2023-24 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

[Bad Goalie]

Final Score
Utica Comets 3 Lehigh Valley Phantoms 0

SOG:
LV 11 8 9 = 28
UTC 5 11 4 = 20

PP:
LV - 0/2
UTC - 1/6

Scoring:
Dowling (10) from Wotherspoon (14)
Schmelzer (12) from Willman (9) and Clarke (19) PP
Stillman (form Schmelzer (24) ENG

Kallgren 28/28

3 *s:
3 - Ryan Schmelzer (Utica Comets) 1 G/1 A
2 - Justin Dowling (Utica Comets ) 1 G (GWG)
1 - Erik Kallgren (Utica Comets) SA 28 / SV 28

Aside from 2 isolated plays the Comets offense was impotent.
Wotherspoon sent a long stretch pass straight up the middle taken clean by Justin Dowling outside the LV blueline. He walked in alone and sent a slapper from the inside the bottom of the left circle into the left side of the net.

It was one of the very few passes the Comets handled cleanly on possible chances at the LV net.

From that point it was an exercise in futility. Oh, they had chances. Chances by the bunches. I stopped counting the shots that went wide at 10 and the 1st period hadn't ended and it continued the rest of the night.

They had 6 PPs. 1 was a 5on3 to start the 2nd period. Petersen wasn't even tested. The rest of the PP was a 5 on 4 and still no shots reached him. They got a couple SOGs in the rest of those PPs, but mostly shot the puck wide or into defenders pads or sticks. With 9 seconds left on the 6th PP a Willman shot from the right side was stopped by Petersen, but a stumbling falling Schmelzer backhandced the rebound into the open left side for a 2-0 lead with 4:33 left.

Stillman launched a 160 foot shot into the empty net with 2:15 to go and that locked it down.

The highlight of the game was the great play by Kallgren who turned away a parcel of pucks targeted for the Back of the net. A hnadful of the spectacular variety. We S**t all over this guy for his truly horrendous play early in the season. He was injured on 12/10. He returned to the active roster on 1/19 but only served as a backup a few times for Poulter or Schmid.

He got his first start since his 1/19 return to the roster on

2/17 and won 7-3 in Rochester
2/25 won 5-2 in Syracuse
3/1 won 3-0 over Lehigh Valley in Rochester
He has been rock steady has made huge svaes in a ll 3 but moreso in Syracuse and even moreso tonight.

@Bleed red will tell you every goalie can throw together a short streak. I'm hoping for the Comats' sake as well as Erik's that this isn't 1 of those cases. I hope he can keep this going and maybe he and Poulter can back a mini miracle and get these sad sack Comets to the playoffs. The fumbling shooters have to start scoring some goals instead of continually missing open nets for that to happen.
Hey, who knows? 1 game at a time. They have a ways to go, but theDivision keeps beting each other up and if these dolts can put a streak together, they can get right back into the mix. Laval lost tonight and the Comets are now trailing them for 6th place by 2 points with 2 games in hand. Forget about where everyone else is baby steps. We'll worry about the 5th and final playoff spot if they can first get out of the basement.

You Lost?

 

[MadDevil]

So apparently my Tweet isn't showing up because the Atlanta Gladiators account was suspended for "impersonation". Mr. Free Speech Musk's platform at it's finest lol

 

[Bad Goalie]

3/2/24
Utica Comets @ Hershey Bears

Hershey is the #1 team in the AHL and Utica is icing a very weak lineup.
I arrived late for this one and can't believe the lineup I'm looking at.

Forwards:
67 Parent/ 10 Dowling/ 21 Durandeau
48 Middendorf/ 26 Schmelzer/ 90 Ibragimov
20 Willman/ 51 Criscuolo/ 92 Clarke
18 Isley/ 17 Stevens/ 15 Gambardella

D-pairs:
3 MacKinnon/ 23 Wotherspoon
83 Vilen/ 5 Russo
22 Felix/ 8 Hatakka

Goal - 1 Poulter

Scratches:
Kallgren (BU)
Fitzgerald (H)
Laberge (H)
Foote (?)
Vukojevic (?)
Misyul (?)
Stillman (?)
Halonen (?)
Engaras (Inj)
Bowers (LTIR)

There is no report on the ? not in the lineup.

 

[Bad Goalie]

MacKinnon and Empey go at it at :09 of the 1st.

Comets are outclassed so far. Just trying to keep the puck out of their end.

 

[Bad Goalie]

TV TO
13:53 to go

Comets to the PP
2 for slashing

#1 PK vs the #30 PP
This should go well.
Russo wrister from the blueline gloved easily.
Schmelzer stopped in the slot with a big save and that ends the PP.

Hershey shoots at every opportunity. No concern if it's a good chance because they drive the net with abandon. So, rebounds are not a good idea for Poulter

TV TO
7:55 to go

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets to the PK.

Middendorf 2 for int.

Comets clear after :35

Hershey cleared it themselves.

Poulter stop/cleared out.

Kill successful.

Hershey shot from the low slot /wide

Another shot from close and Poulter a good save.

Willman shot stopped.

Clarke shot from out high/ easy stop.

TV TO
:55 to go

 

[Bad Goalie]

Poulter stop on his doorstep off a hard rush from the Hershey end that ended up with a bear in on net.

Period comes to the end and it's 0-0 after 1

SOG -
9-8 Utica

 

[Bad Goalie]

Perod 2

let's go

Poulter a stop on a long shot.
Comets pinned, but finally get it out.

Bears icing.

Clarke slides a pass to the net front but Criscuolo 's tip is stopped.

Bears do not mess with the puck very often it's puck on the stick off the stick.

Hershey just misses on the back door as Poulter goes sliding by.

Good stop by Isaac and another.

Poulter a flat on the ice save as the Bears dipsy doodle around the Comets net.

Comets have great difficulty just touching the puck in their own end.

Finally out and an easy save is made by Shepard.

Bears 3 on 1 and the shot is over the net.

Point shot engulfed by Isaac.

 

[Bad Goalie]

TV TO
13:28 to go

The Hershey building is filled. Very hard to find an empty seat.

Comets to the PP / Aktell 2 for boarding.

Lose the draw and it's down the ice.

Cross the blueline and it's down the ice. Comets to the end boards and it's sent down the ice.

Comets in and Willman a centering pass and Clarke misses the puck right in the crease.

Russo shot deflected wide. bears send it down. PP over and Hershey comes right back in. Comets back into the Hershey end, working hard but no shots.

Hershey into the Comets end and Felix is called for the makeup boarding call on the end boards. Comets to the PK.

Down the ice. Hershey in centering pass stops in the net front and it's swiped out.

Hershey right back in again. There is no challenge to their zone entry.

Shot from the left dot engulfed by Isaac.

Penalty is over.

Comets rush attempts to get a shot but it's deflected and Shepard on his belly swipes it to the corner. Hershey comes back and Poulter smothers another chance off a doorstep tip.

TV TO
7:11 to go

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets offsides.

Comets cannot make anything happen when they enter the O-zone. No passing or shooting lanes.

Comets ice it.

Poulter a big stop as a Bear came through his crease with the puck and Isaac blocked his effort. Hershey let's no one near their net and the Comets can't seem to prevent Bears from being alone in front of their net.

Comets offsides on a 2 on 1 rush. Isley in ahead of Stevens on the play.

TV TO
5:25 to go

 

[Bad Goalie]

Russo wrister stopped.

Big Hershey shot over the net.

Hershey lots of movement in the Comets end and they can't get a shot on the net.

Shepard a stop off a Wotherspoon slapper.

Colin Felix and Dmitry Osipov go toe to toe. Both throwing lots of punches. Felix's don't land, but it's a different story for Dmitry's

Dmitry 5 for fighting
Felix 5 for fighting
Felix 2 for instigation
10 minute misconduct

Poulter big stop off a tip on a shot from the corner. Bears back in and it's down the ice.

Back in and they hit the post!

Point shot from the point at the last second and Poulter smothers it.

2nd is over

still 0-0

SOG:
10-7 Bears

2-period total -
18-16 Hershey

Comets holding their own, but Hershey has had a multitude of very good chances. The Comets shots are 1 and done and have not been high quality.

The Bears are highly skilled and the Comets are hacking, slapping at, poking at, bodying, pushing, a little grabbing, and anything else they can do to keep these guys from launching good shots. At least 10 of Hershey's SOG have been quality chances and Poulter has been up to the task thus far.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Period 3
Let's go Comets!
What else can I say?

Anything can happen in a hockey game when 2 teams go all out.
I have to say the Comets have been playing their hearts out against the defending AHL champs. Hershey is currently the top team in the AHL 41-10-0-3 . 85 Pts
Currently riding 7 straight wins at home. Comets start the period with 5 D-men.

Hershey shot off the rush deflected out. Those 2 guys were flying.

Comets trying to be too cute. Durandeau pass attempt knocked from the slot to the corner. Just shoot the puck if there's an opening. Stop trying to feather the puck through traffic.

Durandeau into the crease off a apss from Gamby. Stopped by a sprawling Shepard. Rebound, a pile of bodies, and the net is off. Puck is under Shepard.

Ibragimov shot deflected out of play.

MacKinnon point shot stopped.

Schmelzer blind pass is a turnover but the Comets recover and dump it back in.

Hershey D-man down the boards to the bottom of the circle and shoots. Isaac smothers it.

Terrible icing call vs the Comets. The puck was barely moving, the bear stopped and let it cross the line and then reached for it. They called it icing. Pure homer BS.

Dowling blocks a shot off his foot and he's down the tunnel.

Comets get the puck in and keep it in. Shot over the crossbar. Too much passing and the bears break it up.

The other way now. Deflected shot dribbles to Isaac and he holds it.

Back in the Hershey end Russo shot from the outside of the right circle held on by Shepard.

Comets ice it.

Hershey back up the ice and Vilen breaks up the shot attempt from the low circle.

Hershey buzzing. Poulter save on a screen shot. It's been all Hershey on this shift. Schmelzer gets a dump.

Hershey in and the Comets send it back down.

Hershey back in and the comets bring it right back in the other way and Shepard makes a stop.

Willman a shot from the end line and Shepard holds on.

TV TO
11:17 to go

 

[Bad Goalie]

Here comes Hershey. Comets break it up and go the other way.

Willman in close and shoots.... off the right pad.

They're going back and forth in the neutral zone. Now Hershey is in on Poulter, shot, save and the rebound goes wide. Wow!

Comets buzzing.

Schmelzer fighting for the puck on the left side end boards. He gains possession and moves towards the corner and then suddenly just rifles the puck across the top of the net front and Russo is there. He makes no mistake and buries it.

S_______________C__________________O____________R_________E!!!!!!!!!!!!
S_______________C__________________O____________R_________E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

G--------O--------A---------L!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROBBIE RUSSO. The least expected to come through with a goal in this one and he has put the Comets on top with 9:15 to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1-0 Utica.

This game has an eternity left.

TV TO
9:11 to go

 

[Bad Goalie]

Hershey will unload now with everything they have. The Comets have to get it out and get it deep.

How damned stupid is this. Clarke called for boarding on the Hershey end boards.

Knowing Graeme Clarke as we well do and the level of physicality he plays with that call is more than suspect. He hit the guy. No doubt about that, but the way that guy slammed into the boards was not caused by a ferocious Clarke hit. Comets are up against it now. Ignorant ref as to how players can play him and he got played.

Poulter a stop from the right circle and steers rebound to the left corner.

1 timer deflected wide.

Bad pass cleared. Dowling and Willman break it up at the blueline and get it to the other end.

Kill is over. Gamby gets it in and the Bears are right back. Vilen gets it out. Schmelzer gets it deep.

Bears bring it in and Comets get it right back up the ice.

Bears dump it in. Comets dump it out.

Clarke comes off the blueline and shoots from the top of the circle and it deflects out.

TV TO
4:04 to go

 

[Bad Goalie]

Nail biting. Pee your pants time now.

Here comes Hershey. Comets keep it outside and a Comet kicks it out

Hershey is in and a point shot is held by Poulter.

3:11 to go.

Wrister wide. Poulter another stop.

Gamby gets it deep. Steels it and keeps it in.

Hershey back in and a Bear fans on a puck laying in the slot.

Another shot by Hershey and Poulter melts it down.

Hershey TO with 1:52 to go. Believe Shepard will be gone. He is.

Hershey wins the draw. Comets get it out and Dowling's shot is stopped by a leaping bear and they come right back down. Shot is deflected wide. Willman gets it out but it's icing.

Hershey wins the draw. Puck knocked off a Hershey stick and out.

Dumped right back in.

Hatakka chips it out.

Stevens works it in and it's offsides. Okay. Faceoff in the Hershey end of the ice.

Comets won the draw back to their end. Comets get it out and Hershey brings it in and Poulter smothers the shot.

4.3 to go.
Lose the draw, block the shot, and send it to the corner.

IT'S OVER. IT'S OVER!. IT'S Ooooo - vvvvv - eeeee - rrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!
quote Roy Orbison
Thanks Roy!

Comets win it 1-0.

 

[Bad Goalie]

3/2/24 Utica Comets @ Hershey Bears

Final score:
Utica Comets 1 Hershey Bears 0

SOG:
UTC - 9 8 10 = 26
HER - 8 10 9 = 27

PP:
UTC - 0/2
HER - 0/4

Scoring
Russo (3) from Schmelzer (25) and Parent (24)

Poulter 27/27

3 *s
3 - Hunter Shepard (Hershey Bears) SA: 26 / SV: 25
2 - Robbie Russo (Utica Comets) 1 G (GWG)
1 - Isaac Poulter (Utica Comets) SA: 27 / SV 27

Erik Kallgren shut out Lehigh Valley last night in a 3-0 Comets victory. The 3rd goal was an ENG.

Tonight Isacc Poulter shuts out the #1 team in the AHL 1-0.

I said last night that if these 2 can stay hot they might be able to carry their sad sack low scoring compadres to something special. A mini miracle of making the playoffs. They cut Laval's lead over them in 6th place to 2 points last night. The Comets win tonight coupled with Laval's 7-3 loss to Springfield has moved Laval and Utica even with 53 points apiece. Laval has lost 2 more games allowing the Comets to be ahead of them while both are tied due to Laval having lost 2 more games while both have won 23. The Comets also have 2 games in hand.

The 5th and final playoff spot is currently held by the Toronto Marlies with 57 points. Next up on the Comets schedule are the Toronto Marlies on Friday March, 8. It will be the the first of a huge 3 games in 3 weekend. The Comets have 1 game in hand on the Marlies. Let's end the future what ifs at that point.

Belleville is in town on Saturday and the Comets will travel to Rochester on Sunday. Huge Divisional 3-game weekend.

Have a good night.

 

[Omar Little]

How has Foote looked?

 

[Mgd31]

Back to back shutouts for the Comets and this 2nd one coming against the best team in the conference.

Should have made Dineen the interim.

 

[Guttersniped]

Back to back shutouts for the Comets and this 2nd one coming against the best team in the conference.

Should have made Dineen the interim.

Or Brian Eklund our goalie coach.

 

[Bad Goalie]

How has Foote looked?

He's been going through the motions like I said he would. He's made some good passes and has maybe taken a shot or 2 when he was in open space. Skating doesn't look hampered. Don't know what the injury was so couldn't specifically look to see how that was doing.

Didn't play last night in Hershey. No word was given as to why. Maybe he didn't even make the bus trip to Hershey.

 

[My3Sons]

Nail biting. Pee your pants time now.

Here comes Hershey. Comets keep it outside and a Comet kicks it out

Hershey is in and a point shot is held by Poulter.

3:11 to go.

Wrister wide. Poulter another stop.

Gamby gets it deep. Steels it and keeps it in.

Hershey back in and a Bear fans on a puck laying in the slot.

Another shot by Hershey and Poulter melts it down.

Hershey TO with 1:52 to go. Believe Shepard will be gone. He is.

Hershey wins the draw. Comets get it out and Dowling's shot is stopped by a leaping bear and they come right back down. Shot is deflected wide. Willman gets it out but it's icing.

Hershey wins the draw. Puck knocked off a Hershey stick and out.

Dumped right back in.

Hatakka chips it out.

Stevens works it in and it's offsides. Okay. Faceoff in the Hershey end of the ice.

Comets won the draw back to their end. Comets get it out and Hershey brings it in and Poulter smothers the shot.

4.3 to go.
Lose the draw, block the shot, and send it to the corner.

IT'S OVER. IT'S OVER!. IT'S Ooooo - vvvvv - eeeee - rrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!
quote Roy Orbison
Thanks Roy!

Comets win it 1-0.

Orbison was one of the Traveling Wilburys.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Orbison was one of the Traveling Wilburys.

Yuh?
He was a rock and roll icon long before that.
He is now an immortal recording giant.

Can you tell I might have liked him just a little bit? Hah!

Man would it be great if there was actually a rock and roll Heaven and you could reserve spots there? My wife and I would move in when we go and spend eternity there.

 

[My3Sons]

Yuh?
He was a rock and roll icon long before that.
He is now an immortal recording giant.

Can you tell I might have liked him just a little bit? Hah!

Man would it be great if there was actually a rock and roll Heaven and you could reserve spots there? My wife and I would move in when we go and spend eternity there.

We’d be neighbors. Wilburys was the biggest missed opportunity in music history. Can you imagine the concert? You have Orbison, Petty, Dylan, ELO, and oh yeah, George’s catalog to play on top of the Wilburys album. How nobody was able to beg them to do it for historical purposes is beyond me.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Was the Halonen reassignment to Utica on 3/1 just another paper move or is NJ simply too cheap to send him back ahead of the rest of the group's return to Jersey after today's game? He would have been a much better player against Hershey yesterday than Isley.

 

[My3Sons]

Was the Halonen reassignment to Utica on 3/1 just another paper move or is NJ simply too cheap to send him back ahead of the rest of the group's return to Jersey after today's game? He would have been a much better player against Hershey yesterday than Isley.

Doesn’t that depend upon whether Isley is playing with his brothers?