1/13/2024
Springfield Thunderbirds vs Utica Comets
A short rest and the Comets were back on the ice at 5 p.m. after defeating the North Division leaders, Cleveland, in nail biter 5-4. Dowling scored the game winner with 28 seconds to go after Cleveland had tied it up at 17:50.
This afternoon the Springfield Thunderbirds were in the Aud fresh off a 4-2 victory over the Syracuse Crunch the night before. They won a game they had no business winning, but rode the strength of a 53 save performance by Malcolm Subban and a hat trick from ex-Utica Comet Adam Gaudette.
Forwards:
21 Durandeau/26 Schmelzer/24 Halonen
67 Parent/10 Dowling/92 Clarke
15 Gambardella/51 Criscuolo/61 Stillman
18 Isley/16 Engaras/79 Laberge
D-Pairs:
83 Vilen/5 Russo
8 Hatakka/23 Wotherspoon
3 MacKinnon/2 Vukojevic
Goal - 1 Poulter
Utica stepped into a hole coming out of the gate and were down 1- 0 before many of the crowd had even settled into their seats. The Thunderbirds scored 49 seconds into the contest on the game's 1st shot. The Comets were caught in an awkward change that saw them with 3 D-men;
Vilen, Hatakka, and MacKinnon. That's strange enough as it is, but none of the 3 were paired together for the game. Dowling and Clarke made the change with the starting forwards, but only MacKinnon remained from the starting 5 and his partner, Vukojevic, had come off. Hatakka was Wotherspoon's partner and Vilen was Russo's and the wing was supposed to be Parent. You figure it out. They sure didn't!
The Comets ironed out their lineup and got down to business. They became the dominant team quickly. The lines are staring to change and Schmelzer gets off and Engaras comes on behind the rush with Durandeau and Halonen still out there . Durandeau spots and hits the fresh Engaras speeding down the right side and he hits him with a cross ice pass from the left boards. Filip shoots on the fly from the inside hash mark of the right circle and scores. All tied up at 9:50.
They continued to apply the pressure with all 4 lines making themselves noticed.
In the final 2 minutes of the period the Comets struck for 2 more goals.
Vukojevic pulled a neat move. He feinted a slapper in the high slot that got Zherenko to drop and jerk and before he had resettled, Vuke swept a shot back against where the keeper had just adjusted away from. 2-1 Comets at 17:51.
Then in the final minute, a minute that has plagued the Comets in several prior contests, things happen on the Comets' side for once. Durandeau goes behind the net to collect the puck and falls down. While lying on his back he shovels the puck through/past a T-bird to Laberge on the end boards who immediately sends a pass out above the top of the circle to a flying Schmelzer. On the fly he lets a shot go from the inside the top of the right circle. It goes into Zherenko's pads. Durandeau is right there and he bangs at what is maybe the puck or just the pads, but the puck slides into the net with a little speed. They credited the goal to Schmelzer, but this one might be changed by tomorrow. In my mind there was too much time between when the puck was in the pads or just up against them and when the the puck all of a sudden is quickly sliding into the net. Whatever! It's 3-1 Comets at 19:29.
SOG were 9-9
Period 2 gets started pretty quick for the Comets. Gambardella is fighting for the puckalong the boards at the top of his D-zone. He pries it loose and he and Stillman break out together with speed and only 1 T-bird with a chance. Gamby slides the puck to Stillman who iskating past him and Stillman goes into the zone towards the net with that T-bbird trying to catch up. Just as he is amking his move to shoot the T-Bird slashes hisa hands and he doen't get the sho off. Perfect example of the definiton of a play deserving of a penalty shot.
STILLMAN GETS THE CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He goes in to the left, draws the keeper farther to the left and then goes back across to the right and beats him on the ice just inside the post before he can get his leg back over.
4-1 Comets at 1:21.
Looks like smooth sailing from her. Not so fas tmy friend. You are talking about the Utica Comets, who have had a habit of snatching losses from the grip of victory if you give them enough time.
Half way through the period Poulter who is an adventure out of the net came out of his crease to corral a puck behind his net. He makes a sweep at it to move it around the boards into the corner, but he whiffs at the puck and the T_Bird right behind him picks it up and comes out front and hits amate to Poulter's right and as Poulter moves to face him, he slides it across the goal front to another mate who deposits it in the net. A goal that never should have happened<> there are keepers who shou;ld do no more out of their net than stop pucks rimming around the boards and then only if the coast is clear and they can leave it for one of their guys. The latter is what Poulter should be.
Anyways, 4-2 Comets at 9:25
The period would end that way.
SOG:
13-8 Utica
Period 3
The period would be a little back and forth until it became obvious the Comets were once agin trying to just blled out a period holding onto there lead. Dump it out and dump it in., This never works, but Dineen is oine bull headed son of a gun. He will make them get this if it kills them. At 7:13 the i nevitable happens . The Comets get overzealous and comit a foul and Springfield gets their goalie to the bench and scores on a delayed penalty call.
Now it's 4-3. See how this happens?
Tonight Clarke didn't wait until near the end to get his team some help. Just about 3 minutes later
Kriscuolo set him up in open space which is where he is dangerous and he popped home his 13th on a shot right between 2 T-birds closing off his space.
5-3 Comets. Some breathing room.
The Comets would remain in control until Stillman took a penalty at 13:22. A dumb retaliatory roughing call. The Comets would kill it leaving just about 4 and 1/2 minutsd to go.
It's going to have to become pulled keeper time pretty soon. They need 2 goals. They pull him with 3:22 to go.
Poulter makes 1 save. A shot is deflected wide. Another and another. A blocked shot. Comets work it out. Criscuolo gets away a deflected shot that's rolling to the goal and Dowling catches up and deposits it before it can roll wide.
6-3 Comets
They burn off the rest of the clock and it's 3 in a row for the good guys.
SOG
T-Birds - 9 8 11 = 28
Comets- 9 13 4 = 26
PP:
T-Birds 0/4
Comets 0/2
Scoring:
Engaras (3) from Durandeau (10) and Hatakka (6)
Vukojevic (2) from Dowling (11) and Gambardella (12)
Schmelzer (8) from Laberge (5) and Durandeau (11)
Stillman (6) None PS
Clarke (13) from Criscuolo (13)
Dowling (7) from Criscuolo (14) and Gambardella (13) EN
Poulter 25/28
3 *s
1 Chase Stillman (Utica Comets) 1G - GWG
2 Justin Dowling (Utica Comets) 1G/1A
3 Graeme Clarke (Utica Comets) 1G
The Comets have really perked up with the arrival of Durandeau and Halonen. The Comets don't miss Thompson at all as his trade partner is the superior piece in that trade. He is teamed up with Halonen and they have become a very dangerous pairing and Schmelzer has fit right in between them.
Parent and Clarke have meshed with each other and Dowling is a pefect centerman for them.
This has allowed Gambardella to move down a line with Criscuolo in the middle with Stillman on the other wing. All 3 have been on the scoring charts at the end of each game. Criscuolo is more like a center playing the wing and Gambardella fits the exact same mold and Stillmand just has to get his ass in gear and he will find he's getting the puck and if he digs for loose ones and feeds one of the other 2 points are going to start to mount up.
If the Devils can get some bodies back and Bowers and Willman return, the Comets could have the recipe to turn this thing around. They have both been key pieces in the line up and their return could put Bowers and Willman on Engaras's wings or Bowers between Willman and Laberge.
As bad as they have been, 36 points is cuurently holding down the final playoff spot aad the Comets have 32. 6 points separate Belleville in third from the Comets in 7th. The race in the North is a slow slog with every team on the verge. They haven't even finished the 1st half of the season.
There is still hope and if they can keep up their currnet style of play who knows. This could just be another of their teasers, but Dowling told the crowd after Friday night's win "Don't give up on us yet. We are coming on." I'll hold out for now!
