circle and it's kicked out.
LV in and Engaras glues himself to the puck carrier,who drops the puck,and he sticks with him all the way around the net and up the opposite side boards and across the net front.
LV is pressing. Comets on them and keeping them from shooting, but they keep possession. Finally a shot and Theut holds on.
TV TO
7:04 to go
Comets offsides.
Foote shot wide.
Clarke continues to try to do too much. He won't pass until he is out of any option to shoot and it results in forced passes that end up turnovers.
Holtz gets the puck and is behind the D but wide and shoots from the circle and it's kicked out.
LV in and Engaras glues himself to the puck carrier,who drops the puck,and he sticks with him all the way around the net and up the opposite side boards and across the net front.
LV is pressing. Comets on them and keeping them from shooting, but they keep possession. Finally a shot and Theut holds on.
TV TO
7:04 to go
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Comets haven't had a shot since Holtz's semi breakawayt 5 minutes ago. They keep missing the net when they have a chance.
Theut a good stop at his 6-hole.
Walsh shot deflected wide.
Thompson shoots from the slot - wide right.
Engaras shot stopped.
Hayes pass picked in the neutral zone and the Phantoms get 2 good chances and both shots miss the net.
Theuta save off his shoulder and partially off the mask.
Comets 2 on 1 Holtz and Engaras. Holtz shoots and Maier has his number for the 3rd time this period.
That's it for the 1st.
0-0
SOG: 11-6 Lehigh Valley
3 of Utica's shots in the period were from Holtz. A huge difference between Holtz and the rest of NJ's prospects is he hits the net while the others can't seem to figure out exactly where it is. The net would have to be 10 feet wide and 8 feet high for their shots to find it.
Theut a good stop at his 6-hole.
Walsh shot deflected wide.
Thompson shoots from the slot - wide right.
Engaras shot stopped.
Hayes pass picked in the neutral zone and the Phantoms get 2 good chances and both shots miss the net.
Theuta save off his shoulder and partially off the mask.
Comets 2 on 1 Holtz and Engaras. Holtz shoots and Maier has his number for the 3rd time this period.
That's it for the 1st.
0-0
SOG: 11-6 Lehigh Valley
3 of Utica's shots in the period were from Holtz. A huge difference between Holtz and the rest of NJ's prospects is he hits the net while the others can't seem to figure out exactly where it is. The net would have to be 10 feet wide and 8 feet high for their shots to find it.
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2nd is underway
Foote comes up with a loose puck and swings behind the LV net and just throws it away! Pinho tripped in the net front.
Comets to the PP. Ginning for tripping
Phantoms have the worst PK in the league, #32 (Utica is #26).
Problem here is that the Comets PP is #30.
Comets PP was impotent.
Phantom coming out of the box played the puck while still in it and that's a penalty. It's called interference.
Comets get another PP.
The effort was just as poor.
0/2 on back to back PPs.
Comets effort this afternoon is lacking. 4th game in 5 days and 3rd of 3 in 3 looks to have caught up with them. Lack of available depth has seen very little change in the lineup.
TV TO
11:56 to go
Foote comes up with a loose puck and swings behind the LV net and just throws it away! Pinho tripped in the net front.
Comets to the PP. Ginning for tripping
Phantoms have the worst PK in the league, #32 (Utica is #26).
Problem here is that the Comets PP is #30.
Comets PP was impotent.
Phantom coming out of the box played the puck while still in it and that's a penalty. It's called interference.
Comets get another PP.
The effort was just as poor.
0/2 on back to back PPs.
Comets effort this afternoon is lacking. 4th game in 5 days and 3rd of 3 in 3 looks to have caught up with them. Lack of available depth has seen very little change in the lineup.
TV TO
11:56 to go
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Comets fumble all over each other in front of maier. 3 had a chance and couldn't get possession.
Theut a real good save.
LV back in.
Foerster through the slot and he backhands it back against the grain and Theut can't get back after flowing him across.
GOAL
1-0 Lehigh Valley
Nemec turns it over in front and Desnoyers right in front puts it in. 2 goals in a minute and 1/2.
2-0 Phantoms
The 2 goal scorers were just sent down from Philly this morning.
TV TO
7:56 to go
Theut a real good save.
LV back in.
Foerster through the slot and he backhands it back against the grain and Theut can't get back after flowing him across.
GOAL
1-0 Lehigh Valley
Nemec turns it over in front and Desnoyers right in front puts it in. 2 goals in a minute and 1/2.
2-0 Phantoms
The 2 goal scorers were just sent down from Philly this morning.
TV TO
7:56 to go
Wotherspoon carries it down the leftside and from the bottom of the circle tries to pass it cross crease to Nemec and it goes off a skate. Both D in net front deep.
Theut a huge save with LV coming back.
Another big stop as LV comes back in.
Shaya saying what I just eluded to. The Comets are not able to get back and their play in their own zone is slow motion. They are gassed. This one can get out of hand real quick here.
TV TO
5:53 to go
Theut a huge save with LV coming back.
Another big stop as LV comes back in.
Shaya saying what I just eluded to. The Comets are not able to get back and their play in their own zone is slow motion. They are gassed. This one can get out of hand real quick here.
TV TO
5:53 to go
Ibragimov in on a 2 on 1, shoots, and he's stopped.
Phantoms icing.
Maier stops a point shot tipped in front.
Icing Phantoms.
Bad play by Nemec just outside the Blueline and LV has a 3 on 1. Theut makes 2 saves! Comets survive that bone head play.
Theut is under siege. Save. Save. Save.
Comets turn it over outside their blueline. Regain it deep and get up ice.
Walsh passes to a Phantom and the Comets get it out.
Schmelzer drives to the net and his shot is stopped. He is hurt and struggling to get to the bench. He is helped down the runway with a guy on each side of him and he is not putting any weight on his left leg.
Halonen was in front looking right at him and Schmelzer ran into him. He went to his knees as Halonen fell right over his back. Both kness were bent straight back farther than they naturally should. He rolled over grabbing his left knee. It does not look good.
Gmabarella in clean with 4 seconds to go but a Phantom catches him and slaps the puck off his stick from behind.
That's the period.
2-0 LV
SOG
11-8 LV
2-period total:
22-14 LV
Phantoms icing.
Maier stops a point shot tipped in front.
Icing Phantoms.
Bad play by Nemec just outside the Blueline and LV has a 3 on 1. Theut makes 2 saves! Comets survive that bone head play.
Theut is under siege. Save. Save. Save.
Comets turn it over outside their blueline. Regain it deep and get up ice.
Walsh passes to a Phantom and the Comets get it out.
Schmelzer drives to the net and his shot is stopped. He is hurt and struggling to get to the bench. He is helped down the runway with a guy on each side of him and he is not putting any weight on his left leg.
Halonen was in front looking right at him and Schmelzer ran into him. He went to his knees as Halonen fell right over his back. Both kness were bent straight back farther than they naturally should. He rolled over grabbing his left knee. It does not look good.
Gmabarella in clean with 4 seconds to go but a Phantom catches him and slaps the puck off his stick from behind.
That's the period.
2-0 LV
SOG
11-8 LV
2-period total:
22-14 LV
3rd underway.
Theut a big stop right off the bat.
Comets a good chance in front. No save.
Another stop by Theut.
A shot in front and Maier smothers the loose puck.
Theut blockers a shot out of play.
Schmelzer has not returned.
Clarke hits the crossbar.
Theut a save on a shot from the point.
Phantoms 2 minutes for holding.
Comets put their anemic PP out once again. Holtz brings it in, gives it to Foote. who sends it across to P{inho who balsts from the top of the left circle.....................................
Off the post and ________________IN!
G_________________O_______________________A__________________L!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pinho . His first goal since November 19th.
2-1
Foote hits the post!
Theut another big stop.
Nemec going to the bench hunched over after taking a hit.
TV TO
11:56 to go
Big blast into Theut and he holds on.
Another TV TO
9:40 to go
Theut a big stop right off the bat.
Comets a good chance in front. No save.
Another stop by Theut.
A shot in front and Maier smothers the loose puck.
Theut blockers a shot out of play.
Schmelzer has not returned.
Clarke hits the crossbar.
Theut a save on a shot from the point.
Phantoms 2 minutes for holding.
Comets put their anemic PP out once again. Holtz brings it in, gives it to Foote. who sends it across to P{inho who balsts from the top of the left circle.....................................
Off the post and ________________IN!
G_________________O_______________________A__________________L!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pinho . His first goal since November 19th.
2-1
Foote hits the post!
Theut another big stop.
Nemec going to the bench hunched over after taking a hit.
TV TO
11:56 to go
Big blast into Theut and he holds on.
Another TV TO
9:40 to go
Theut smothers a rink length rolling puck.
Pinho shot - glove save.
Foote centers into the slot from the end boards. No one there.
Comets being beaten to the loose pucks. 3 chances to clear and Holtz gets it out on the 4th chance.
Holtz gets 2. Holding
Save Theut.
Block Wotherspoon.
Set up, a shot from the slot and Wilson fires it home.
3-1 Phantoms
5:59 to go
If I had to venture a guess, I would say this one is over.
2 point shots by the Comets both kicked out.
Dineen pulls Theut 4:24.
1timer by Russo and gambarella gets the rebound and Maier got them both.
Centered by Holtz who hit a driving Nemec who simply put it in. No setup as he appeared out of nowhere to the net front.
3-2 CometsTheut gone at 1:32.
Holtz 1-timer blocked by a sprawling phantome.
3 shots by the Comets in succession and all 3 were either saved or blocked in a net fron t quagmire.
Phantoms clear it out, a man is all alone. into the open net, and it's over.
4-2
Faceoff and another into the open net
5-2.
They had the tie goal on their stick and with 3 shots it just wouldn't go.
Comets lose 5-2
Pinho shot - glove save.
Foote centers into the slot from the end boards. No one there.
Comets being beaten to the loose pucks. 3 chances to clear and Holtz gets it out on the 4th chance.
Holtz gets 2. Holding
Save Theut.
Block Wotherspoon.
Set up, a shot from the slot and Wilson fires it home.
3-1 Phantoms
5:59 to go
If I had to venture a guess, I would say this one is over.
2 point shots by the Comets both kicked out.
Dineen pulls Theut 4:24.
1timer by Russo and gambarella gets the rebound and Maier got them both.
Centered by Holtz who hit a driving Nemec who simply put it in. No setup as he appeared out of nowhere to the net front.
3-2 CometsTheut gone at 1:32.
Holtz 1-timer blocked by a sprawling phantome.
3 shots by the Comets in succession and all 3 were either saved or blocked in a net fron t quagmire.
Phantoms clear it out, a man is all alone. into the open net, and it's over.
4-2
Faceoff and another into the open net
5-2.
They had the tie goal on their stick and with 3 shots it just wouldn't go.
Comets lose 5-2
3/12/23
Utica @ Lehigh Valley
Final Score -
Lehigh Valley 5 Utica Comets 2
SOG:
Comets - 6 8 15 = 29
Phantoms - 11 11-12 = 34
PP:
Comets 1/3
Phantoms 1/1
Scoring:
Pinho (9) from Foote (12) and Holtz (4)
Nemec (9) from Holtz (5) and Halonen (12)
Theut 29/32
3***
All Phantoms
#1 Garrett Wilson 1G 1A
#2 Nolan Maier 27/29
#3 Elliot Desnoyers 1 G
7-game point streak comes to and end. 6 points/3 wins in the 4 in 5 night stretch. Can't complain.
If Schmerlzer is gone that will be a huge blow to the Comets. A center starved team losing it's most productive center will be a major deficit going forward.
Stevens is said to be almost ready and could be back as early as Wednesday in Belleville.
Fitz has had the chance to find a center all season. He got a LTIR goalie (out for the season with hip surgery), an ECHL winger who has held his own while not a high value addition, and a D-man on IR having played only 8 games this season in the Meier Trade.
Then at the AHL deadline he acquired a RW and D-man.
Are the players here supposed to be impressed with the help they know they so desperately needed completely overlooked?
The Comets lost out in the trades with the loss of Johnsson, Okhotyuk, Mukhamadullin, and Dugan. The deadline trade was worthless to the Comets. They would have been better off just keeping Dugan.
Utica @ Lehigh Valley
Final Score -
Lehigh Valley 5 Utica Comets 2
SOG:
Comets - 6 8 15 = 29
Phantoms - 11 11-12 = 34
PP:
Comets 1/3
Phantoms 1/1
Scoring:
Pinho (9) from Foote (12) and Holtz (4)
Nemec (9) from Holtz (5) and Halonen (12)
Theut 29/32
3***
All Phantoms
#1 Garrett Wilson 1G 1A
#2 Nolan Maier 27/29
#3 Elliot Desnoyers 1 G
7-game point streak comes to and end. 6 points/3 wins in the 4 in 5 night stretch. Can't complain.
If Schmerlzer is gone that will be a huge blow to the Comets. A center starved team losing it's most productive center will be a major deficit going forward.
Stevens is said to be almost ready and could be back as early as Wednesday in Belleville.
Fitz has had the chance to find a center all season. He got a LTIR goalie (out for the season with hip surgery), an ECHL winger who has held his own while not a high value addition, and a D-man on IR having played only 8 games this season in the Meier Trade.
Then at the AHL deadline he acquired a RW and D-man.
Are the players here supposed to be impressed with the help they know they so desperately needed completely overlooked?
The Comets lost out in the trades with the loss of Johnsson, Okhotyuk, Mukhamadullin, and Dugan. The deadline trade was worthless to the Comets. They would have been better off just keeping Dugan.
Not a great game for Utica but Halonen got another point. Good to see him making progress.
PizzaAndPucks
New Jersey Angels diehard
- Nov 29, 2018
- 2,986
- 4,802
Game was close. Utica buzzed the first half of the game , especially the 1st period. Alot of saves and missed shots/chances. Could of been a different game if they capitalized and didn't fall behind 2-0. Was nice to see Nemec score and Holtz had 2 assists. Holtz actually had a great chance to tie it 3 to 3 in the last 2 minutes of the game with the goalie pulled. I gotta watch the highlights but it looked like it was either a big save or a shot wide/off the post. It was his bread and butter as it was a one timer down low on his off wing. Unfortunately they lost but it was worth the 2 hour drive from where I live. A good amount of Devils/Comets fans were in the building. For fans that live in NJ or the tri state area , this arena is worth checking out to maybe try seeing a game somewhere new.
Attachments
Jersey Fan 12
Positive Vibes
- Nov 20, 2006
- 7,203
- 3,129
Jake Theut's background is an inspiration and it's nice to see him getting a start but what's up with Nico Daws?
"what's up with Nico Daws?" A really good question. We were told he was ill before the Charlotte game on 3/3. I haven't heard anything since.
Maybe someone else has more info.
Mgd31
Registered User
- Dec 20, 2018
- 22,874
- 51,333
They have a lot of jerseys this season.
Zippy316
aka Zippo
Seems like it’s doubtful it’ll happen this year unless injuries strike, but I really am interested to see how Clarke looks at the NHL level.
He just looks to be a simple forward with a knack for scoring off his chances. Feels like he’s the type of forward who can carve out a role on this team, especially with our complete lack of RHS forwards.
I do think he made it easier for the Devils to move Zetterlund, as I could see him being an almost direct replacement next year.
He has had issues with his hip - should be back this week sometime.
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