2023-24 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

[Bad Goalie]

45 seconds after the Comets tie it up they give a goal right back.

3-2 Amerks.

Amerks 4 shots in the period to the Comets 20 and the Comets give them back their lead.

Warren form the right circle untended. Hatakka vacated the spot looking for the puck to squirt loose from a scrum in the back of the net and no one filled in.

 

[Bad Goalie]

I went for dinner and came back after it ended and the score remained the same.

Comets lose it 3-2.

A 3-poiint weekend only moves them farther away from a playoff spot.

SOG:
35-23 Utica

PP
Utica 0/2
ROC 1/1

Scoring:
Gambardella (9) from Laberge (10)
Vilen (2) from Vukojevic (5) and Criscuolo (22)

Kallgren 20/23

Comets in 7th place all alone (56) behind Laval (58). Toronto and Belleville tied 61) in 4th/5th. They can't escape a 5-point deficit for the final playoff spot. No matter what they do it seems like it's always 5 pints. the other teams ahead of them keep exchanging the 3-6 spots because they put little 4, 5, 6 point strings. The Comets manage to get to 6th or tied for it and then fall right back into the basement.

Dineen won't ride a hot goalie. It's straight every other game. Poulter is undoubtedly the best Utica has. Poulter on Friday would have been a Comets win instead of a 7-6 OT loss. You can't as a keeper lose a game in which your mates give you 6 goals.

He is also always jockeying around his lines. Guys in and guys out with different slots in the lineup. 17 games left. There is no time to keep playing .500 hockey. If they don't put together a good run, it will be an early escape to the golf course.

Next up in Belleville on Wednesday (3/13) and back home for League leading Hershey in Utica on Friday (3/15) before back on the road in Hartford for the 3rd game in 4 days. This coming string of 3 games could put all but the final nail in their coffin.
.

 

[UticaHockey]

Tyce Thompson traded for Arnaud Durandeau who is now traded for Nathan Legare.

 

[forceten]

Tyce Thompson traded for Arnaud Durandeau who is now traded for Nathan Legare.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Nathan Legare to Utica from Montreal in exchange for Arnaud Durandeau.
Let's look at this one.

Arnaud Durandeau (LW) LH - 6'0"/194, 25yrs old, 3/11/14 26GP

Nathan Legare (RW) RH - 6'0"/205, 23yrs old, 6/3/9 39 GP

Don't see the value in this trade at all. Durandeu is much better at contributing on the score sheet and is probably the smoothest passer the Comets had.

The only value I see in Legare is that he is a natural RW and the Comets only have 2 of them in Clarke and Stillman.

Durandeau has basically been a 2nd line forward. Can't see how Legare fits that role.

The only thing it does do is allow Gambardella to get back on the LW where he is most useful. Halonin has been on the right side most of the time. He came in from the NCAA playing RW and even though he was moved to the left side seems to prefer RW.

So RW sets up as:
Halonin
Clarke
Stillman
Legare

The left side now sets up as:
Willman
Parent
Gambardella
Laberge

That allows for Dinnen to never dress Fitzgerald again. Middenderf is a spare LW.
Engaras is back so he can also play RW as he is a center who shoots right.
This means that Fitzgerald never has to play another game as long as these players are all available.

I wouldn't have made this move as it does not make Utica stronger.

 

[forceten]

Is he an energy guy?

 

[UticaHockey]

Is he an energy guy?

In this article by Ben Birnell, MacKinnon goes into his thought process for the trade. Lagare plays a more physical game and MacKinnon thinks the Comets are lacking in that department.

 

[forceten]

So are we!

 

[Bad Goalie]

Hatakka has been recalled. That means both Felix and MacKinnon will be in the lineup. NJ is in Dallas and Utica is in Belleville. Have to think Santeri was gone before the official AHL listed 3/13/date.

Unless Misyul has had a sudden recovery from his non-orthopedic injury the Comets have a total of 6 healthy D-men and that includes both Felix and MacKinnon.

Durandeau's offensive help is now in Laval.
Foote is back in NJ.
Physical, but little offense, Legare won't be in the lineup unless his immigration has been dealt with.
That leaves the Comets with Middendorf and useless Fitzgerald as their only extra forwards.
They didn't have a strong lineup to begin with, but this one is worse. Have had to have a brick wall goalie effort most games to begin with and this would require it even more. It's likely Schmid's turn and he hasn't been a brick wall at any time in his Utica games this season.

Playoff points are a mere few away (5) and this roster keeps getting weaker.

 

[My3Sons]

Hatakka has been recalled. That means both Felix and MacKinnon will be in the lineup. NJ is in Dallas and Utica is in Belleville. Have to think Santeri was gone before the official AHL listed 3/13/date.

Unless Misyul has had a sudden recovery from his non orthopedic injury the Comets have a total of 6 healthy D-men and that includes both Felix and MacKinnon.

Durandeau's offensive help is now in Laval.
Foote is back in NJ.
Legare won't be in the lineup (minus his offense) unless his immigration issue cleared.
That leaves the Comets with Middendorf and useless Fitzgerald as their only extra forwards.

Has there been any reporting on whether the non-orthopedic injury is likely a concussion or some sort of genuine illness?

 

[Bad Goalie]

Has there been any reporting on whether the non-orthopedic injury is likely a concussion or some sort of genuine illness?

Are you serious? We are lucky to have heard what we have. That's why my scratch list every game now includes ? marks as the reason.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets have signed Jackson van de Leest to a PTO.
6'7"/238 LD LH, 22-yrs-old
He has been playing with, take a guess, ECHL Adirondack.
He began this season at Dalhouise University in the USports league, the highest level of University hockey in Canada. 30GP 3/6/9, 30 PIM, -26
He signed with ECHL Adirondack on 2/14/24. 10GP 0/2/2, 7 PIM, +2

He previously played 5 seasons and part of another with the Calgary Hitmen. His last season was split between the Hitmen and the Red Deer Rebels.

He adds some bulk, but is another LD. IMO he is here to add a D-man to the roster, which currently only has 6 with the Hatakka call-up. The Thunder are having a very good season and this call-up likely leaves the bulk of their current D-corps intact. Comets already have MacKinnon and Felix. His leaving their roster has the least impact and I doubt he is much of a plus for the Comets. Will have to see how correct my analysis of this situation is as time passes. Again, Misyul's absence is having a huge influence on the Comets.

He never impressed enough to receive a sniff at the drafts. A 6'7" 230+ D-man is worth a late round if he has any kind of promise. I am not impressed with this addition. There must be something better down in Adirondack.

 

[My3Sons]

Comets have signed Jackson van de Leest to a PTO.
6'7"/238 LD LH, 22-yrs-old
He has been playing with, take a guess, ECHL Adirondack.
He began this season at Dalhouise University in the USports league, the highest level of University hockey in Canada. 30GP 3/6/9, 30 PIM, -26
He signed with ECHL Adirondack on 2/14/24. 10GP 0/2/2, 7 PIM, +2

He previously played 5 seasons and part of another with the Calgary Hitmen. His last season was split between the Hitmen and the Red Deer Rebels.

He adds some bulk, but is another LD. IMO he is here to add a D-man to the roster, which currently only has 6 with the Hatakka call-up. The Thunder are having a very good season and this call-up likely leaves the bulk of their current D-corps intact. Comets already have MacKinnon and Felix. His leaving their roster has the least impact and I doubt he is much of a plus for the Comets. Will have to see how correct my analysis of this situation is as time passes. Again, Misyul's absence is having a huge influence on the Comets.

He never impressed enough to receive a sniff at the drafts. A 6'7" 230+ D-man is worth a late round if he has any kind of promise. I am not impressed with this addition. There must be something better down in Adirondack.

Probably a Siegenthaler replacements in the next NJ-NYR game.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Probably a Siegenthaler replacements in the next NJ-NYR game.

Can only laugh at that possibility

 

[Bad Goalie]

Devils Fans, put a big bow on this season and send it in.

Hatakka was the original loss to a call-up earlier today.

Now it's announced that in addition Wotherspoonm and Willman are also on their was to meet the club in Dallas for tomorrow's game while the Comets are in Belleville.

Only have 6 D-men and 3 are Adirondack Thunder: MacKinnon, Felix, van de Leest.


The forward group has lost Durandeau, Foote, and Willman.

*Legare can't play until immigration status has been dealt with and his numbers say he can't score anyways.

Don't know the status of Dowling who missed the last game.

*
Legare played with Utica last night in Canada. Not sure if that means he's clear to come back to Utica with the club.

 

[My3Sons]

Can only laugh at that possibility

He's 6'7" and 240 pounds. You won't be laughing when on April 3rd he climbs up the glass and jumps down onto Rempe's head delivering a flying elbow and then putting him in a figure four leg lock and then Travis Green brings a foreign object into the ring and hits Rempe with it while Jack and Luke distract the referee with a synchronized juggling act and then the ref two counts Rempe but then the ref gets knocked unconscious by Laviolette who sends Trouba into the ring, I mean the rink, and then Trouba squares off with MacDermid and oh we have a donnybrook going fans. Coming up next, Midget tag team hockey the choice of sophisticated viewers everywhere. Don't change that channel!!

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Stillman with a phenomenal first period. Making nice plays in the neutral zone, scored on a beauty onetimer off the rush, threw some hard hits, driving the net. A lot to like in his game, even if he isn’t Stankoven.

 

[Bad Goalie]

3/13/2024
Utica Comets @ Belleville Senators

Forwards:
48 Middendorf/ 26 Schmelzer/ 61 Stillman
67 Parent/ 51 Criscuolo/ 24 Halonen
15 Gambardella/ 21 Stevens/ 92 Clarke
79 Laberge/ 16 Engaras/ 11 Legare

D-Pairs:
83 Vilen/ 5 Russo
3 MacKinnon/ 22 Felix
2 Vukojevic/ 52 van de Leest

Goal - 40 Schmid

Scratches:
Poulter (BU)
Fitzgerald (H)
Dowling (?)


Middendorf on the RW boards at the bluline sensds it forward to Schmelzer who centers it into into the slot to Stillman who fires it and>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

S---------C--------O--------R---------E--------S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stillman makes it 1-0 Utica at 9:56

Typical Utica gives the goal right backless than a minute later (53 seconds) at 10:49.

1-1

JFC!!!!!!!!!!!! Nolan Stevens tips a Vukojevic shot from the point
past a stickless keeper. 11:24 (35 seconds later)

3 on 1 and Middendorf passes to Engaras on the right side and it hops over his stick. Can't get the bounce for us.

Comets to the PP at 18:48.

Betts a SH breakaway as the pass to Russo on the point was bouncing in his feet. Betts grabbed it and went in all alone and scores between Schmid's legs as he opened him up with a move in front.

Comets surrender another goal in the last 2 minutes of a period. They have done it so often.

Period ends at 2-2.

SOG:
11-9 Belleville

Both teams 0/1 on the PP.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Period 2

Start with 42 seconds left on the PP. Lose the draw and right down the ice.

Comets to the PK at 2:28. Vukojevic 2 for holding.
Schmid a save on his doorstep. Russo let the guy by him.
Cleared down the ice.
Cleared to center ice.
PK has 1 second left as Bellville is called for hooking.

Comets to the PP at 4:27

Less than a minute left and the Comets clear it down themselves. PP over and they diodn't get a single SOG.

PP over not even a look at a shot.

Felix called for roughing and the Comets are back to the PK. 8:01.
Sens score 20 seconds later. Crookshank all alone on the far post. Inexcusable!
8:21

3-2 Sens

Comets back to the PK at 12:34. Vilen 2 for holding.
Comets kill this one.


:36 seconds to go and the Sens get anothjer breakaway goal. A last minute of the period goal again.

2 in the same game and both on breakaways.

End of period 2

4-2 Sens

SOG:
9-8 Belleville

2-period total:
20-17 Belleville

PP
Utica 0/1
Sens 1/3

 

[Bad Goalie]

Period 3

Comets need to wake up. Laval is winning big in Bridgeport. 5-1 after 2. Comets trail them by 2 for 6th place.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Period 3

Comets to the PP with :39 seconds into the 3rd.

1:04 to go and nothing doing yet.

Comets cannot control the puck on new ice!

Legare in the crease and Sogaard turned his stick over backwards and Legare hit the stick and it went out of play. A goal scorer buries that puck into an open net!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PP is over

Clarke misses another big chance shooting it wide. He does that on so many more shots than he hits the net with.

I don't think I am exagerating by saying the guy could easily have 50 goals aleady if he had just hit 30 of the 200+ missed corners, or even worse, the wide open net sides he has easily racked up from the net front, the slot, or off to the left or right of the net.

Every time he has the puck ready to shoot you would win a lot of money betting he would miss the net. I'm not tal;ikng about saves by the keeper. I mean flat out consistently missing the net from goal scorers spots. Then he comes to the net hanging his head, shaking his head, banging the top of his helmet with his stick, etc. He knows the goal was right there and he missed.

The period has been all Utica with nothing coming as the Sens are playing pure katy bar the door hockey.

Then they get 1 chance and they score. Their 2nd shot of the period
11:04
5-2 Sens with 8:05 to go.

Barring a major miracle this one is over.

 

[Bad Goalie]

1-2-2 and the Comets have no answer. Can't get across the Sen's blueline.

Comets to the PP and the Comets pull Schmid and go 6 on 4. How long before it's 6-2? They go back to 5 on 5.

The game ends 5-2 Belleville.

SOG:
UTC - 9 8 10 = 27
BEL - 11 9 2 = 22

PP:
UTC 0/4
BEL 1/4

Scoring:
Stillman (13) from Schmelzer (26) and Middendorf (3)
Stevens ((4) from Vukojevic (6) and Vilen (17)

Schmid 20/25
Akira continues to play an unremarkable game. Makes the saves that hit him. Can't stop a breakaway. Gives up rebounds. Doesn't challenge shooters. Just drops to his knees and hope it hits him. He is a shell of his former self. 3.59 GAA and climbing / .880 SV%.

3 - Rochester 64
4 - Belleville 63 won
5 - Toronto 61 idle
6 - Laval 60 won
7 - Utica 56
The 4 teams above the Comets have been exchnging places all the way from 6-3 for a month. The Comets sit in 7th and fight to get out of 7th and then fall right back into it.

 

[Guttersniped]

Thunder signed some guys!






Andre Ghantous Elite Prospects
He’s Artem Schlaine’s teammate so let’s see if we sign him too. Typically played as the 2RW.

And this guy:



Jordan di Cicco Elite Prospects
A LHD from Long Island U, less exciting but hey, a signing too.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Thunder signed some guys!






Andre Ghantous Elite Prospects
He’s Artem Schlaine’s teammate so let’s see if we sign him too. Typically played as the 2RW.

And this guy:



Jordan di Cicco Elite Prospects
A LHD from Long Island U, less exciting but hey, a signing too.

Is Shlaine's NCAA eligibility up? If so he can sign wherever. Would seem like the Devils would like to give him a shot. The way to start that would be to get MacKinnon to sign him to an AHL PTO if Fitz considers a signing to be too big of a risk.

MacKinnon has been known to sign Thunder players to AHL 2-ways. So maybe we could see that with these guys, especially Andre Ghantous. He is 25 and another Parent water bug, but who knows. Xavier has held his own. Andre's play has at least had an impact on the Hobey Baker voters. Must be a little something there. Could sign him to a PTO right now off the Adirondack roster. The Comets don't appear to be going anywhere but down fast so getting a look at some of the kids out there would be smart. Of course 31 other NHL teams and 32 in the AHL could do the same.

Shlaine at C and Ghantous on RW with Laberge riding shotgun on LW might be interesting. No reason the Devils couldn't have a little change of heart for their farm is there?

 

[Guttersniped]

Is Shlaine's NCAA eligibility up? If so he can sign wherever. Would seem like the Devils would like to give him a shot. The way to start that would be to get MacKinnon to sign him to an AHL PTO if Fitz considers a signing to be too big of a risk.

MacKinnon has been known to sign Thunder players to AHL 2-ways. So maybe we could see that with these guys, especially Andre Ghantous. He is 25 and another Parent water bug, but who knows. Xavier has held his own. Andre's play has at least had an impact on the Hobey Baker voters. Must be a little something there. Could sign him to a PTO right now off the Adirondack roster. The Comets don't appear to be going anywhere but down fast so getting a look at some of the kids out there would be smart. Of course 31 other NHL teams and 32 in the AHL could do the same.

Shlaine at C and Ghantous on RW with Laberge riding shotgun on LW might be interesting. No reason the Devils couldn't have a little change of heart for their farm is there?

Cap Friendly’s Reserve List has all the dates for prospect’s signing rights.

Schlaine’s rights are listed as expiring in Aug 25, 2024.