1/22/25
Bridgeport Islanders at Utica Comets
Forwards:
(39) Hardman (26) Schmelzer (20) Willman
(67) Parent (16) Engaras (61) Stillman
(25) Foote (13) Malone (24) Halonen
(79) Laberge (15) Bowers (11) Legare
D-Pairs:
(6) White (17) Nemec
(93) Misyul (44) Osipov
(83) Vilen (3) MacKinnon
Goal - (1) Poulter
This game was over in the first period, but the Comets played like crap the rest of the way trying to hold off the Islanders rather than just playing hockey. perhaps parent wanted them to pull back the offense which demolished the Isles in the 1st. With 2 more games, a home and home with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday and Saturday and with this one their 5th in 8 days maybe he tried to find a way for them to go a little less heavy and save something for the next 2 games with only 1 day of rest in between. Those next 2 games will make it 7 in 11 days including home and away back to backs on consecutive weekends.
After the Friday/Saturday back to backs they get 3 days off before playing 3 more in 4 days.
Period 1
The Comets took mit to the isles immediately playing the same type of gritty hard hitting, in your face hockey. They never gave the Isles an inch of free ice. Malone cashed in to give the Comets an extremely early lead. His goal was the Comets 4th shot.
Schmelzer at :33, Willman at :34, and Osipov at :38 and Malone deposited Osipov's rebound at :40.
:40 Malone
1-0 Comets
The Comets just kept coming and Malone scored again on their 7th shot.
4:45 Malone
2-0 Comets
Parent and Stillman both had good chances turned away before Malone hit again to record his natural hat trick.
7:33 Malone
3-0 Comets
Immediately after the puck was dropped for the ensuing faceoff Halonen and Cole Bardreau drpped 'em in what was obviously a planned tilt between the 2. Bardreau's gloves came off a the drop of the puck and Halonen accepted the challenge. Halonen took the worst of it, but he slammed his opponent to the ice and the crowd felt that made him the winner.
7:39
Halonen - Utica
Bardreau - B'port
5 each - Fighting
During their rest stop Bowers was whistled.
8:48 Bowers
Holding
Before Bowers was released Cam Thiesling joined him.
10:39
Hooking
Time runs out for Bowers and the Comets go to the PP. Not much happens for most of the 2 minutes.But while still on the PP Nolan Foote scores on their only shot.
12:16 Foote
4-0 Comets
This was the end of Henrik Tikkanen, 4 goals on 11 shots.
Enter Jakub Skarek.
The Isles acted like they were at fault and came hard at Poulter and he ended up making 2 good stops in the next 2 minutes. Then the Comets got control and went the other way. Schmelzer got the puck to Willman took it in and shot. Skarek stopped his shot but Hardman was right there to bang home the rebound.
15:26 Hardman
5-0 Comets
Isles outshot the Comets the restof the way 3-1 and the period ended.
Utica 5-0
SOG:
14-7 Utica
Period 2
B'port came out on fire and took it to the Comets skating hard and hitting every comet to touch the puck. The Comets weathered the outburst.
At 3:24 the Comets went to the PP
Gemmel
Slashing
The Comets did nothing. Not even a shot and the Stillman got stupid. As the IOsles were breaking out behind the play Stillmand got irritated at a little mischief from Travis Mitchell and 2-handed him across the shins. That was enough for Mitchell and went after Chase and dropped him mwithhis 3rd swing. Chase popped right back up from his knees ,but the LM got in there and that was that.
5:06
Stillman and Travisd Mitchell
5 each for fighting
Stillman got an extra 2 for the slash
17 seconds latrer Chris terry got called for slashing.
5:23 Terry
Slashing
Over the course of the next 14 and 1/2 minutes The Isles outshot the Comets 8-3 and poulter was called upon to keep things staus quo and he made some really tough saves.
End of 2
5-0 Comets
SOG:
10-4 Islanders
Period 3
The 3rd was much like the 2nd with the Comets throwing the puck out, icing it, making terrible passes and looking like the team that was being taken to the back shed.
They also started a parade to the penalt box.
1:07 Comets
Too many men
They killed that one. with Poulter called upon to make 3 svaes inclose and 1 of the 3 was brilliant. Then for almost 2 minutes the Comets mounted a turn around and got 3 shots on Skarek and made some nice saves.
The Comets have slowly taken the physicality out of their game and now it's poke schecking and swinging theirsticks acroos the path of the skater who by passes it, both of these moves invite tripping and hooking calls.
5:11 White
Tripping
The Comets block some shots, the Isles miss the net a couple times and also have to schase down clearings, but get a couple more real good chances on Isaac who continues to stifle them,
6:58 Osipov
Tripping
The Comets are now down 5 on 3.
13 seconds later the Isles ruin the shutout effort of Poulter.
7:11 Liam Foudy
5 on 3 PPG
5-1
The Isles stil have a pp with Osipov still in the box. The Isles get a little taste of blood and want some more. Poulter is challenged some more and says no way and makes 3 more big time stops
The Comets act as if they are embarassed by their neglect of their keeper who has actually been called upon to keep from imploding since the end of the 1st period.
Malones's line picks up a little slack with Halonen and Foote joining him to apply some actual pressure for the Comets Halonen finishes it with a goal.
10:52 Halonen
6-1 Comets
The Isles weaken with the Comets goal and the 2 trade 3 chances each over the next 7 minutes or so, but the Comets put their 3rd away. Foote gets his 2nd of the night to go along with his 2 assists.
18:18 Foote
7-1 Comets
That's the game.
SOG for the 3rd:
13-8 Bridgeport
Final Score
Utica Comets 7 Bridgeport Islanders 1
Scoring:
Malone (4) from Osipov (3) and Misyul (6)
Malone (5) from Foote (13) and MacKinnon (2)
Malone (6) from Halonen (9) and Hardman (8)
Foote (10) from Vilen (8) and Willman (11) PP
Hardman (11) from Willman (12) and Schmelzer (9)
Halonen (14) from Foote (14) and Vilen (8)
Foote (11) from Nemec (14) and White (11)
Poulter (29/30)
SOG:
BRI - 7 10 13 = 30
UTC -14 4 8 = 26
PP:
BRI 1/4
UTC 1/3
3 *s
#3 - Brian Halonen (Utica Comets) 1G/1A
#2 - Nolan Foote (Utica Comets) 2G/2A
#1 - Jack Malone (Utica Comets) 3G
Poulter another outstanding job in his 3rd straight start. He won all 3 and allowed only 1 goal in each game.
It was a big night for Jack Malone and his linemates. They scored 6 of the Comets 7 goals.
Hardman had the other goal and also 1A.
Willman and Vilen each had 2 helpers.
Comets now 13-19-2-2 with 5 wins in their last 6 games.
Season is officially half over with this having been their 36th game.
Next up Friday vs the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Utica Aud at 7 pm.
Bowers
Bridgeport Islanders at Utica Comets
Forwards:
(39) Hardman (26) Schmelzer (20) Willman
(67) Parent (16) Engaras (61) Stillman
(25) Foote (13) Malone (24) Halonen
(79) Laberge (15) Bowers (11) Legare
D-Pairs:
(6) White (17) Nemec
(93) Misyul (44) Osipov
(83) Vilen (3) MacKinnon
Goal - (1) Poulter
This game was over in the first period, but the Comets played like crap the rest of the way trying to hold off the Islanders rather than just playing hockey. perhaps parent wanted them to pull back the offense which demolished the Isles in the 1st. With 2 more games, a home and home with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday and Saturday and with this one their 5th in 8 days maybe he tried to find a way for them to go a little less heavy and save something for the next 2 games with only 1 day of rest in between. Those next 2 games will make it 7 in 11 days including home and away back to backs on consecutive weekends.
After the Friday/Saturday back to backs they get 3 days off before playing 3 more in 4 days.
Period 1
The Comets took mit to the isles immediately playing the same type of gritty hard hitting, in your face hockey. They never gave the Isles an inch of free ice. Malone cashed in to give the Comets an extremely early lead. His goal was the Comets 4th shot.
Schmelzer at :33, Willman at :34, and Osipov at :38 and Malone deposited Osipov's rebound at :40.
:40 Malone
1-0 Comets
The Comets just kept coming and Malone scored again on their 7th shot.
4:45 Malone
2-0 Comets
Parent and Stillman both had good chances turned away before Malone hit again to record his natural hat trick.
7:33 Malone
3-0 Comets
Immediately after the puck was dropped for the ensuing faceoff Halonen and Cole Bardreau drpped 'em in what was obviously a planned tilt between the 2. Bardreau's gloves came off a the drop of the puck and Halonen accepted the challenge. Halonen took the worst of it, but he slammed his opponent to the ice and the crowd felt that made him the winner.
7:39
Halonen - Utica
Bardreau - B'port
5 each - Fighting
During their rest stop Bowers was whistled.
8:48 Bowers
Holding
Before Bowers was released Cam Thiesling joined him.
10:39
Hooking
Time runs out for Bowers and the Comets go to the PP. Not much happens for most of the 2 minutes.But while still on the PP Nolan Foote scores on their only shot.
12:16 Foote
4-0 Comets
This was the end of Henrik Tikkanen, 4 goals on 11 shots.
Enter Jakub Skarek.
The Isles acted like they were at fault and came hard at Poulter and he ended up making 2 good stops in the next 2 minutes. Then the Comets got control and went the other way. Schmelzer got the puck to Willman took it in and shot. Skarek stopped his shot but Hardman was right there to bang home the rebound.
15:26 Hardman
5-0 Comets
Isles outshot the Comets the restof the way 3-1 and the period ended.
Utica 5-0
SOG:
14-7 Utica
Period 2
B'port came out on fire and took it to the Comets skating hard and hitting every comet to touch the puck. The Comets weathered the outburst.
At 3:24 the Comets went to the PP
Gemmel
Slashing
The Comets did nothing. Not even a shot and the Stillman got stupid. As the IOsles were breaking out behind the play Stillmand got irritated at a little mischief from Travis Mitchell and 2-handed him across the shins. That was enough for Mitchell and went after Chase and dropped him mwithhis 3rd swing. Chase popped right back up from his knees ,but the LM got in there and that was that.
5:06
Stillman and Travisd Mitchell
5 each for fighting
Stillman got an extra 2 for the slash
17 seconds latrer Chris terry got called for slashing.
5:23 Terry
Slashing
Over the course of the next 14 and 1/2 minutes The Isles outshot the Comets 8-3 and poulter was called upon to keep things staus quo and he made some really tough saves.
End of 2
5-0 Comets
SOG:
10-4 Islanders
Period 3
The 3rd was much like the 2nd with the Comets throwing the puck out, icing it, making terrible passes and looking like the team that was being taken to the back shed.
They also started a parade to the penalt box.
1:07 Comets
Too many men
They killed that one. with Poulter called upon to make 3 svaes inclose and 1 of the 3 was brilliant. Then for almost 2 minutes the Comets mounted a turn around and got 3 shots on Skarek and made some nice saves.
The Comets have slowly taken the physicality out of their game and now it's poke schecking and swinging theirsticks acroos the path of the skater who by passes it, both of these moves invite tripping and hooking calls.
5:11 White
Tripping
The Comets block some shots, the Isles miss the net a couple times and also have to schase down clearings, but get a couple more real good chances on Isaac who continues to stifle them,
6:58 Osipov
Tripping
The Comets are now down 5 on 3.
13 seconds later the Isles ruin the shutout effort of Poulter.
7:11 Liam Foudy
5 on 3 PPG
5-1
The Isles stil have a pp with Osipov still in the box. The Isles get a little taste of blood and want some more. Poulter is challenged some more and says no way and makes 3 more big time stops
The Comets act as if they are embarassed by their neglect of their keeper who has actually been called upon to keep from imploding since the end of the 1st period.
Malones's line picks up a little slack with Halonen and Foote joining him to apply some actual pressure for the Comets Halonen finishes it with a goal.
10:52 Halonen
6-1 Comets
The Isles weaken with the Comets goal and the 2 trade 3 chances each over the next 7 minutes or so, but the Comets put their 3rd away. Foote gets his 2nd of the night to go along with his 2 assists.
18:18 Foote
7-1 Comets
That's the game.
SOG for the 3rd:
13-8 Bridgeport
Final Score
Utica Comets 7 Bridgeport Islanders 1
Scoring:
Malone (4) from Osipov (3) and Misyul (6)
Malone (5) from Foote (13) and MacKinnon (2)
Malone (6) from Halonen (9) and Hardman (8)
Foote (10) from Vilen (8) and Willman (11) PP
Hardman (11) from Willman (12) and Schmelzer (9)
Halonen (14) from Foote (14) and Vilen (8)
Foote (11) from Nemec (14) and White (11)
Poulter (29/30)
SOG:
BRI - 7 10 13 = 30
UTC -14 4 8 = 26
PP:
BRI 1/4
UTC 1/3
3 *s
#3 - Brian Halonen (Utica Comets) 1G/1A
#2 - Nolan Foote (Utica Comets) 2G/2A
#1 - Jack Malone (Utica Comets) 3G
Poulter another outstanding job in his 3rd straight start. He won all 3 and allowed only 1 goal in each game.
It was a big night for Jack Malone and his linemates. They scored 6 of the Comets 7 goals.
Hardman had the other goal and also 1A.
Willman and Vilen each had 2 helpers.
Comets now 13-19-2-2 with 5 wins in their last 6 games.
Season is officially half over with this having been their 36th game.
Next up Friday vs the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Utica Aud at 7 pm.
Bowers
