11/27/24
Providensc Bruins @ Utica Comets
Final score:
Utica 5 Providence 3
SOG:
PRO - 14 4 9 = 27
UTC - 6 12 6 = 24
Scoring:
Gambardella (1) from Schmelzer (3) and Halonen (3)
Malone (2) from Beckman (7) and Hardman (2)
Parent (1) from Hardman (3) and White (7)
Vilen (1) from Beckman (8) and Engaras (2)
Hardman (5) from Vilen (3)
Daws - 27 SA/ 3GA/ 24 SVS
It was a night of 1st goals:
Gambardella in his 4th GP. + 1A + 2Pts
Parent in his 5th GP. + 2A = 3Pts
Vilen in his 10th GP. + 3A = 4Pts
Hardman after missing 8 games with a hip flexor and an injury to an AC in his shoulder had a big weekend with 4 goals and an assist earning him AHL forward of the week honors. He followed that up tonight with 1 goal and 2 more assists. For those having trouble with math that's 5G/3A for 8Pts. After having gone pointless in his first 5 games, these 3 games have given him 8 PTs in 8GP and moved him into a tie for 5th place in Comets scoring.
Casey was shut out tonight but he still leads the Comets in points with 13 in 12GP. #1
Beckman's 2 assists have given him 11Pts in 11GP. #2
Halonen picked up an assist to give him 10Pts in 16GP. #3
Foote is in NJ, but still sits with 9Pts in 12GP.
Aside from White's 8Pts in 16GPwhich has him tied for 5th with Hardman the Comets individual scoring drops off very fast.
Misyul and Mackinnon who play as a pair are pointless for the season. Misyul is in a tough spot trying to carry Will.
Laberge joins them also with 0PTS.
And Bertuzzi now with 6GP is also pointless.
Filmon (Adir) also had failed to hit the scoresheet in 8GP.
Welinski (released) was 1Pt in 8GP.
Nemec 1Pt/7GP
Diotte (Adir) 1Pt/5GP
DeSimone (NJ) 2Pts in 9GP
Wendt (Adir) 2Pts in 5GP
Stillman 2Pts in 14GP
Legare 2Pts 16GP (both goals)
Malone 2 PTs in 13GP (both goals)
Gambardella 2Pts in 4GP (just back from preseason knee surgery)
Bowers 3Pts in 13GP
Engaras 3Pts in 8GP
Parent 3Pts in 5GP (just back from preseason foot injury)
Willman 4Pts in 16GP
Vilen 4Pts in 10GP
Dowling (in NJ) 4Pts in 6GP
Schmelzer 5Pts in 16GP
The Comets key reason for their 3 game streak has been a commitment to hounding the puck. Wherever it goes to an opponent that guy is picked up almost, if not as soon, as the puck arrives. They are bodying their checks.
They are also head manning the puck whenever possible. It's quick passes with what seems to be coached patterns all the way up the ice. It has given them control of the puck much better than the previous debacle. I think Parent is having an effect on their play.
I also think the return of Parent and Gambardella has been a boost to their intensity.
The line of Hardman and Beckman centered by Parent has breathed a level of success that seems to be catching on with the rest of them.
They have a renewed energy.
They are playing with confidence they neer showed under DiNeen.
Being behind or giving up a lead hasn't caused them to deflate as they did almost every game with DiNeen.
This is still not a good hockey team, but they can give any team they come up against a game if they play with this intensity.
It reminds me of Green's teams in Utica. They played a system that is very hard to maintain for long periods of time. Attack trhe puck all over the ice. Don't give your opponent an inch to breath, In your face hockey. It's a system that works for as long as a full team can keep it up. It works for short spurts, a few games. Then they burn out and games are lost untill they get a break in the schedule, refuel and go on the attack again. They have to believe in the system, believe in each other, and believe in themselves. It is an exhausting procedure, but it can win alot of games. The question was always will it win enough and can they remain healthy enough to make it through a long season. Injuries can kill things very quickly as incoming ECHL players have a hard time adjusting to the game.
It's fun right now, but you have to wonder if it's a real thing or just a little spurt before the bottom drops out again. Schmelzer left during the 3rd period, He was hurt earlier and struggled to get to the bench. He returned to action and looked okay, but somethin g wasn't right and he left. I didn't see him come back. They need him. Right now the center position is being held together with kite string and if he's out Parent, who has been a huge inspiration in the middle in the last 3 contests, is all that's left. Engaras nad Malone are playing their best, but it won't be enough to carry the load.
Their curent roster is 1 extra D - Jackson van de Leest up from Adir.
2 extra forwards scratched tonight:
- Jace Isley up from Adir
- Chase Stillman. Don't know why he was out. Healthy scracth or injured, but his replacement was Tag Bertuzzi up from Adir.
This roster is as thin as tissue paper and has quite a bit of cheap wrapping paper already playing.
We'll take what we see for now, as it beats what we had before the DiNeen firing. It took Parent a few games to put his stamp on the team, but so far it's been an improvement.
FITZ, MAC, and whomever else exists with the power PLEASE do something to help these guys out. Why is no team going after Rem Pitlik? Is he hurt? Is he poison? Has he hung 'em up? The guy has great AHL numbers and is an unsigned 27-yr-old CENTER!!!!!!
