- Dec 20, 2018
- 22,888
- 51,393
2024-25 Utica Comets and ECHL thread
- Thread starter NJDevs26
- Start date
This is correct, but what I was saying is the Comets have 5 VETS BEFORE Welinski was added. So for him to play one of the other vets has to sit:
Dowling - 1 of only 2 good centers
Schmelzer - Team captain and last season's point leader
Nick DeSimone - The best vet D-man
Colton White - The other VET D
Joe Gambardella - Every day top 6 LW.
Welinski - A VET D We
The D in town are
DeSimone
White
Misyul
Diotte
MacKinnon
vzn de Leest
Welinski
Andy should obviously play before van de Leest! Comets have to sit an important piece.
With Willman, Hardman, Halonen, and Gambardella that's a strong left side.
Halonen likes to play RW. That would allow Filmon to play LW.
Hardman plays both sides like Halonen.
You also have Foote and Leberge on LW.
Parent also plays both sides, but they lost his offense last year when they played him there.
The right side if the 2 LW/RW guys switch over leaves Stillman and Legare.
Malone and Wendt are also RWs.
With Dowling, Bowers, and Schmelzer in the middle They still need a 4th C. Engaras was that guy during the llast part of '23-24. Parent can also play thereas can Hardman and Malone.
This is where Dineen goes nuts. he has too many players up front and he can't play them all. Shortly there will be shipment of Comets to Adirondack. Your guess is as good as mine since every Comet is on an NHL contract of some sort except (off the top of my head, except Gambardella, Parent, and Malone.
Malone can go down and Wendt didn't shown any sense of good play in NJ. Unless Filmon lights things up after having missed the lst few days in NJ, he may also end up with the Thunder for a bit.
Defensively the Comets are hurting. MacKinnon should be depth and van de LLest belongs in Adirondack.
My guess is that Gambardella will suffer the consequences of the D-shortage and sit in order to play Welinski. That's if DiNeen wants to make that move on day 1.
Zajacs Bowl Cut
Lets Go Baby
He was par-boiled tonight. 4 goals on 16 shots. Pulled after goal #4 7:46 into the 2nd period.
He wasn't the only noticeable issue. This may have been the worst exhibition from a professional team that I have witnessed up close and personal since I started going to the the Rochester Americans games at 12 years of age. I'm 75 now and I have watched a shitload of hockey live and in person.
I started counting early in the 2nd period based upon what I thought to be factual. My thought was these guys couldn't make a second pass. Besides the d-men passing the puck from one to the other in their own end with no opponent anywhere near them, I counted the next pass as #1. It got to be ridiculous for the rest of the game. Rarely did the 2nd pass connect. too far in front, too high to capture, bounced off the intended's stick, was picked or deflected away.
The other situation in which more than 1pass connected was on the PP. They passed the puck to each other around the perimeter. When they tried to go inside their possession ended.
They lost most of the puck battles anywhere on the ice.
I defy anyone who watched the game to tell me exactly what their offensive plan was. I didn't see a semblance of any. It was get the puck up ice and that guy tried to get to the net, but inevitably was canceled and the puck turned over. So, when that failed they tried long shots whenever an opening appeared and missed the net on shot after shot. Forget making a move on any defender. They cannot handle the puck. The only guy who can take the puck with confidence into dangerous territory is Dowling, but he couldn't find a single mate getting open to give it to.
After 2 shots in the 1st were taken from in close, the majority of the rest of their shots came from a distance. However, near or far, the shots on the net were highly repetitive. The keeper rarely had to move at all to make a save. The shots were right at the center of his body or high and within easy reach for can of corn glove saves.
The players who should be making things happen Halonen, Foote, Willman, Hardman, Bowers, and maybe Stillman were anemic on offense. Foote is allergic to the tough areas and any physical contact beyond a push attempt at a guy going by him.
Legare, Laberge, Stillman, and Misyul were physically effective. Others tried but were not all that effective. However, the first 3 in that short list are not puck handlers and Misyul is a D-man who doesn't take chances and the way his forwards were turning it over that was a good thing. Willman seems to never be in a position to hit anyone. His contact comes when tying to pick up the puck along the boards andan opponent initiates the contact. DeSimone deals with guys with more skill, leaning on them, stick work, and taking away their space.
I have to say that I have not seen a Dineen coached team play much differently than tonight. they never seem to have a cohesive plan of attack where evrey guy goes to spots that a puck carrier can find them and then the puck carrier goes to open space for the a potential return causing a defender to have to honor him.
Syracuse is mostly very disciplined. They are positionally sound forcing an opponent to have to penetrate their territory and move them out of their position opening holes for their mates. The Comets had no idea how to get through their d and through 3 periods DiNeen didn't lay out any plans to challenge them.
From the neutral zone in the Comets seemed to be tryingto go through walls and were very ineffecive. On the other side, the Crunch had little difficulty penetrating the Comets end and single guys carried the puck into the corner, beat a dfender, took it behind the net, then centered it to guys open in the slot or on the corners of the net or straight to a breaking d-man for open shots. It was a good thing they were not accurate shooters because man did they have chances as the game moved along.
If this is what we have to look forward to for 35 more home games, this building, which was sold out, willbe an empty cavern. Tonight after Daws gave up #4 the building started to empty out. $ goals and a tam that couldn't threaten any kind of offensive effort made a comeback lookpretty bleak. They were correct.
He wasn't the only noticeable issue. This may have been the worst exhibition from a professional team that I have witnessed up close and personal since I started going to the the Rochester Americans games at 12 years of age. I'm 75 now and I have watched a shitload of hockey live and in person.
I started counting early in the 2nd period based upon what I thought to be factual. My thought was these guys couldn't make a second pass. Besides the d-men passing the puck from one to the other in their own end with no opponent anywhere near them, I counted the next pass as #1. It got to be ridiculous for the rest of the game. Rarely did the 2nd pass connect. too far in front, too high to capture, bounced off the intended's stick, was picked or deflected away.
The other situation in which more than 1pass connected was on the PP. They passed the puck to each other around the perimeter. When they tried to go inside their possession ended.
They lost most of the puck battles anywhere on the ice.
I defy anyone who watched the game to tell me exactly what their offensive plan was. I didn't see a semblance of any. It was get the puck up ice and that guy tried to get to the net, but inevitably was canceled and the puck turned over. So, when that failed they tried long shots whenever an opening appeared and missed the net on shot after shot. Forget making a move on any defender. They cannot handle the puck. The only guy who can take the puck with confidence into dangerous territory is Dowling, but he couldn't find a single mate getting open to give it to.
After 2 shots in the 1st were taken from in close, the majority of the rest of their shots came from a distance. However, near or far, the shots on the net were highly repetitive. The keeper rarely had to move at all to make a save. The shots were right at the center of his body or high and within easy reach for can of corn glove saves.
The players who should be making things happen Halonen, Foote, Willman, Hardman, Bowers, and maybe Stillman were anemic on offense. Foote is allergic to the tough areas and any physical contact beyond a push attempt at a guy going by him.
Legare, Laberge, Stillman, and Misyul were physically effective. Others tried but were not all that effective. However, the first 3 in that short list are not puck handlers and Misyul is a D-man who doesn't take chances and the way his forwards were turning it over that was a good thing. Willman seems to never be in a position to hit anyone. His contact comes when tying to pick up the puck along the boards andan opponent initiates the contact. DeSimone deals with guys with more skill, leaning on them, stick work, and taking away their space.
I have to say that I have not seen a Dineen coached team play much differently than tonight. they never seem to have a cohesive plan of attack where evrey guy goes to spots that a puck carrier can find them and then the puck carrier goes to open space for the a potential return causing a defender to have to honor him.
Syracuse is mostly very disciplined. They are positionally sound forcing an opponent to have to penetrate their territory and move them out of their position opening holes for their mates. The Comets had no idea how to get through their d and through 3 periods DiNeen didn't lay out any plans to challenge them.
From the neutral zone in the Comets seemed to be tryingto go through walls and were very ineffecive. On the other side, the Crunch had little difficulty penetrating the Comets end and single guys carried the puck into the corner, beat a dfender, took it behind the net, then centered it to guys open in the slot or on the corners of the net or straight to a breaking d-man for open shots. It was a good thing they were not accurate shooters because man did they have chances as the game moved along.
If this is what we have to look forward to for 35 more home games, this building, which was sold out, willbe an empty cavern. Tonight after Daws gave up #4 the building started to empty out. $ goals and a tam that couldn't threaten any kind of offensive effort made a comeback lookpretty bleak. They were correct.
Syracuse Crunch @ Utica Comets
Final score:
Syracuse 5 Utica Comets 0
Forwards:
(20) Willman (26) Schmelzer (24) Halonen
(39) Hardman (10) Dowling (25) Foote
(79) Laberge (16) Engaras (11) Legare
(15) Bowers (13) Malone (61) Stillman
D-Pairs:
(93) Misyul (57) eSimone
(3) MacKinnon (32) Welinski
(6) White (58) Diotte
Goal:
(50) Daws 27:46 16 SA / 4GA
(1) Poulter 32:00 10 SA / 1GA
Scoring:
None
P.S. - Scratches:
Dylan Wendt
Jackson van de Leest
- Filmon (I'd guess he's not ready yet.)
- Vilen has arrived in town. Expect we won't see him unil at least next weekend after he gets some skating and pratice in.
- Parent was in a walking boot and suit next to Vilen during team introductions.
- Gambardella was also in a suit and is not available yet due to recovering from off season knee surgery.
The walking wounded and this was only Game 1.
Final score:
Syracuse 5 Utica Comets 0
Forwards:
(20) Willman (26) Schmelzer (24) Halonen
(39) Hardman (10) Dowling (25) Foote
(79) Laberge (16) Engaras (11) Legare
(15) Bowers (13) Malone (61) Stillman
D-Pairs:
(93) Misyul (57) eSimone
(3) MacKinnon (32) Welinski
(6) White (58) Diotte
Goal:
(50) Daws 27:46 16 SA / 4GA
(1) Poulter 32:00 10 SA / 1GA
Scoring:
None
P.S. - Scratches:
Dylan Wendt
Jackson van de Leest
- Filmon (I'd guess he's not ready yet.)
- Vilen has arrived in town. Expect we won't see him unil at least next weekend after he gets some skating and pratice in.
- Parent was in a walking boot and suit next to Vilen during team introductions.
- Gambardella was also in a suit and is not available yet due to recovering from off season knee surgery.
The walking wounded and this was only Game 1.
Last edited:
Misyul played with a lot of grit and energy. When a crunch played delivered a cheap shot on a Utica player Misyul stepped in with a rebuttal. Welinski also appears to be a good veteran pick up with the state of the defense.
Louskoolaid89
Let's Go!!!
- Oct 14, 2017
- 3,126
- 3,875
Zajacs Bowl Cut
Lets Go Baby
10/12/2024 Rochester Americans @ Utica Comets
Forwards:
19 Filmon 10 Dowling 11Legare
39 Hardman 26 Schmelzer 24 Halonen
79 Laberge 16 Engaras 13 Malone
20 Willman 15 Bowers 37 Wendt
D-Pairs:
93 Misyul 57 DeSimone
6 White 58 Diotte
3 MacKinnon 32 Welinski
50 Daws
Rochester strikes first at 4:07.
SOG 12 -2 Rochester 13 minutes to go.
The whole game after the first 2 minuters has been played in the Utica end.
Bowers to the Sin-Bin at 9:23. 2 for tripping. 1:28 to go.
SOG 15-2
Amerks get 2 for High Sticking. 4on4
Just like last night the Comets can't make a pass to save their asses . Constant turnovers.
Rochester strikes on the 4 on 4.
2-0 Amerks 11:04
Comets on the PP and the Amerks get back to back 2 on 1s. SHEESH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can only say the Comets just suck. Shots are now 16-2.
Comets 2nd shot was at 1:16 of the period. Comets get their rush broken up as soon as they cross the blueline with the puck. There is no offensive concept of any kind.
Hardman back to the sin-bin for his 2nd tripping penalty of the period.
TV TO
5:07 remaining.
Legare with a short handed chance but he's stripped from behind. Speed deficit is so obvious for this team. 54 to go on the PK.Amerks playing by themselves against a totally lost Comets team shift after shift.
TV TO
2:23
Only reason it's only 2 goals against is the failure of the Amerks to finish their plays, shooting wide, shots blocked, and pucks hitting Daws.
Stillman and Filmon instilling a llittle excitement, but can't get their shot attempts on the net.
66 seconds to go and Labege goes for high sticking.
Amerk goes straight up the middle all the way to the net with nobody paying an ounce of attention to him. Amerks failed to complete a pass. Comets have lost almost every faceoff in both ends of the ice.
Period ends and the Comets are serenaded off the ice by a chorus of boos. The screen puts up a Comets announcement - "Premium seats available"
There will be a lot more in a short order if this is the way this team is going to play.
Amazing how the Comets have blown their multitude of chances. The shots remained 16-2 over the last third of the period according to the scoreboard.
2-0 Amerks after 1.
Jason Shaya stated in his pregame that the Comets would have the advantage vs the Amerks because the Comets are more experienced veteran players while the Amerks are very young and less experienced so, the Comets would be able to have their way with them.
The guy makes iditoic statements like this every game before, during, and after. Most announcers give a home edge in their coverage, but this guy just layers on game after game with statement the Comets never back up.
By the 1:16 mark the Comets had the only 2 shots, Legare and Dowling. Incredibly they did not put another shot on net for the remainder of the period. Being outshot 16 -2.
Forwards:
19 Filmon 10 Dowling 11Legare
39 Hardman 26 Schmelzer 24 Halonen
79 Laberge 16 Engaras 13 Malone
20 Willman 15 Bowers 37 Wendt
D-Pairs:
93 Misyul 57 DeSimone
6 White 58 Diotte
3 MacKinnon 32 Welinski
50 Daws
Rochester strikes first at 4:07.
SOG 12 -2 Rochester 13 minutes to go.
The whole game after the first 2 minuters has been played in the Utica end.
Bowers to the Sin-Bin at 9:23. 2 for tripping. 1:28 to go.
SOG 15-2
Amerks get 2 for High Sticking. 4on4
Just like last night the Comets can't make a pass to save their asses . Constant turnovers.
Rochester strikes on the 4 on 4.
2-0 Amerks 11:04
Comets on the PP and the Amerks get back to back 2 on 1s. SHEESH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can only say the Comets just suck. Shots are now 16-2.
Comets 2nd shot was at 1:16 of the period. Comets get their rush broken up as soon as they cross the blueline with the puck. There is no offensive concept of any kind.
Hardman back to the sin-bin for his 2nd tripping penalty of the period.
TV TO
5:07 remaining.
Legare with a short handed chance but he's stripped from behind. Speed deficit is so obvious for this team. 54 to go on the PK.Amerks playing by themselves against a totally lost Comets team shift after shift.
TV TO
2:23
Only reason it's only 2 goals against is the failure of the Amerks to finish their plays, shooting wide, shots blocked, and pucks hitting Daws.
Stillman and Filmon instilling a llittle excitement, but can't get their shot attempts on the net.
66 seconds to go and Labege goes for high sticking.
Amerk goes straight up the middle all the way to the net with nobody paying an ounce of attention to him. Amerks failed to complete a pass. Comets have lost almost every faceoff in both ends of the ice.
Period ends and the Comets are serenaded off the ice by a chorus of boos. The screen puts up a Comets announcement - "Premium seats available"
There will be a lot more in a short order if this is the way this team is going to play.
Amazing how the Comets have blown their multitude of chances. The shots remained 16-2 over the last third of the period according to the scoreboard.
2-0 Amerks after 1.
Jason Shaya stated in his pregame that the Comets would have the advantage vs the Amerks because the Comets are more experienced veteran players while the Amerks are very young and less experienced so, the Comets would be able to have their way with them.
The guy makes iditoic statements like this every game before, during, and after. Most announcers give a home edge in their coverage, but this guy just layers on game after game with statement the Comets never back up.
By the 1:16 mark the Comets had the only 2 shots, Legare and Dowling. Incredibly they did not put another shot on net for the remainder of the period. Being outshot 16 -2.
Period 2 about to get under way. Can it get any worse or will the Comets recover from their drug induced stupor.
The 2nd starting just like the 1st.
Comets have killed the leftover penalty. The Engaras line puts on pressure but no shots on net.
15:59 to go.
Comets have pressured, but are still of the score sheet.
That ends that Willm,an gets a cross creace pass and buries it. 2-1 Amerks.
Comets keep buzzing
Now the Amerks come back and Daws shuts it down.
TV TO
13:24
to go
With icing and 12:18 to go in the 2nd the shots are 21-6.
11:48 to go 23-6.
Amerks come in 1 on 2. He goaes around the net and stuffs in a wraparound. Daws still leaning on the opposite post. Daws is not right in the head. That goal was inexcuseable.
TV TO
9:32 to go
SOG are 24-7 More than halfway through the game and they have yet to get 1o shots on goal.
Jobst and White drop "em. Even match both got a couple in.
7:50 to go
Helenius has a great pair of hands.
Comets to the PP. Rathbone gets 4 for high sticking. This is where I'm supposed to say " agreat chan ce to get baqck in this game.
TV TO
4:50 to go
Comet 2 rushes and can't get in,
Utica can't embrace good times. 40 seconds into the PP Hardman gets 4 for high sticking
4on4 for 3 mins 2 secs.
Comets pick up no one. One guy pressures the puck and the rest just stand ther watching.
Amerks score. Waved off. A high stick.
Utica chances are one and done. No accompaniment on the way to the net.
Comets 2 on 1. DeSimone is stopped and backhands the rebound wide.
0:Wraparound is stuffed acroos the net behind Houser but he kicked it by lifting his right leg up and mircaulously kicked it out of harms way.
The 2nd starting just like the 1st.
Comets have killed the leftover penalty. The Engaras line puts on pressure but no shots on net.
15:59 to go.
Comets have pressured, but are still of the score sheet.
That ends that Willm,an gets a cross creace pass and buries it. 2-1 Amerks.
Comets keep buzzing
Now the Amerks come back and Daws shuts it down.
TV TO
13:24
to go
With icing and 12:18 to go in the 2nd the shots are 21-6.
11:48 to go 23-6.
Amerks come in 1 on 2. He goaes around the net and stuffs in a wraparound. Daws still leaning on the opposite post. Daws is not right in the head. That goal was inexcuseable.
TV TO
9:32 to go
SOG are 24-7 More than halfway through the game and they have yet to get 1o shots on goal.
Jobst and White drop "em. Even match both got a couple in.
7:50 to go
Helenius has a great pair of hands.
Comets to the PP. Rathbone gets 4 for high sticking. This is where I'm supposed to say " agreat chan ce to get baqck in this game.
TV TO
4:50 to go
Comet 2 rushes and can't get in,
Utica can't embrace good times. 40 seconds into the PP Hardman gets 4 for high sticking
4on4 for 3 mins 2 secs.
Comets pick up no one. One guy pressures the puck and the rest just stand ther watching.
Amerks score. Waved off. A high stick.
Utica chances are one and done. No accompaniment on the way to the net.
Comets 2 on 1. DeSimone is stopped and backhands the rebound wide.
0:Wraparound is stuffed acroos the net behind Houser but he kicked it by lifting his right leg up and mircaulously kicked it out of harms way.
When nothing is going right you can't catch a break.
No Goal. That would have been a shortie.
:44 to go
2nd ends with the Amerks on top 3-1
SOG 11-10 Amerks.
2-period total 27-12 Rochester.
No Goal. That would have been a shortie.
:44 to go
2nd ends with the Amerks on top 3-1
SOG 11-10 Amerks.
2-period total 27-12 Rochester.
I'm back.
TV TO
8:45 to go. It's still 3-1 Rochester. Utica getting chances, but none very dangerous. Amerks trying to play shutdown which allows for the Comets to get into the zone, but the 5-man cluster is preventing and real scary chances.
The Comets are so slow that when they have a chance to break out with a man advantage the Amerks catch up and break things up before they even get into the Roch. end.
6:45 to go.
Shaya already talking about DiNeen pulling his keeper with lots of time to go.
TV TO
8:45 to go. It's still 3-1 Rochester. Utica getting chances, but none very dangerous. Amerks trying to play shutdown which allows for the Comets to get into the zone, but the 5-man cluster is preventing and real scary chances.
The Comets are so slow that when they have a chance to break out with a man advantage the Amerks catch up and break things up before they even get into the Roch. end.
6:45 to go.
Shaya already talking about DiNeen pulling his keeper with lots of time to go.
Amerks have speed. A single Amerk sprints the length of the ice. Daws smothers the effort, but Schmelzer gets 2 for hauling him down before he got a real good effort in alone.
Amerkscontrol the puck with lots of movement. Comets PK is
dead. It finally ends with Daws making a big save. Almost the entire PP in Utca's end. Inside 4 to go.
3:20 left and the Comets don't seem to have an answer. They can't even get up the ice. Rochester controlling the puck and the Comets can do nothing. 3 on 1 Amerks and white breaks it up comming back from behind. There has bee zero pressure from the Comets since the 4 minute mark.
1:57 left.
Daws can't get off becuase the puck is always in the Comets end He finally get loose with less than 2 minutes to go.
6on5 last minute of the game and a slow motion clear slides across the line.
4-1 Amerks and this one is over.
Comets go to 0-2 to start the season with 2 home ice losses.
Now Shaya explains he earlier thought the Comets would be able to control this game due to Rochester's youth. Now he says he wsn't counting on the speed of the youg Amerks. This willbe a serious defect in the Comets season. THEY ARE SLOW, as well as poor passers, inablitiy to individually move pasrt an opponent with the puck, a lot of one man selfish s**t, and a very low collective hockey IQ. Not sure that's due to their dumbness or the way DiNeen coaches. He has been here 4 years now and nothing has chnged in his coaching style. He can't in-game manage or make adjustments to anything the ooponents do. Most of them have just relied upon plugging up the middle and profit f the multiple tunovers the Comets while comit trying to get through the muddle turnovers. hen in the Comets zone teams are allowed to skate with no interference as the Comet stand around waiting for the opponent to screw up or for their goalie to bail them out for a whistle.
So, a s**t defnsive zone plan and seemingly no offensive zone plan where we see the Comets go with an every man for himself plan. Since they are slow afoot, can't stickhandle and can't get close enough to the net beofre losing the puck, their scoring chances are shots from wide angles, long shots taken before they lose the puck, or poor shots going wide, or the worst effort of forcing passes towards a covered mate or way to high, behind him, or into his body. All of this creates fast breakouts for the opponent which are often outnumbered rushes because the Comets are trapped, have fallen down, lost sticks, crashed into an opponent and can't get untangled in time to get back, and anything else to contrbute to a 60 minute cluster f**k! Then there's the lazy backchecker looking for a mistake that will give his mate a chance to give the coaster a chance to go back alone. Hasn't happened yet, but hey one never knows.
Amerkscontrol the puck with lots of movement. Comets PK is
dead. It finally ends with Daws making a big save. Almost the entire PP in Utca's end. Inside 4 to go.
3:20 left and the Comets don't seem to have an answer. They can't even get up the ice. Rochester controlling the puck and the Comets can do nothing. 3 on 1 Amerks and white breaks it up comming back from behind. There has bee zero pressure from the Comets since the 4 minute mark.
1:57 left.
Daws can't get off becuase the puck is always in the Comets end He finally get loose with less than 2 minutes to go.
6on5 last minute of the game and a slow motion clear slides across the line.
4-1 Amerks and this one is over.
Comets go to 0-2 to start the season with 2 home ice losses.
Now Shaya explains he earlier thought the Comets would be able to control this game due to Rochester's youth. Now he says he wsn't counting on the speed of the youg Amerks. This willbe a serious defect in the Comets season. THEY ARE SLOW, as well as poor passers, inablitiy to individually move pasrt an opponent with the puck, a lot of one man selfish s**t, and a very low collective hockey IQ. Not sure that's due to their dumbness or the way DiNeen coaches. He has been here 4 years now and nothing has chnged in his coaching style. He can't in-game manage or make adjustments to anything the ooponents do. Most of them have just relied upon plugging up the middle and profit f the multiple tunovers the Comets while comit trying to get through the muddle turnovers. hen in the Comets zone teams are allowed to skate with no interference as the Comet stand around waiting for the opponent to screw up or for their goalie to bail them out for a whistle.
So, a s**t defnsive zone plan and seemingly no offensive zone plan where we see the Comets go with an every man for himself plan. Since they are slow afoot, can't stickhandle and can't get close enough to the net beofre losing the puck, their scoring chances are shots from wide angles, long shots taken before they lose the puck, or poor shots going wide, or the worst effort of forcing passes towards a covered mate or way to high, behind him, or into his body. All of this creates fast breakouts for the opponent which are often outnumbered rushes because the Comets are trapped, have fallen down, lost sticks, crashed into an opponent and can't get untangled in time to get back, and anything else to contrbute to a 60 minute cluster f**k! Then there's the lazy backchecker looking for a mistake that will give his mate a chance to give the coaster a chance to go back alone. Hasn't happened yet, but hey one never knows.
This has all the makings of a very poor season as I have said since July when NJ didn't get any serious help for their farm. DeSimone is it and at that time he wasn't expected to be here anyways. Maybe Beckman can help out, but he hasn't even got here yet. To put pressure on him to be the answer would be ridiculous as he has never performed at a super star level in his hstory. Even if he was, one player can't fix this assemblange of bottom 6 plugs without any top shelf centers.
10/12/24 Rochester Americans at Utica Comets
Final score:
Rochester 4 Utica 1
Scoring;
Willman (1) from Wendt (1) and Bowers (1)
The Comets lone goal in their 1st 2 games of the season. They were goal starved last season, but his start is way below starvation.
Daws 39 SA /36 SVS/ 3 GA
Dineen went right back with him after a poor start on Friday. He was good tonight but 2 of the 3 were stinkers , especially the 3rd.. An Amerk, Isak Rosen, moving with the puck caused him to take a knee on the near side post, but when Rosen went past and behind the net he didn't move. When the guy came out on the other side and stuffed in an untested wraparound into the net. Nico was still on the others side.
SOG:
ROC - 16 11 13 - 40
UTC - 2 10 8 - 20
Comets were penalized 7 times to to he Amerks 4
Willman was given the 3rd star.
Final score:
Rochester 4 Utica 1
Scoring;
Willman (1) from Wendt (1) and Bowers (1)
The Comets lone goal in their 1st 2 games of the season. They were goal starved last season, but his start is way below starvation.
Daws 39 SA /36 SVS/ 3 GA
Dineen went right back with him after a poor start on Friday. He was good tonight but 2 of the 3 were stinkers , especially the 3rd.. An Amerk, Isak Rosen, moving with the puck caused him to take a knee on the near side post, but when Rosen went past and behind the net he didn't move. When the guy came out on the other side and stuffed in an untested wraparound into the net. Nico was still on the others side.
SOG:
ROC - 16 11 13 - 40
UTC - 2 10 8 - 20
Comets were penalized 7 times to to he Amerks 4
Willman was given the 3rd star.
This is not good news. I know there’s a bunch of injuries that have this lineup closer to ECHL than injured, but wow. We want the farm to play similarly to the big club - so speed and skill. Sounds like weaknesses right now in Riggieville. And maybe Rogalski has been with Daws too much
I did notice the other day before the season started that Vegas sports books have AHL odds, at least for odds to win the Calder Cup. Cleveland was the top team in the division followed by Syracuse then Rochester. Belleville-Toronto were tied 4-5 and Utica and Laval were tied for last place. Predicting the AHL is nearly impossible but Vegas views Utica as a bottom tier team like last year.
This team may be headed to the hockey version of the Chicago White sox season. And they expect people to pay to watch this???
You don't have to be more than familiar with the lineup and then compare it to the youth and skills of the rest and the prediction is easy to make. I posted back in July and then in August and finally in September, once this roster was put together that Utica would be battling to stay out of the cellar. Competing for the last playoff spot would be a major accomplishment.
Hey before the opening night DiNeen was on TV talking out of his ass. He said this season's team was much stronger than last and is more skilled and will be a very exciting team to watch .
Guess he has to try and convince the people who don't know the game that they should come out and pay their money to watch the show. He sounded like a carnival barker and that won't work with those of us who know the game and watch the s**t show he is sending out there.
Guadana
Registered User
Utica is a team without mostly any first line caliber players. Definitely without first line center. They have many injuries now.
Utica Comets @ Belleville Senators
Forwards:
(79) Laberge (16) Engaras (11) Legare
(20) Willman (26) Schmelzer (24) Halonen
(39) Hardman (15) Bowers (61) Stillman
(19) Filmon (10) Dowling (25) Foote
D-Pairs:
(3) Mackinnon (32) Welinski
(93) Misyul (57) DeSimone
(6) White (58) Diotte
Goal: (1) Poulter
Belleville scores 1st at 4:03
1-0
Crossbar for the Comets and the Sens come in strong.
Belleville with 3 shots from handshaking distance and Poulter had no help. He stopped the 1st 2, but the third went in.
2-0
Laberge goes with Hodgson at 8:54 Trying to wake up his mates. each get 5 for fighting.
Didn't work as Belleville gets their 3rd goal of the night.
at 10:03. Less than 2 minutes after the fight.
That's it for the 1st.
Belleville 3 - 0
SOG: 12-5
New game and the same plot. Comets outskated on every shift. Can't complete 2 passes on any rush. No extended pressure of any sort. Possession of the puck by any forward is less than 2 seconds before their is a Senator all over them.
In the other end the Sens have their way. The Comets are unable to dislodge any Sen from the puck. The Sens are passing the puck crisply and accurately. Comets often standing and watching since they can't keep up. I guess their idea is that standing in bunch is better than chasing the opponent. This team is actually this bad thus far in the season. 7 periods and 1 goal for. All 3 first periods vastly outshot and quickly behind.
I'll check back and see what's happened, but I can't make myself watch this s**tfest. DiNeen makes no adjustments and his teams since the end of the 1st season have been outskated and outplayed game after game. If this was NJ, he would be canned after this one. That's if he even managed to survive after last season.
The major responsibility for this terrible assemblage of a hockey team belongs to GM Fitzgerald. He has no concern about putting a competitive team on the ice. The Comets are merely a place to put his prospects of whom there are really nothing more than maybe 1 or 2 defenders and guys to stay active in case the Devils need call-ups. The acquisitions he has put here have been less talented than the one before annually.
This team won't be capable of matching the speed and skill sets of the much younger and much hungrier players on the AHL teams they will see all season. Their opponents are loaded with prospects and more guys who were also drafted by the parent club, but in spite of good play, have not managed to dent the big club's rosters.
There are no players outside of Misyul and Vilen (if he ever plays again) on D, Daws and Poulter in net, who may be dead before this season ends as they are under constant pressure, and I don't really see a single forward who would make any kind of impact on the Devils roster.
T
Forwards:
(79) Laberge (16) Engaras (11) Legare
(20) Willman (26) Schmelzer (24) Halonen
(39) Hardman (15) Bowers (61) Stillman
(19) Filmon (10) Dowling (25) Foote
D-Pairs:
(3) Mackinnon (32) Welinski
(93) Misyul (57) DeSimone
(6) White (58) Diotte
Goal: (1) Poulter
Belleville scores 1st at 4:03
1-0
Crossbar for the Comets and the Sens come in strong.
Belleville with 3 shots from handshaking distance and Poulter had no help. He stopped the 1st 2, but the third went in.
2-0
Laberge goes with Hodgson at 8:54 Trying to wake up his mates. each get 5 for fighting.
Didn't work as Belleville gets their 3rd goal of the night.
at 10:03. Less than 2 minutes after the fight.
That's it for the 1st.
Belleville 3 - 0
SOG: 12-5
New game and the same plot. Comets outskated on every shift. Can't complete 2 passes on any rush. No extended pressure of any sort. Possession of the puck by any forward is less than 2 seconds before their is a Senator all over them.
In the other end the Sens have their way. The Comets are unable to dislodge any Sen from the puck. The Sens are passing the puck crisply and accurately. Comets often standing and watching since they can't keep up. I guess their idea is that standing in bunch is better than chasing the opponent. This team is actually this bad thus far in the season. 7 periods and 1 goal for. All 3 first periods vastly outshot and quickly behind.
I'll check back and see what's happened, but I can't make myself watch this s**tfest. DiNeen makes no adjustments and his teams since the end of the 1st season have been outskated and outplayed game after game. If this was NJ, he would be canned after this one. That's if he even managed to survive after last season.
The major responsibility for this terrible assemblage of a hockey team belongs to GM Fitzgerald. He has no concern about putting a competitive team on the ice. The Comets are merely a place to put his prospects of whom there are really nothing more than maybe 1 or 2 defenders and guys to stay active in case the Devils need call-ups. The acquisitions he has put here have been less talented than the one before annually.
This team won't be capable of matching the speed and skill sets of the much younger and much hungrier players on the AHL teams they will see all season. Their opponents are loaded with prospects and more guys who were also drafted by the parent club, but in spite of good play, have not managed to dent the big club's rosters.
There are no players outside of Misyul and Vilen (if he ever plays again) on D, Daws and Poulter in net, who may be dead before this season ends as they are under constant pressure, and I don't really see a single forward who would make any kind of impact on the Devils roster.
T
2nd period
Sebrango scored the 4th Sen's goal at 7:01. He received a pass coming straight down the middle and uncontested was able to pick his spot and blew it past a helpless Poulter.
The Comets had a PP at 3:31 and again at 12:37 and came up empty on both.
However, Colton whiote sent a wrister through a maze from the blueline at 9:19 for the Comets first score of the night.
4-1
Halonen and Hodgson dropped 'em at 16:04. It was a match Halonen would have been better off not getting into, but Hodgson had unloaded a huge check behinds the net and halonen took exception. The Sens acquired Hodgson for his physicality. He hits like a runaway freight train and handles himself very well in any alter.cation.
At 16:28 the Comets drew another PP.
After difficulty getting into the Sen's end on several occasions, theyb finally set up and Dowling fed a cross ice pass to Foote on the righ boards. He looked at the net and then sent a pass right back to Dowling low on the left side and he scored before Merilainen could get back.
4-2
Misyul went for slashing at 18:51. The Comets held on until the period ended. However, after the horn MacKinnon got 2 for cross-checking.
Sebrango scored the 4th Sen's goal at 7:01. He received a pass coming straight down the middle and uncontested was able to pick his spot and blew it past a helpless Poulter.
The Comets had a PP at 3:31 and again at 12:37 and came up empty on both.
However, Colton whiote sent a wrister through a maze from the blueline at 9:19 for the Comets first score of the night.
4-1
Halonen and Hodgson dropped 'em at 16:04. It was a match Halonen would have been better off not getting into, but Hodgson had unloaded a huge check behinds the net and halonen took exception. The Sens acquired Hodgson for his physicality. He hits like a runaway freight train and handles himself very well in any alter.cation.
At 16:28 the Comets drew another PP.
After difficulty getting into the Sen's end on several occasions, theyb finally set up and Dowling fed a cross ice pass to Foote on the righ boards. He looked at the net and then sent a pass right back to Dowling low on the left side and he scored before Merilainen could get back.
4-2
Misyul went for slashing at 18:51. The Comets held on until the period ended. However, after the horn MacKinnon got 2 for cross-checking.
3rd opens with Belleville on a 2-man advantage.
That didn't take long as the Sens score 5 on 3 at 0:37.
5-2.
Sens still on the PP now 5 on 4.
Comets kill this one.
Hodgson was ejected after his 2nd fight in the 2nd. 2 fights in the same game calls for a game misconduct.
Schmelzer and Matinpalo go together. Ryan 2 for Holding and Matinpalo 2 for interference.
4 on 4.
Sens are all over the Comets 4 on 4 ands Poulter is the only reason there's no goal. Comets never escaped their own end for the 4on4.
The Sen's crowd stands during TOs. interesting
Comets to the PP again at 13:09.
PP #5
Foote stopped on a cross ice one timer. Real good glove grab.
The Comets score on the PP again. Willman hits the far from the left side and Halonen scoopes up the rebound in the high slot and shoots it back at the net and SCORES.
5-3 PPG 8:23
Teams trade 3rd period goals.
Sens seem a little disorganized.
Foote in front alone and sends it over the net and out of play.
TV TO
9:13
Sens look like their coach wants them to shut it down and that doesn't seem to be their forte.
1-2-2
Exactly what they are trying to do.
Sens can't play this style. The Comets and Hardman scores from right in front after a pass btween the defender's legs by Bowers.
PBP guy is saying the team needs to learn how to close out games they lead by 2 or more goals.
They have let the Comets right back into this game. I don't get why coaches consider going into a shell in games they own only to allow the opponent to come back on them.
Now with a single goal lead the Sens are playing like they were when leading. The Comets having lots of trouble even getting a stick on the puck let alone mounting an attack.
The Comets had no business making a game out of this one, but Bellville's coach decided they needde to shut it down. A young team playing very well when allowed to go, go, go suddenly asked to go all D. It's obviously not their game.
One more mistake and we could have OT. Nice move coach. DiNeen does this as well.Inside 2 minutes and they are doing it again.
Poulter to the bench.
It's all Comets and the keeper is standing on his head. 4 blocked shots by Jan Jenik as well.
Time runs out and the Sens hold on
The Belleville Senators made this game hard on themselves.
Final score -
Belleville 5 Utica 4
SOG:
UTC - 5 6 12 - 23
BEL - 12 11 5 - 28
Scoring:
White (1) from Diotte (1), and Foote (1)
Dowling (1) from Foote (2) and Welinski (1) PPG
Halonen (1) fro Willman (1) and DeSimone (1)
Hardman (1) from Shane Bowers (2) and Chase Stillman (1)
Poulter -
28 SA/ 5GA/ 23 SVS
Comets in Toronto tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 pm vs the Marlies.
That didn't take long as the Sens score 5 on 3 at 0:37.
5-2.
Sens still on the PP now 5 on 4.
Comets kill this one.
Hodgson was ejected after his 2nd fight in the 2nd. 2 fights in the same game calls for a game misconduct.
Schmelzer and Matinpalo go together. Ryan 2 for Holding and Matinpalo 2 for interference.
4 on 4.
Sens are all over the Comets 4 on 4 ands Poulter is the only reason there's no goal. Comets never escaped their own end for the 4on4.
The Sen's crowd stands during TOs. interesting
Comets to the PP again at 13:09.
PP #5
Foote stopped on a cross ice one timer. Real good glove grab.
The Comets score on the PP again. Willman hits the far from the left side and Halonen scoopes up the rebound in the high slot and shoots it back at the net and SCORES.
5-3 PPG 8:23
Teams trade 3rd period goals.
Sens seem a little disorganized.
Foote in front alone and sends it over the net and out of play.
TV TO
9:13
Sens look like their coach wants them to shut it down and that doesn't seem to be their forte.
1-2-2
Exactly what they are trying to do.
Sens can't play this style. The Comets and Hardman scores from right in front after a pass btween the defender's legs by Bowers.
PBP guy is saying the team needs to learn how to close out games they lead by 2 or more goals.
They have let the Comets right back into this game. I don't get why coaches consider going into a shell in games they own only to allow the opponent to come back on them.
Now with a single goal lead the Sens are playing like they were when leading. The Comets having lots of trouble even getting a stick on the puck let alone mounting an attack.
The Comets had no business making a game out of this one, but Bellville's coach decided they needde to shut it down. A young team playing very well when allowed to go, go, go suddenly asked to go all D. It's obviously not their game.
One more mistake and we could have OT. Nice move coach. DiNeen does this as well.Inside 2 minutes and they are doing it again.
Poulter to the bench.
It's all Comets and the keeper is standing on his head. 4 blocked shots by Jan Jenik as well.
Time runs out and the Sens hold on
The Belleville Senators made this game hard on themselves.
Final score -
Belleville 5 Utica 4
SOG:
UTC - 5 6 12 - 23
BEL - 12 11 5 - 28
Scoring:
White (1) from Diotte (1), and Foote (1)
Dowling (1) from Foote (2) and Welinski (1) PPG
Halonen (1) fro Willman (1) and DeSimone (1)
Hardman (1) from Shane Bowers (2) and Chase Stillman (1)
Poulter -
28 SA/ 5GA/ 23 SVS
Comets in Toronto tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 pm vs the Marlies.
