2022-23 Utica Comets and ECHL thread
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Daws a stop. last minute.
Foote gets loose on the right boards and shoots from the dot an he
S_____________C____________________ O__________R___________E______________S
2-1 Utica 40 left top, go in the first.
Comets cannot live with success . Right from the draw they shoot from the blieline hit the post and throw the rebound in. Last minute of a period haunts the Comets again They just cann't seem to give up goals in the last mninute of any period. Would love to see the stats on this. It happens way too often not to be considered way out of hand.
2o seconds after the Comets get the lead they give up a goal to tie it again.
End of the 1st
2-2
SOG
11-9 Amerks
Foote gets loose on the right boards and shoots from the dot an he
S_____________C____________________ O__________R___________E______________S
2-1 Utica 40 left top, go in the first.
Comets cannot live with success . Right from the draw they shoot from the blieline hit the post and throw the rebound in. Last minute of a period haunts the Comets again They just cann't seem to give up goals in the last mninute of any period. Would love to see the stats on this. It happens way too often not to be considered way out of hand.
2o seconds after the Comets get the lead they give up a goal to tie it again.
End of the 1st
2-2
SOG
11-9 Amerks
Here we go for the 2nd.
Daws a glove save and a whistle.
Comets turnn it over and 3 guys bring it to Daws and just miss the edge of the post.
Comets penned in and the Comets finally ice it.
The Comets refuse to challenge any puck carrier. It defies any hockey defensive scheme in history!!!!!!!!!!!!
Long shot gloved by daws and he holds on.
Penalty against Rochester. PP #3
Walsh to the net front and Subban stops it.
Amerks clear it out :35 to go.
PP is done and it's 0-3.
2 good stops by Subban 5 on 5 better than any of the PP chances. Comets called for interference.
TV TO
13:00 to go
Daws a glove save and a whistle.
Comets turnn it over and 3 guys bring it to Daws and just miss the edge of the post.
Comets penned in and the Comets finally ice it.
The Comets refuse to challenge any puck carrier. It defies any hockey defensive scheme in history!!!!!!!!!!!!
Long shot gloved by daws and he holds on.
Penalty against Rochester. PP #3
Walsh to the net front and Subban stops it.
Amerks clear it out :35 to go.
PP is done and it's 0-3.
2 good stops by Subban 5 on 5 better than any of the PP chances. Comets called for interference.
TV TO
13:00 to go
Daws clears it over the glass. 5 on 3 for almost the full 2 minutes.
Work it and off the post. Work it and score.
3-2 Amerks 1:13 left on the PP
Comets clear it down. Amerks in and Comets shoot it down.
2 whiffs on a rolling puck by Roch.
Daws a save. Utica is back in.
Utica in and Gamby is stopped in the slot.
Walsh hits the post.
Walsh off Subban's shoulder and the rebound is wide. A whistle stops play and it shouldn't have been blown.
It's an official mistake but there is nothing that can be done about it.
Utica gains possession and the Amerks ice it.
Second dumb errant whistle by the officials tonight.
Comets cannot clear it outr and a shot is deflected out of play.
TV TO
7:40 to go
Work it and off the post. Work it and score.
3-2 Amerks 1:13 left on the PP
Comets clear it down. Amerks in and Comets shoot it down.
2 whiffs on a rolling puck by Roch.
Daws a save. Utica is back in.
Utica in and Gamby is stopped in the slot.
Walsh hits the post.
Walsh off Subban's shoulder and the rebound is wide. A whistle stops play and it shouldn't have been blown.
It's an official mistake but there is nothing that can be done about it.
Utica gains possession and the Amerks ice it.
Second dumb errant whistle by the officials tonight.
Comets cannot clear it outr and a shot is deflected out of play.
TV TO
7:40 to go
Big stop off Daws (his head) on a 2 on 1.
Tyced Thompson down the boars and loses it. Thompson wants to go and he has no helmet. He lost that one including a late hit after the LM have a hold on Thompson.
Tyce started it and was already going to go.
Rochester gets the PP as Tyce got the extra 2. He doesn't do anything to help things and now he puts them behind the 8-ball.
Comets kill it.
2 left in the 2nd. Pont shot saved by Subban.
Long shot engras held by Subban.
We are now in to the last minute of a period.
Subban holds a rolling puck. :43 to go.
Point shot kicked out by Subban
Clarke turns it over and the Amerks press. Daws a stop and the Amerks can't get another try on net. Chaos for the Comets in the last minute of a period.
End of 2
3-2 Amerks
SOG 11- 8 Rochester
2-period total 22-17 Rochester
Tyced Thompson down the boars and loses it. Thompson wants to go and he has no helmet. He lost that one including a late hit after the LM have a hold on Thompson.
Tyce started it and was already going to go.
Rochester gets the PP as Tyce got the extra 2. He doesn't do anything to help things and now he puts them behind the 8-ball.
Comets kill it.
2 left in the 2nd. Pont shot saved by Subban.
Long shot engras held by Subban.
We are now in to the last minute of a period.
Subban holds a rolling puck. :43 to go.
Point shot kicked out by Subban
Clarke turns it over and the Amerks press. Daws a stop and the Amerks can't get another try on net. Chaos for the Comets in the last minute of a period.
End of 2
3-2 Amerks
SOG 11- 8 Rochester
2-period total 22-17 Rochester
Syracuse trails W-B/S 1-0 after the 1st.
3rd gets under way. Call me a pessimist, but I don't have a good feeling about this one.
Shaya calling this the biggest period of the year for the Comets.
Comets with pressure but no shot and a pass is deflected out of play.
Wotherspoon set up by Gamby and his shot fronm the dot is smothered by Subban.
Thompson knocked down and the Comets lose possession. PInho shit pass to the blueline goes all the way down.
Gorlaeu shot stick save.
Icing on the Amerks. 16:52 to go.
Amerks great chance and the 1-timer is whiffed at with Daws nowhere to be seen.
Pinjo loses the draw. Comets up the ice,.
Pinho and Thompson out together.
Puck over the glass just inside the Utica Blue line.
Russo a shot on Daws. Schmelzer gets in and Subban stops him.
Walsh hooked and the Comets get PP #4, Biggest PP of the season says Shaya.
Win the darw Foote shoots and a huge scrambvle puck on a lot of sticks including Comets and it squirts to the corner. Puck down the ice. 1minute gone.
Walsh shot off the glove of Subban.
Thompson hits the post.
Warren in alone and Daws the biggest save of this one.
0/4 PP.
Rochester has been playing the "lock down the lead" style. Out of their zone and in deep at the other end.
Utica was abysmal at it last night.
TV TO
10:16 to go
3rd gets under way. Call me a pessimist, but I don't have a good feeling about this one.
Shaya calling this the biggest period of the year for the Comets.
Comets with pressure but no shot and a pass is deflected out of play.
Wotherspoon set up by Gamby and his shot fronm the dot is smothered by Subban.
Thompson knocked down and the Comets lose possession. PInho shit pass to the blueline goes all the way down.
Gorlaeu shot stick save.
Icing on the Amerks. 16:52 to go.
Amerks great chance and the 1-timer is whiffed at with Daws nowhere to be seen.
Pinjo loses the draw. Comets up the ice,.
Pinho and Thompson out together.
Puck over the glass just inside the Utica Blue line.
Russo a shot on Daws. Schmelzer gets in and Subban stops him.
Walsh hooked and the Comets get PP #4, Biggest PP of the season says Shaya.
Win the darw Foote shoots and a huge scrambvle puck on a lot of sticks including Comets and it squirts to the corner. Puck down the ice. 1minute gone.
Walsh shot off the glove of Subban.
Thompson hits the post.
Warren in alone and Daws the biggest save of this one.
0/4 PP.
Rochester has been playing the "lock down the lead" style. Out of their zone and in deep at the other end.
Utica was abysmal at it last night.
TV TO
10:16 to go
Time's running out boys. Git 'er done.
Shaya says the Comets are due a good bounce and he thinks they will get it. He is the stereotypical homer.
Filmon a good rush and backhands it into the low slot and it went right on Subban and he smothered it.
DShaya says Thompson is the guy who will tie it.
Ibragimov shot held
another TV TO
8:32 to go
Shaya says the Comets are due a good bounce and he thinks they will get it. He is the stereotypical homer.
Filmon a good rush and backhands it into the low slot and it went right on Subban and he smothered it.
DShaya says Thompson is the guy who will tie it.
Ibragimov shot held
another TV TO
8:32 to go
Subban a stop
another by Subban
Thompson fell while stopping and the Amerks clear it out.
5 left to go.
Comets continuing to fail accepting passes and the Amerks clear or go the other way as a result.
Amerks ice it 4:02 to go.
Nemec a shot at the blueline into an Amerk right in front of him.
BAD PLAY by Nemec. He had an open pass in 2 directions and instead yields a beakaway and the Amerks score.
4-2 Amerks inside 4 minutes and this one is over.
TV TO
3:25 to go.
another by Subban
Thompson fell while stopping and the Amerks clear it out.
5 left to go.
Comets continuing to fail accepting passes and the Amerks clear or go the other way as a result.
Amerks ice it 4:02 to go.
Nemec a shot at the blueline into an Amerk right in front of him.
BAD PLAY by Nemec. He had an open pass in 2 directions and instead yields a beakaway and the Amerks score.
4-2 Amerks inside 4 minutes and this one is over.
TV TO
3:25 to go.
Comets will be pullin Daws. 3 on 1 Amerks
There he goes. Rochester in alone but has no agle. Back up the ice but Roch shoots it wide. Icing.
Comets yet to enter the Amerks zone 6 on 5.
Faceoff at center ansd Daws is back Comets are pitifyul trying to manage anything.
Another NEMEC TRURNOVER in the Rochester zone and the Amerks miss the net.
Utica has not had possession in this whole time. Last minute.
Icing again as the shot missed the net. Utica calls time out so Dineen can map out the
2-goal strategy. Have to win the draw first which they don't do. Won this one. Lots of passing, no shot,s and the puck leaves the zone. Foote alone in front and his backhand misses the net.
Goals against in the 1st and last minutes of a period killed them again.
Comets lose again. 2 of the 3 in 3 have been lost. Tomorrow is the 3rd at 3 pm.
They lost the 1st in OT. So, they have mustered 1 point out of a possible 4.
The best they have done in the 3 3 in 3's in a row is 3 points. . This is the 3rd weekend in a row and those 3 in 3's have been their Waterloo. A win tomorrow would give them 3 out of the possible 6 which has been what they have been doing for the past 2 weekends. That would mean 9 of the last possible 18 points.
The weekend began with the Comets needing 8 points in their last 8 games to clinch a playoff spot. They have 1. Have to wait until the night is over to see what that number is now.
In spite of the huge lead they had last season they backed into the playoff spot and then into the division championship. They didn't have wins to give them those accomplishments
Rochester now moves into 2nd all alone. Syracuse is losing in W-B/S 2-1 after 2. Should they come back Rochester and Syracuse would be tied in 2nd and Utica would drop to 4th. I think I said that before this game started.
There he goes. Rochester in alone but has no agle. Back up the ice but Roch shoots it wide. Icing.
Comets yet to enter the Amerks zone 6 on 5.
Faceoff at center ansd Daws is back Comets are pitifyul trying to manage anything.
Another NEMEC TRURNOVER in the Rochester zone and the Amerks miss the net.
Utica has not had possession in this whole time. Last minute.
Icing again as the shot missed the net. Utica calls time out so Dineen can map out the
2-goal strategy. Have to win the draw first which they don't do. Won this one. Lots of passing, no shot,s and the puck leaves the zone. Foote alone in front and his backhand misses the net.
Goals against in the 1st and last minutes of a period killed them again.
Comets lose again. 2 of the 3 in 3 have been lost. Tomorrow is the 3rd at 3 pm.
They lost the 1st in OT. So, they have mustered 1 point out of a possible 4.
The best they have done in the 3 3 in 3's in a row is 3 points. . This is the 3rd weekend in a row and those 3 in 3's have been their Waterloo. A win tomorrow would give them 3 out of the possible 6 which has been what they have been doing for the past 2 weekends. That would mean 9 of the last possible 18 points.
The weekend began with the Comets needing 8 points in their last 8 games to clinch a playoff spot. They have 1. Have to wait until the night is over to see what that number is now.
In spite of the huge lead they had last season they backed into the playoff spot and then into the division championship. They didn't have wins to give them those accomplishments
Rochester now moves into 2nd all alone. Syracuse is losing in W-B/S 2-1 after 2. Should they come back Rochester and Syracuse would be tied in 2nd and Utica would drop to 4th. I think I said that before this game started.
The worst that could have happened to the Comets thus far this season occurred today.
- First the Comets lost. Now sit 4th in the North.
- 2nd both Syracuse and Rochester won and are tied for 2nd place in the North.
- 3rd Laval won, sit in 5th place, and now trail the Comets by only 4 points.
- Cleveland lost and sit in 7th and last with 65 points, 7 behind the Comets. They have 2 games in hand and also have a game left with Utica. In theory that could cut the lead to 1 point.
The way the Comets are playing, 3-5-0-2 in the last 10, but it's worse when you look at the fact they have only WON ONCE in the last 6. They are playing very poorly at the worst time of the season. They did the same thing last year, but they had built such a lead no one could catch them in spite of themselves. That's not so this season. The Comets by no means have a playoff spot sewed up. If they do make it , but finish lower than 3rd they will have to play a best of 3 play-in in order to enter the actual fray in a best of 5 round against 1st place Toronto.
They have 6 games left to right a sinking ship.
- First the Comets lost. Now sit 4th in the North.
- 2nd both Syracuse and Rochester won and are tied for 2nd place in the North.
- 3rd Laval won, sit in 5th place, and now trail the Comets by only 4 points.
- Cleveland lost and sit in 7th and last with 65 points, 7 behind the Comets. They have 2 games in hand and also have a game left with Utica. In theory that could cut the lead to 1 point.
The way the Comets are playing, 3-5-0-2 in the last 10, but it's worse when you look at the fact they have only WON ONCE in the last 6. They are playing very poorly at the worst time of the season. They did the same thing last year, but they had built such a lead no one could catch them in spite of themselves. That's not so this season. The Comets by no means have a playoff spot sewed up. If they do make it , but finish lower than 3rd they will have to play a best of 3 play-in in order to enter the actual fray in a best of 5 round against 1st place Toronto.
They have 6 games left to right a sinking ship.
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4/2/23
Syracuse Crunch @ Utica Comets
It's the 3rd of 3 in 3 for both teams.
Syracuse is 2-0/4 pts and the Comets 0-1-0-1/1pt
Comets come into the Game i n4th place having been replaced by Rochester (also 2-0/4 pts) and syracuse now tied for 2nd 2 pts ahead of Utica.
Forwards:
15 Gambardella/ 28 Pinho/ 12 Thompson
25 Foote/ 26 Schmelzer/ 8 Hawryluk
67 Parent/ 21 Stevens/ 92 Clarke
55 Geertsen/ 77 Talvitie/ 79 Laberge
D-Pairs"
65 Hayes/ 5 Russo
23 Wotherspoon/ 7 Nemec
75 Groleau/ 22 Walsh
Scratches:
Daws (BU)
Poulter (H)
Filmon (H)
Gourley (H)
Engaras (H)
Ibragimov (H)
Holtz (ill)
Halonen (Med. issue)
Hutchison (Inj)
Vukojevic (Inj)
Hatakka (Inj)
1st period
The Comets came out and promptly surrendered the 1st goal on the PP at 1:46 , 1 minute gone on the PP.
Utica fought back and tied it at 1 on a goal from Nemec at 5:50.
About 4 minutes later Clarke struck for his 23rd of the season putting the Comets up 2-1 at 10:03. That's how the period ended.
2nd period
The Comets can never seem to enjoy the slightest bit of prosperity. Once again the firstminutes of a period are disastrous.
The Crunch struck at 1:11 to tie it up at 2.
The Comets still hadn't got their heads out of their assses and a little over a minute later at 2:28 the crunch scored again to go up 3-2
It took the Comets 10 minutes for Gambardella to step up and score unassisted at 11:18 to knot it at 3.
What's that about prosperity? The Comets hadn't even stopped congratulating each other up and down the bench when the Crunch answered right back 11 SECONDS LATER!!!!!!!! to make it 4-3 Syracuse.
It was looking pretty grim when Foote stepped up and scored at 15:24 to make it a tie game once again, 4-4.
Utica actually threatened to put up more with the aid of 2 PPs. It was the best it has looked in months. Maybe all season. However, they came up empty and the period ended at 4-4.
3rd period
Both teams flexed their muscles and chance after chance happened both ways, but never crossed the goal line. The Comets PP would go 0/2 in the 1st 8 minutes. The rest of the period would see neither team to sit on the point and threats came from all over at both ends. Neverthless the period ended tied at 4 and OT would be next.
OT
Lots of nailbiting as both teams turned it over a couple times. Comets had 2 2on1s and failed to hit the net on either one. The shots ended 2-1 Comets, but that doesn't tell the story of the chances blocked and deflected and that went wide. Now it's a shootout.
Shootout
The Comets have not been doing well in the shootouts. Thye have lost 2 to the Amerks on the last 2 successive Fridays and failed to score a single goal. Earlier in the season they had one go11 rounds and lost after only scoring once.
Round 1
The Crunch went first and Gage Gonclaves was stopped by Schmid.
Foote went first for the Comets and broke their shootout drought with a pretty goal.
1-0 Comets
Round 2
Lucas Edmonds scored with a shot from in close over Schmid's glove side shoulder.
1-1
Graeme Clarke who failed in both Rochester tries moved straight into Hugo Alnefelt getting close while skating slowly deked right left, right left, right left, right left and then swiftly blew it past him.
The building was the loudest it's been all season.
2-1 Comets
Round 3
Everyone in the building knows Schmid can send this crowd and he and his mates out of here floating on a huge high.
Rudolfs Balcers comes in on Akira and he was stopped cold. he roof came off the Aud.
In what might have been the most critical game the Comets have played all season they dug down deep and found a way to win.
The result is they climbed back into a tie with Rochester for 3rd both one point behind Syracuse for 2nd,and more importantly stretched their lead over 5th place Laval to 4 pts. Syracuse and Rochester have a game in hand on both Utica and Laval. Rochester and Syracuse will play that game against each other on Wednesday. and follow it up with another on Friday.
Utica hosts Toronto on Friday and Rochester on Saturday.
Syracuse Crunch @ Utica Comets
It's the 3rd of 3 in 3 for both teams.
Syracuse is 2-0/4 pts and the Comets 0-1-0-1/1pt
Comets come into the Game i n4th place having been replaced by Rochester (also 2-0/4 pts) and syracuse now tied for 2nd 2 pts ahead of Utica.
Forwards:
15 Gambardella/ 28 Pinho/ 12 Thompson
25 Foote/ 26 Schmelzer/ 8 Hawryluk
67 Parent/ 21 Stevens/ 92 Clarke
55 Geertsen/ 77 Talvitie/ 79 Laberge
D-Pairs"
65 Hayes/ 5 Russo
23 Wotherspoon/ 7 Nemec
75 Groleau/ 22 Walsh
Scratches:
Daws (BU)
Poulter (H)
Filmon (H)
Gourley (H)
Engaras (H)
Ibragimov (H)
Holtz (ill)
Halonen (Med. issue)
Hutchison (Inj)
Vukojevic (Inj)
Hatakka (Inj)
1st period
The Comets came out and promptly surrendered the 1st goal on the PP at 1:46 , 1 minute gone on the PP.
Utica fought back and tied it at 1 on a goal from Nemec at 5:50.
About 4 minutes later Clarke struck for his 23rd of the season putting the Comets up 2-1 at 10:03. That's how the period ended.
2nd period
The Comets can never seem to enjoy the slightest bit of prosperity. Once again the firstminutes of a period are disastrous.
The Crunch struck at 1:11 to tie it up at 2.
The Comets still hadn't got their heads out of their assses and a little over a minute later at 2:28 the crunch scored again to go up 3-2
It took the Comets 10 minutes for Gambardella to step up and score unassisted at 11:18 to knot it at 3.
What's that about prosperity? The Comets hadn't even stopped congratulating each other up and down the bench when the Crunch answered right back 11 SECONDS LATER!!!!!!!! to make it 4-3 Syracuse.
It was looking pretty grim when Foote stepped up and scored at 15:24 to make it a tie game once again, 4-4.
Utica actually threatened to put up more with the aid of 2 PPs. It was the best it has looked in months. Maybe all season. However, they came up empty and the period ended at 4-4.
3rd period
Both teams flexed their muscles and chance after chance happened both ways, but never crossed the goal line. The Comets PP would go 0/2 in the 1st 8 minutes. The rest of the period would see neither team to sit on the point and threats came from all over at both ends. Neverthless the period ended tied at 4 and OT would be next.
OT
Lots of nailbiting as both teams turned it over a couple times. Comets had 2 2on1s and failed to hit the net on either one. The shots ended 2-1 Comets, but that doesn't tell the story of the chances blocked and deflected and that went wide. Now it's a shootout.
Shootout
The Comets have not been doing well in the shootouts. Thye have lost 2 to the Amerks on the last 2 successive Fridays and failed to score a single goal. Earlier in the season they had one go11 rounds and lost after only scoring once.
Round 1
The Crunch went first and Gage Gonclaves was stopped by Schmid.
Foote went first for the Comets and broke their shootout drought with a pretty goal.
1-0 Comets
Round 2
Lucas Edmonds scored with a shot from in close over Schmid's glove side shoulder.
1-1
Graeme Clarke who failed in both Rochester tries moved straight into Hugo Alnefelt getting close while skating slowly deked right left, right left, right left, right left and then swiftly blew it past him.
The building was the loudest it's been all season.
2-1 Comets
Round 3
Everyone in the building knows Schmid can send this crowd and he and his mates out of here floating on a huge high.
Rudolfs Balcers comes in on Akira and he was stopped cold. he roof came off the Aud.
In what might have been the most critical game the Comets have played all season they dug down deep and found a way to win.
The result is they climbed back into a tie with Rochester for 3rd both one point behind Syracuse for 2nd,and more importantly stretched their lead over 5th place Laval to 4 pts. Syracuse and Rochester have a game in hand on both Utica and Laval. Rochester and Syracuse will play that game against each other on Wednesday. and follow it up with another on Friday.
Utica hosts Toronto on Friday and Rochester on Saturday.
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Probably didn't want him to play three games in three nights.
Jersey Fan 12
Positive Vibes
- Nov 20, 2006
- 7,400
- 3,236
Not to go all "blame the goalie"...But not a great first two periods for Akira Schmid but he seemed to redeem himself later in the game.
I wonder if Foote is turning the corner in Utica? In his last 11 games he has 4 goals and 8 assists and is a +5.
nugg
NJ Hammerhead Bats!
I think the lack of good centers hurts him a lot, as he isn't a play driver at all. He's looked pretty good as a bottom 4 guy with the Devils though. I think he'll make it as a middle 6 guy. He's never gonna be top scorer type, but I think he still has something to offer.
If he could develop into a reliable third line wing that would be a great result.
As an addendum to the talk in the Nemec thread.
Of Clarke's 23 goals this season, only 3 have been on the PP.
Similarly of Foote's 20 goals, only 4 have been on the PP.
Team leader is Brian Halonen with 5. Seems like their PP stinks.
I don't think either Clarke or Foote will ever be anything more then bottom 6 guys at the NHL level, but this does make me think they do have a shot at being somewhat productive bottom 6 guys.
Edit. 9 ppa's for Clarke. 3 for Foote.
Of Clarke's 23 goals this season, only 3 have been on the PP.
Similarly of Foote's 20 goals, only 4 have been on the PP.
Team leader is Brian Halonen with 5. Seems like their PP stinks.
I don't think either Clarke or Foote will ever be anything more then bottom 6 guys at the NHL level, but this does make me think they do have a shot at being somewhat productive bottom 6 guys.
Edit. 9 ppa's for Clarke. 3 for Foote.
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Also interesting, and another not so positive stat regarding Utica, while Clarke is the team leader in shots, the #'s 2-3-4 on the team in terms of sog's are all D-men.
Foote's 4th in lesser games then the 3 d-men. And Nemec is 3rd, 2 shots behind team leader Walsh, despite playing 6 less games, and presumably playing significantly less on the PP.
So again, some potential positive context regarding our prospects in Utica who haven't put up great point totals this year.
Foote's 4th in lesser games then the 3 d-men. And Nemec is 3rd, 2 shots behind team leader Walsh, despite playing 6 less games, and presumably playing significantly less on the PP.
So again, some potential positive context regarding our prospects in Utica who haven't put up great point totals this year.
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Guadana
Registered User
May be forwards could have more pp goals if their defensemen had to pass not shoot. But I think they have to shoot because their pp isn't good and defensemen have no option.
I didn't see enough games this season to judge, but previous season I was very intrigued by th team and what Dineen did. From the beginning. After more games I stated to worry, team was being clamped, a lot of offense was going from rushes or individual performances. Now I think that defensive shooting dominance in pp is results of poor coaching. I easily can be wrong here, im not so sure.
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If they're running the same offensive zone system that the Devils are, it seems likely that A: the Comets don't have anywhere close to the Devils' rush offense capabilities and B: the puck probably gets worked back to the point a lot.
The Devils have the most frequent defenseman shooter in the NHL in Hamilton (and it isn't close, among full-time D Hamilton gets over a shot more per 60 minutes than Brent Burns), and Graves is 26th. Every other defenseman on the Devils is in the lower half of shot frequency. What this looks like in practice is Hamilton and Graves firing away and the rest of the D trying to work the puck around the boards or otherwise down low for offensive opportunities (or Smith just firing away but he doesn't touch the puck much).
UticaHockey
Registered User
The Comets power play is ranked dead last in the league at 15.6%. They also have the fewest power play goals with 34. Then they have the 27th out of 32 ranked penalty kill at 77.4%. Needless to say their special teams aren't very special and have killed them this year.
UticaHockey
Registered User
If (and it's a big if) the comets can win the opening faceoff on a PP they don't look that bad however the puck movement is slow so they keep moving it around the perimeter very methodically making it easy for the other team PK unit to get sticks and bodies in shooting lanes. When they lose a faceoff or the other team dumps the puck down the ice the Comets just can't carry the puck back into the zone again to set up the PP. It is so frustrating to watch as the other team stacks the blueline and the Comets keep turning the puck over so it's rinse and repeat after another clear by the PK unit. After a few futile attempts to skate the puck in they switch to dumping it to the corner and then lose the battle for the puck and another clear. It is mind numbing how bad the Comets PP looks.
The few interesting prospects we have down there, Holtz, Clarke, Foote, certainly aren't known for their skating and zone entries. I guess Clarke would be the best of them, but doesn't sound like he's a + skater.
Walsh too for that matter.
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