2023-24 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

[Bad Goalie]

Here we go in the 3rd.

Clarke can do nothing when he gets the puck entering the zone. He forces picked off passes one after another and he isn't even challenged.

Comets come back in. Criscuolo shoots and Stillman corrals the the rebound on his right side and deposits it in the top nearside corner.

G------0--------A---------L

Stillman again. His 3rd goal in the last 2 games.

3-0.

The Rocket comes right back. Struble, a D-man, comes right down the middle and scores from between the dots.

3-1. Comets back to their 2-goal lead.

15:00 to go and the Rocket have cranked up their O. 2 more stops by Poulter.

Moron Shaya already talking about the point he is sure the Comets will collect tonight.

Another 2 on 1 and a centering pass deflected.

The Rocket are on fire. Their rocket engines are flaming.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets retreating quickly every time the Rocket gain possession.

POULTER unconscioius stop.

Comets comein 3 on 1 and Willman flubs the puck and they don't get a shot.

Another stop by Poulter as a Rocket splits the D and walks right in. Then the Rocket fire another as the Comets fail to regain the puck. He holds on.

TV TO
9:12 to go

 

[Antiillafire]

Is Nemec playing on the PP and Pk? 1 assist in 3 games?

 

[Devs3cups]

Comets retreating quickly every time the Rocket gain possession.

POULTER unconscioius stop.

Comets comein 3 on 1 and Willman flubs the puck and they don't get a shot.

Another stop by Poulter as a Rocket splits the D and walks right in. Then the Rocket fire another as the Comets fail to regain the puck. He holds on.

TV TO
9:12 to go

What are your thoughts on Parent? He's apparently playing well?

 

[Devs3cups]

Is Nemec playing on the PP and Pk? 1 assist in 3 games?

From what I've read/seen, pretty much the same as last season. More PK. Not sure if that's 100% accurate though.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Bowers stopped by Dobes on the doorstep. An equally great stop by the Rocket keeper.

Vukojevic called for slashing. Very bad penalty to take.

TV TO
8:07 to go

Offsides Laval.

1:12 to go

Big battle behind the net and the Comets finally wire it down the rink.

Poulter a stop.

Poulter another good stop. Shot from 6 feet!

Comets clear the draw. Penalty is killed. Comets have 5 guys inside the box. Rocket has total control of the puck.

TV TO
5:37 to go

Shots are now 35 - 24 Laval.

Another stop by Poulter. Rocket goal is empty.

POST!

Rocket clear it themselves.

Comets hit the post from full length of the ice!!!!!!!!!!!

D____A_____M_____N! That would have ended it.

Comets ice it again. 2:56 left.

Clarke turns it over at the blueline when all he had to do was clear the zone and he has plenty of room to do it.

Comets skate it down the ice and try to keep it deep. Laval comes out and the Comets get it down again.
Laval comes back and Wotherspoon deflects it out.

Poulter a save. Comets bring it up the ice.

Parent scores to put it away with 13 seconds to go.

Hat trick for Xavier. His 1st in the AHL.

What a night for the hometown lad!!!!!!!.

 

[Guttersniped]

Comets!



Rockets!



Early save by Poulter on Joshua Roy.


Mighty Mite Goal #1 (1-0)
Parent (2) (Vilén (3))


Mighty Mite Goal #2 (2-0)
Parent (3) (Vilén (4), Stillman (2))


Board Fave Stillman bangs a rebound home (3-0)
Stillman (3) (Criscuolo (2))


A very excited French Canadian call of the bad guys scoring, Guest Starring our 2016 3rd Rounder (3-1)
Struble (1) (Simoneau (4), Gignac (5))


Late save on Shane Bowers. In French for more romance!


Late save by Poulter on Yaremko


Mighty Mite goal #3
Sacré bleu! Le coup du chapeau!
Parent (3) (Thompson (2))

 

[Bad Goalie]

Final Score:
Utica Comets 4 Laval Rocket 1

SOG:
UTICA - 4 14 7 = 25
LAVAL - 9 12 15 = 36

PP:
UTICA - 0/2
LAVAL - 0/4

Scoring
Xavier Parent (2) from Topias Vilen (3)
Xavier Parent (3) from Topias Vilen (4) and Chase Stillman (2)
Chase Stillman (3) from Kyle Criscuolo (2)
Xavier Parent (4) from Tyce Thompson (2) ENG

*** of the game:
1st - Xavier Parent (Utica Comets) 3G
2nd - Topias Vilen (Utica Comets) 2A
3rd - Jayden Struble (Laval Rocket) 1G

The true star of the game was Isaac Poulter, 35/36. He was nothing short of brilliant.

He came into tonight's game having started 2 of the Comets previous 5 games and played the majority of a 3rd after replacing Kallgren vs Toronto. Kallgren gave up 4 in the first 11:47. Poulter went the rest of the way giving up 1 in the remaining 47:53.

He then gave up 1 in 60 minutes vs Bridgeport only to lose 2-1 in OT.

He won the next game in Syracuse giving up 2 in a 4-2 win over the Crunch.

He gave up 1 tonight in his 3rd start. The kid has won the Comets only 2 games. He has not lost a game in regulation. 6 goals in 3 starts and most of a 5th game.
1.57 GAA and a .951 SV%

The kid just turned 22 in September and this is his 2nd professional season after 4 years in the WHL. He is on an AHL contract. With Kallgren here and Daws on the mend, he would ordinarily be destined to return to ECHL Adirondack. Dineen is growing in confidence with this kid as he should. This could just be a short blaze of brilliance that is snuffed out in a few more games. If it isn't, Dineen has some heavy decision making ahead of him. Daws has to be given starts. If Kallgren continues with his 5.79 GPA and .787 SV%, he is nothing better than #3.

Lots of time before this becomes worthy of more than just a thought. At any rate, the Comets are riding this kids play for their only success on the season to date.
he kid is

 

[Bad Goalie]

What are your thoughts on Parent? He's apparently playing well?

The X-man is playing very well. He plays a solid 2-way game. Battles hard in the corners and along the boards. His goals have and will continue to happen right around the net front. He knows how to find the open space away from the puck and thus gets his chances in close. Guys like Clarke and Thompson don't seem to know how to do that or don't plan on going there because you get hit in there.
He takes too many chances in the scrums after whistles, but he won't allow his size to deter him from sticking up for himself and his mates. It's hard to see guys much bigger back off in the same situations. He's not NHL material, but he can have a good AHL career and likely some European play where he could stand out. He's going to be fan favorite here for sure.

 

[devilsblood]

The true star of the game was Isaac Poulter, 35/36. He was nothing short of brilliant.

He came into tonight's game having started 2 of the Comets previous 5 games and played the majority of a 3rd after replacing Kallgren vs Toronto. Kallgren gave up 4 in the first 11:47. Poulter went the rest of the way giving up 1 in the remaining 47:53.

He then gave up 1 in 60 minutes vs Bridgeport only to lose 2-1 in OT.

He won the next game in Syracuse giving up 2 in a 4-2 win over the Crunch.

He gave up 1 tonight in his 3rd start. The kid has won the Comets only 2 games. He has not lost a game in regulation. 6 goals in 3 starts and most of a 5th game.
1.57 GAA and a .951 SV%

The kid just turned 22 in September and this is his 2nd professional season after 4 years in the WHL. He is on an AHL contract. With Kallgren here and Daws on the mend, he would ordinarily be destined to return to ECHL Adirondack. Dineen is growing in confidence with this kid as he should. This could just be a short blaze of brilliance that is snuffed out in a few more games. If it isn't, Dineen has some heavy decision making ahead of him. Daws has to be given starts. If Kallgren continues with his 5.79 GPA and .787 SV%, he is nothing better than #3.

Lots of time before this becomes worthy of more than just a thought. At any rate, the Comets are riding this kids play for their only success on the season to date.
he kid is

Was just looking at the Utica team stats, and I'm seeing excellent numbers from Poulter, .951 save %, 1.57 GAA, 2-0-1 record.

Meanwhile Kallgren is putting up lousy numbers, .787, 5.79, 0-2-1.

Nothing really in his resume which suggests he could be a player, and early season stuff, so I know things can change quickly, but at 22 years old, maybe?

Side note: I see his last season in Juniors was Filmon's draft year, so we had an eye on him there. Had a decent stat line there, behind a very young, and not good, team. Much better then his backup.

 

[UticaHockey]

Was just looking at the Utica team stats, and I'm seeing excellent numbers from Poulter, .951 save %, 1.57 GAA, 2-0-1 record.

Meanwhile Kallgren is putting up lousy numbers, .787, 5.79, 0-2-1.

Nothing really in his resume which suggests he could be a player, and early season stuff, so I know things can change quickly, but at 22 years old, maybe?

Side note: I see his last season in Juniors was Filmon's draft year, so we had an eye on him there. Had a decent stat line there, behind a very young, and not good, team. Much better then his backup.

Kallgren was an interesting signing last summer especially considering that Daws already had surgery and they were signing someone to be #3 on the goalie depth chart. Kallgren's numbers last season were far from great and they were with a first place Toronto Marlies team so he had a good team around him. He posted a 3.26 GAA and 0.883 Save % which are very underwhelming. He did have two good games that knocked the Comets out of the playoffs that may have got Fitz's attention but he followed that with a poor performance in the next round against Rochester.

It is still a small sample size this season but if Poulter continues to out perform Kallgren the kid deserves to part of the Comets two goalie tandem when Daws returns.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Kallgren was an interesting signing last summer especially considering that Daws already had surgery and they were signing someone to be #3 on the goalie depth chart. Kallgren's numbers last season were far from great and they were with a first place Toronto Marlies team so he had a good team around him. He posted a 3.26 GAA and 0.883 Save % which are very underwhelming. He did have two good games that knocked the Comets out of the playoffs that may have got Fitz's attention but he followed that with a poor performance in the next round against Rochester.

It is still a small sample size this season but if Poulter continues to out perform Kallgren the kid deserves to part of the Comets two goalie tandem when Daws returns.

I couldn't agree more with any other post this season thus far. The kid has been more than anyone could have asked.

His numbers last season don't show it, but he became very interesting as the season progressed. He had some very good games, but was abandoned in his own end helping to skew the numbers against him. Nevertheless, I was impressed and posted such.

 

[UticaHockey]

I couldn't agree more with any other post this season thus far. The kid has been more than anyone could have asked.

His numbers last season don't show it, but he became very interesting as the season progressed. He had some very good games, but was abandoned in his own end helping to skew the numbers against him. Nevertheless, I was impressed and posted such.

You probably have a better eye for goalie performance than I but to me Poulter looks much improved over last year. I thought he scrambled a little too much last year and found himself out of position for the next shot. This year so far his game is noticably quiet and very controlled. He looks confident in the crease.

 

[Guttersniped]

Was just looking at the Utica team stats, and I'm seeing excellent numbers from Poulter, .951 save %, 1.57 GAA, 2-0-1 record.

Meanwhile Kallgren is putting up lousy numbers, .787, 5.79, 0-2-1.

Nothing really in his resume which suggests he could be a player, and early season stuff, so I know things can change quickly, but at 22 years old, maybe?

Side note: I see his last season in Juniors was Filmon's draft year, so we had an eye on him there. Had a decent stat line there, behind a very young, and not good, team. Much better then his backup.

The Broncos won the WHL Championship in 2017-18, the year before Poulter got there.

They presumably went all in for that run with trades and paid the price the next season. They crashed and burned about as hard as a post-Championship CHL team could.

Champions!
2017-18 72GP 48W 17L 5OTL 2SOL
103 points .715 (2nd overall in WHL)
284 GF 213 GA
PP 29.4% PK 79.5%

Welcome to the WHL Isaac!
2018-19 68GP 11W 51L 4OTL 2SOL
28 points .265 (22nd, last overall in WHL)
135 GF 301 GA
PP 15.0% PK 76.2%

Spoiler: Poulter’s age 17 season

They didn’t exactly bounce back in 2019-20 in a COVID shortened season.

Oh No, They Still Suck.
2019-20 63 GP 10W 48L 2OTL 3SOL
25 points .198 (22nd, last overall in WHL)
129 GF 298 GA
PP 10.3% PK 72.5%

Spoiler: Poulter’s age 18 season

The team’s still bad in the weird COVID mini-season.

Hurrah, not dead last! (Terrible PK tho.)
2020-21 24GP 6W 16L 2OTL 0SHL
14 points .292 (20th overall in WHL)
72 GF 108 GA
PP 17.0% PK 66.3%

Spoiler: Poulter’s age 19 season

Not a playoff team but they finally win some games in 2021-22.

Respectably Mediocre
2021-22 68GP 26W 35L 5OTL 2SOL
59 points .434 (15th overall in WHL)
181 GF 246 GA PP 15.9% PK 78.6%

Spoiler: Poulter’s age 20 season

 

[Bad Goalie]

From what I've read/seen, pretty much the same as last season. More PK. Not sure if that's 100% accurate though.

IMO Nemec is not right yet after his head/neck/injury. Dineen seems to be easing him back in, but every time he's on the ice he is trying to play his game, but it's not quite there, but it's coming. There's very little of the WOW! you see when he's on.

 

[Devs3cups]

IMO Nemec is not right yet after his head/neck/injury. Dineen seems to be easing him back in, but every time he's on the ice he is trying to play his game, but it's not quite there, but it's coming. There's very little of the WOW! you see when he's on.

Yeah, I sort of expected that. He’ll take some time to easy back in, that wasn’t a small injury. Only 2 games since that injury. I’ve seen plenty of wow last season and in the preseason, he’ll be fine once he settles in.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Bad Goalie]

11/3/2023

Utica Comets @ Rochester Americans

Forwards:
20 Willman/ 10 Dowling/ 92 Clarke
67 Parent/ 51 Criscuolo/ 61 Stillman
15 Gambardella/ 26 Schmelzer/ 12 Thompson
19 Fitzgerald/ 14 Bowers/ 90 Ibragimov

D-pairs:
83 Vilen/ 5 Russo
2 Vukojevic/ 7 Nermec
93 Misyul/ 23 Wotherspoon

Goal - 1 Poulter

Scratches:
Kallgren (BU)
Hatakka (Inj)
Laberge (Inj)
Felix (H)

 

[Bad Goalie]

First 5 minutes nothing but whistles.

Comets to the PK. Misyul Interference.

2 on 1 for the Comets and Dowling is stopped.

Now a breakaway for Bowers. He's in clean and let's fly from the hash mark and............
S---------C---------O----------R---------E---------S

A shortie for the Comets

1-0

 

[Bad Goalie]

Poulter a stop. Holds on. His 3rd of the game.

Comets turn it over 3 times in like 4 seconds.

Comets in. Vukojevic a shot and a big rebound. Fitzgerald misses the open net. No keeper between the pipes

Parent shot stopped. Parent another and it's blocked in a net front mass.

Clarke carries into the high slot and by the time he gets it where he wants it, his shot is blocked. Had a real good chance, but way too slow getting it off.

Gambardella shot stopped.

Rochester wrist shot from the point and it's in. Tipped in front form low stick side to high glove side. No chance for Poulter.

1-1.

Comets passes are off target a lot tonight: into the skates behind the skater, too far ahead, just not tape to tape.

TV TO
7:30 to go

 

[Bad Goalie]

Parent a quick release from the left circle. Deflected out of play.

Another TV TO
5:38 to go

 

[Bad Goalie]

Wrister by Thompson from the RW boards on the fly. Cherry picking for the keeper.

Rochester called for hooking. Good thing because it was a 3 on 1 coming because of it.

Rochester #32 in the AHL on the PK.

Willman shot wide and all the way back down the ice.

Comets great passing. All on the the perimeter.

Comets called for interference.

Bowers in alone again and he shoots it wide. D-A-M-N. Can't score if it's not on net.

Period ends.

1-1

SOG:
8-6 Rochester.

Pretty ragged period.

 

[Bad Goalie]

2nd underway

Comets on the PK.

Amerks shoot it over the net from right in front.

Amerk shot off the rush and Poulter holds on. PK successful.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Parent shoots wide.
Parent backhander wide.
Another shot out of play.

Wrister from the low L. side boards. Held on by Poulter.

Another stop by Poulter.

Vilen in close and a good stop by Tokarski.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Nemec shot tipped and Tokarski stops it.

I said it the other day. The Comets don't have quick hands. Clarke got a pass at the net front and never got a shot before it was knocked away from him.
Criscuolo got a pass in the circle and had a chance to shoot, but he turned away and tried to stick handle to a better spot and lost the puck.

 

[Bad Goalie]

TV TO
13:47 to go

Comets taking stationary wrist shots from outside with little chance of scoring.

Poulter stops a shot from the doorstep after the Amerk took the puck bouncing off the end boards. Comets back to the PK as Stillman is called for charging in the O-zone Not a good penalty.

Comets are not playing with any sense of urgency. Almost like they are just going through the motions. Rochester is missing 8 regulars and playing a D-man at center. Instead of taking the game to them, the Comets are slow and lethargic.

11 shots with 6:31 to go in the 2nd.