2023-24 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

[Bad Goalie]

2 more big stops by Kallgren. He has been very good this period allowing the Comets to stay on top.

Period ends with the Comets on top 1-0.

SOG:
UTC 14
SPR 13

A wide open period with shaky D in both ends.
The keepers have both been the story thus far.

The Comets entered the game with the League's #10 PK% with an 85.3% after 10 GP.

On the other side the Comets have the league's #28 PP with a 12.1%.

 

[Bad Goalie]

The 2nd Period gets underway.
The Thunderbirds have taken over the SOG with the 1st 2 shots of the period.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets to the PP.
Would be just as happy if the Comets don't give up a couple breakaways or 2 on 1s..

Dowling ends the PP with a hooking penalty below the goal line.

4 on 4

Thompson in on a semi breakaway with a Thunderbird on his heels, and he's stopped.

Now SPR to a minute-long PP.

Gambardella and Bowers out 2 on 1 shorthanded. Great pass for Bowers from Gamby and his 1 timer goes astray as the shot was slightly altered by the defender.

PP is over. Back to 5 on 5.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Kallgren stops a point blank slapper from the top of the circle.

Comets back to the PK. Engaras for high sticking in the O-zone.
Both Comets penalties thus far in the O-zone. Not a good spot to commit fouls.

Complete SPR control from the draw. 3 real good chances 2 wide and Kallegren gloves the 3rd.

Down the ice.
Back down the ice again.
Cleared again.
Down the ice again and that does the PP.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Now SPR called for tripping.

Comets to the PP.

Down the ice.

SH one timer wide.

Now Parent called for interference.

Back to 4 on 4.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets 4 on4 play has always been poor. They play like they are killing a penalty. I've never felt Dineen spends any time on it.

Comets 3 on 1 and Russo doesn't shoot it coming down the middle of the slot. SPR comes back 4 on 1! The 3 Comets on the rush were left behind. Kallgren a S A V E!

Short SPR PP over.

The Comets have been very sloppy this period.

 

[Bad Goalie]

TV TO 4:52 to go

Bowers interfered with and the Comets to another PP. Let's see if they can actually get a 2-minute PP without getting penalized for something.

Comets passing attempts are all picked or deflected. Have not even set up.
They finally get a shot it's blocked as SPR gets another SH break and Kallgren stops it, but they score on the replay.
The goal is disallowed for a high stick pass on the rebound that went to the goal scorer.

1 minute to go.

Periods ends and it's still 1-0 Comets. Not that they did a lot to hold onto it except for Kallgren. Turnover after turnover, odd man rushes, penalties while on PPs, odd man attempts against on the PP when they actually had a man advantage.

Outshot in the period 12-4!

 

[Bad Goalie]

The Comets really need to get going offensively. Trying to hold on to a 1-0 lead for another 20 minutes is a really POOR idea. A couple goals would be a real GOOD idea.

 

[Bad Goalie]

16 seconds in and it's 1-1.

Kallgren has been good all night and he was terrible on that one.

23 seconds in and Foote gets 2 for Interference.

Kallgren a stop and down the ice.

Kallgren a stop on a backhander in the low slot.

PP over.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Kallgren another stop.this period is like the 2nd --- all SPR.

Now Spr called for high sticking.

Lose the draw and down the ice. Point shot stopped and cleared.

Comets dump it in and and it's back down the ice.

Now ANOTHER SPR break in shorthanded and Kallgren big again.

PP is done.

Engaras a good shot just wide and Thompson steps into a one timer and it's wide . He cannot hit the net to save his career.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets had 14 shots in the 1st period. They have had 6 since!

Nemec 1-timer from the center of the blueline right into Subban's mid-section. Whistle.

Ibragimove is a turnover machine. The second the puck is on his stick he loses it.

Comets are being eaten alive. They can't get out of their own end. There is no possession whatsoever. It's block shots, tie up offenders, clutching, grabbing, chasing, and SPR does everything except score. Shots 8-4.

Slow cross ice passes are being picked by SPR as if the passes were intended for them. Comets have had what seems like mere seconds of possession in the SPR end this period.

SPR to a PK on a terrible penalty by them. Kallgren lost his stick and a SPR player kept pushing it up the boards almost all the way to the blueline. 2 for interference.

SPR is controlling the puck for the 1st half of the PP. Hatakka a good shot and Subban had the answer. Thunderbird is tripped as he tries to skate out of the zone.

Comets to the PK. Comets send it down 1 minute gone.

It's been all SPR and Bowers gets it up the ice. Kills time, sends it back to his end, PP ends.

Comets put some pressure on and SPR holds on.

1 minute to go.

Kallgren and Wotherspoon both big stops. Woth saved the game.

Time expires.

OVERTIME
Hard to believe the SPR skaters were so incompetent. They controlled the 2nd and 3rd periods and had so many chances.

Dineen got his point.

Wat the Hell is this?
Dowling, Engaras?, Nemec.
The Combos Dineen deploys in OT boggle one's mind. Engaras has absolutely no business on the ice in OT!!!!!

Springfield puts out their top line.
Engaras is worthless.
Dowling doesn't have the speed to protect when the Comets don't have possession.
Nemec is not the speediest either. He will take the kind of chances that leaves the Comets in big trouble if his gamble fails. 2 speedier forwards would help out if his effort fails. Not even scratching Dineen's mindset.

Dineen is on record as saying OT is a crap shoot and he lets the players employ their best instincts. That's right. No plan of attack of any kind. Just outdoors on the pond take it and go. That's not the game plan I observe from our opponents. They actually have a practiced attack with simple schemes they use to get outmanned chances.

Engaras to faceoff. SPR controls the draw. What a surprise.

I rest my case. This wasn't even fair. Engaras lost the draw. SPR regrouped and came up the ice with a plan in mind. Comets never touched the puck and Gaudette scored 37 seconds into the OT on an unchallenged shot from the slot.

 

[Bad Goalie]

SOG:
39 - 26 SPR.

Comets managed 12 shots over the final 2 periods and never touched the puck in the 37 seconds it took to lose it.

The Comets normal procedure when ahead is to play it safe and look for transition play. They don't have the speed to turn it around, have poor puck control when carrying the puck, make bad headman passes, and can't seem to put the puck home when alone vs any keeper. Top that off with the fact their D-system rarely causes any kind of turnover anyways. Thus, they struggle to keep their lead while pinned in their own end and it's up to the goalie to keep them alive.

PP - 0/5
They were penalized on 3 of the PPs to kill it themselves.

It was really a hard game to watch, but you kept on hoping for something good to happen and in the long run it didn't.

Kallgren played very well but completely blew the 1st SPR goal which he waved backhanded at with his stick as it rolled past him between his pad and his stick and then rolled into his net. He was totally out of position, out of his net heading towards where he thought the puck was, and there was no reason for it. That blunder eventually cost him the 2-1 game in OT. Now his mates were no help either and have to accept the bigger blame for this one. They were all over the Thunderbirds for the first 7 minutes, scored, got a few more shots while SPR turned the game around. After the 1st it boiled down to Kallgren vs Springfield and 1 lapse by him and the game was lost. His teammates all owe him an apology.

Criscuolo with the lone goal assisted by Parent and Dowling.

Kallgren 37/39.

 

[Bad Goalie]

11/18/23
Laval Rocket @ Utica Comets

Final score-
Utica Comets 6 Laval Rocket 3

SOG:
Rocket - 6 11 12 = 29
Comets -12 12 8 = 32

PP:
Rocket 0/1
Comets 0/5 > 2 SHGA

Comets have now had 43 PPs and have 4 GF and 3 SHGA. Their PP is now #32 in the AHL at 9.3%.

Crazily they have been shorthanded 40 times and have only given up 5 G while scoring 2 of their own.
Their PK% is now tied for #6 in the AHL with Tuscon at 87.5.

Scoring was back and forth.
1st period:
Laval scored 1st on a short handed goal at 3:03.
Comets tied it a 7:32.
Comets took the lead at 14:11
They took a 2-1 lead into the locker room.

2nd period:
Laval scored to tie it at 0:37 seconds into the period.
Laval took a 3-2 lead on their 2nd short handed goal of the game at 9:18.
Utica tied it back up at 3-3 with a goal at 15:35.
Tied at 3 after 2 periods

3rd period:
Comets regained the lead at 9:01 of the period.
With the Laval net empty the Comets scored at 17:50 and again at 19:01 to finish the night with a 6-3 win.

It was a night of firsts.
Sam Laberge, Timur Ibragimov, Filip Engaras, and Santeri Hatakka all recorded their 1st goals of the season.
Laberge returned to the lineup last night after missing 6 games with injury. Tonight, along with his 1st goal, he recorded his 1st Assist of the season. Before the end of the night he recorded his 2nd Assist.
Michael Vukojevic also recorded his 1st assist of the season in this his 9th GP.

It was a big night for what on any normal night would have been the team's 4th line, but with Dineen playing 11 forwards and 7 D-men for the 4th time this season their was a line of Bowers and Fitzgerald with a merry-go-round of the other forwards double shifting to form a line, I don't know which line you would assign the title of 4th line.
Michael Vukojevic also recorded his 1st assist of the season in this his 9th GP.

The of Laberge/Engaras/Ibragimov put up 10 points.
Laberge - 1G/2A
Engaras - 1G/3A
Ibragimov - 2G/1A

It's the 1st time I can recount ever seeing a single line named the 3 stars of the game.
#1 - Ibragimov
#2 - Laberge (A very decisive beating laid onto Alex-Olivier Voyer after he boarded Vukojevic head first into the end boards behind the Comets net might have boosted his vote. Vuk hit the boards and Sam's gloves were gone and his fists were flying into Voyer.)
#3 - Engaras

Kyle Criscuolo also picked up 2 assists.

Scoring:
Bowers (4) from Nemec (5)
Laberge (1) from Vukojevic (1) and Engaras (2)
Ibragimov (1) from Laberge (1) and Engaras (3)
Ibragimov (2) from Laberge (2)
Engaras (1) from Ibragimov (3) and Criscuolo (7) EN
Hatakka (1) from Criscuolo (8) and Engaras (4) EN

Poulter 26/29
2.05 GAA/ .933 SV%/ (5-1-1)

 

[Billdo]

Utica could use some help, no?

 

[Triumph]

Utica could use some help, no?

There's no way to realistically get him to Utica.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Last Night (11/24/23)
Utica @ Syracuse Crunch

The Comets recent scoring spurt ended in Syracuse last night. They were shut out by the Crunch 3-0.

11/25/23
Utica Comets @ Springfield Thunderbirds

Forwards:
15 Gambardella/ 26 Schmelzer/ 19 Fitzgerald
14 Bowers/ 10 Dowling/ 61 Stillman
67 Parent/ 51 Criscuolo/ 92 Clarke
90 Ibragimov/ 16 Engaras/ 12 Thompson

D-Pairs:
23 Wotherspoon/ 7 Nemec
2 Vukovich/ 52 Foote
93 Misyul/ 5 Russo

Goal - 1 Poulter

Comets to the PP and right off the but it's Pecca with a shortie!!!!!

1-0 Springfield

Worst PP in the AHL and now giving up goals as well. 3 in the last 4 games has moved them into a tie for 3rd for most SHGA with 4.

The keepers have bailed them out on breakaways and 2 on 1s all season long or it would be much worse.

Meanwhile their PK is still ranked 4th. What a weird comparison in special teams.

1-0 Springfield at the end of 1.

SOG:
14-9 Springfield

 

[EXTRAS]

Sam laberge have any chance of ever being a 4th liner for the devils?

 

[Bad Goalie]

2nd period underway

Just a note - Vilen was sent down to Adirondack 11/24

Comets were putting on lots of pressure, but could not score.
So what happens? The T-Birds score again.

2-0 Springfield at 10:00.

 

[Bad Goalie]

The Thunderbirds score again. This one is a PPG.

3-0

Comets playing their 3rd game in 4 nights and it looks like it.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Sam laberge have any chance of ever being a 4th liner for the devils?

I seriously doubt it. He is an AHL grinder with a good shot that he rarely takes. Forechecks well and plays okay in his own end, but doesn't kill penalties. He is team player always looking out for his mates. Unfortunately he lacks the speed necessary to play for an NHL team.

I think this was a reward for the WORK he has done here. That work has seen him miss lots of time due to injury.

NJ has the contract slots so it was a fine gesture on their part. Too bad it wasn't given to an outsider with some scoring punch, but little available in that category right now. That move should have been made back in July/ August.

No one in Utica will begrudge Sam the reward.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Gaudette goes after Parent. Foote jumps in and throws right hands into Gaudette with a linesman in between. Many non tough guys with some size seem to grow big ones and go after Parent. Gaudette was a p***y playing for both Utica and Vancouver, but all of a sudden he's a brave soul.

Parent won't back down, but in this case he was on the boards still in possession of his stick with both gloves on.

 

[Bad Goalie]

2nd period is over and the Comets are down 3-0.

SOG are telling the story in this one.

5 shots for the Comets in the period.

2-period total 23-14 T-Birds.

If you're going to win without snipers, you have to put lots of rubber on the net to even have a chance. Comets shot attempts tonight have had a lot of difficulty even getting to the net, let alone threatening to score.

 

[Bad Goalie]

3rd is underway and maybe Dineen has heard me telepathically. The Comets are shooting from everywhere.
shots are 7-0.
As so often happens players lose sight of the game and a 2 on 1 ensues. It happened and the T-birds get a 2 on 1 and score. making it 4-0.

Shots are now 10-1 Comets. The 1 for Springfield was a goal.

Comets immediately to a PP. Can't even gain entrance let alone setting up with 30 seconds to go.

 

[Bad Goalie]

15-1 SOG Utica
11:04 to go.

TV TO
10:52 to go.

Comets to the PK.

Goal PPGA

2 SOG for the period and 2 goals for.
Comets 15 SOG, no goals for.

5-0

This one is all over but the clock ticking off the minutes.

Finally a shot this period that hasn't gone in. 3 SOG.

TVTO
8:32 to go.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Breakaway for T-birds ---- Goal!

6-0

4th shot of the period and 3rd goal.

You'll pardon me if I bow out here. Nothing more to see here.