2024-25 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

Bad Goalie

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So the young defenders are fairly talented. They should be well above the average. the only dud in the group is MacKinnon. But they don't seem to be doing much to lift the play of the team other than Casey. To me this is almost as disappointing as the team not adding real centers.
Due to the lack of good D-coverage from the forwards lots of the time, just stopping the opponent in their own end is their #1 priority.

If you check out the Comets scores in their games you will discover their other problem you can hang on the forwrds, they DON"T SCORE GOALS!
 
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Hisch13r

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The Comets recalled Jackson van de Leest from Adirondack yesterday. Hope that doesn't mean someone is down. Maybe just because they are in Cleveland tonight and tomorrow they wanted a couple extra D.

Casey
Nemec
DeSimone
Misyul
Vilen
MacKinnon

Osipov
van de Leest

Can't see a need for either of them on the roster, but taking both of them to Cleveland doesn't make sense.

Any idea why Casey's out tonight?

 
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Bad Goalie

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12/18/24
Utica Comets at Cleveland Monsters

Forwards:
(34) Beckman (26) Schmelzer (25) Foote
(79) Laberge (15) Bowers (11) Legare
(10) Dowling (39) Hardman (24) Halonen
(5) Gambardella (67) Parent (61) Stillman

(93) Misyul (57) DeSimone
(83) Vilen (17) Nemec
(3) MacKinnon (44) Osipov

Goal - (1) Poulter

Cleveland scored 1st on a wraparound into the net around Poulter's right post.
Hunter McKown
13:49

1-0 Cleveland

End of Period 1
1-0 Cleveland
SOG:
12-11 Utica

Cleveland with the only PP of the period killed by the Comets.
Legare had a SH breakaway but he was stopped.
 
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Bad Goalie

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Period 2

Beckman S_______C_______O_______R__________E____________S

He has his stick knocked out of his hands inside the attacking blue line. He chased the puck into the neutral zone and kicked it to a mate.
He then chased the play back up ice into the Utica zone to defend without a stick. He set up at the middle of the left circle and the puck came out to him off the right side of the net and he moved with it soccer style and Bowers took it from him at the blueline.
Bowers moved up the ice with Foote on his right. Beckman skated with them on Bowers left. As he sprinted past the bench he grabbed a stick being offered off the bench as he raced by. He joined the rush moving at full speed. Bowers dished the puck to Foote as they crossed the blueline and Foote pulled up and sent a pass cross ice to Beckman on the rush and Beckmam scored from the dot on the move.

G-----O-------A------L!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and what a goal it was.

Wait a minute. The refs have gathered. Never a good sign.
They went into the scorer's area to look at the replay.

The puck slipped between the keeper's left arm and body and fell to the ice across the line. It hit the ice and bounced back out.

The goal is good and the game is tied at 1.

Beckman from Foote and Bowers at
1:07

1-1

Legare goes with Butler and he lost it decisively. They almost went in the first and postponed it until later. The play was up the ice when the whistle went and they were facing off at center ice. So they found a spot to take up their appointment.
5 each for fighting.

G___________________O_______________A_________________L!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beckman again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A breakaway from the offensive blueline.

Foote hit him in stride with a pass from inside the Comets blueline along the boards. He went straight down the middle and shot in stride from between the hashmarks beating him cleanly on the blocker side.

Beckman from Foote at
6:17

2-1 Utica

The Monster tie it up.
Rocco Grimaldi at 10:14.

2-2

2nd Period ends
2-2
SOG:
14-11 Utica
2 period total:
26-22 Utica
 

Bad Goalie

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Period 3

Bowers hits the post after a turnover at 2:20.

At 7:40 the Comets have had the edge with a 6-2 SOG advantage, but Sawchenko has stood tall. He was beat by Bowers but the puck hit the post.

Osipov is a physical D-man. He hands out checks whenever the opportunity is there. He is not a good skater (better than van de Leest). He has one thought in mind when he gets the puck, PASS IT! He seems to have no desire to comit an error while carrying the puck.

Dowling put on an exhibtion the shift before the TO. He carried the puck around the zone from the leftside all around the rink up to the rightr side blueline. Out maneuvered a challenge and went avback down again and around the net and came back up to the blueline and passed it to Nemec who ended the threat.

Monsters get a shot and Poulter holds on at 8:01.
SOG are 8-3 Utica.

TV TO
9:36 to go

8:56 to go and the shots are 33-25 Comets.

Monsters miss on a 2on1. Grimaldi shot it wide.

Mateychuk shoots and Poulter makes another stop and holds on at 13:01.

Hardman____________________________________SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cross ice pass from Bowers to Hardman all alone just off the left goal post and he gets an open side for a short shot into the net.
Comets take the lead.

Hardman from Bowers and Nemec
13:14
3-2 Utica

Don't try to play a shutdown game here. This is the #1 team in the Division. Keep putting on the pressure but be wise.

Get it out and get it deep.

TV TO
5:59 to go

Misyul lays big hit on Joe Butler. LaBate objects and they go. Misyul handles himself well. They are broken up and led to the sin bin. They will be sent to the locker room.

Meanwhile back at the ranch..........
Halonen and McCue start yapping. The gloves are dropped and away they go toe to toe.

All 4 get 5 for fighting.

Halonen and McCue get a 10 minute game misconduct for a secondary altercation.
LaBate gets 2 for roughing which should have been 2 for starting it.

Comets go to the PP at 16:51.

1:26 to go.

Back to 5 on 5 .

1 minute to go. 6 on 5 a keeper goes to the bench.

Puck out of play with :30 to go.
TO Cleveland.

Here we go. This one is not over yet!

Comets get it out twice and it's over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comets win it 3-2!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Bad Goalie

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12/18/24
Utica Comets at Cleveland Monsters

Final score -
Utica 3 Cleveland 2

SOG:
UTC - 12 14 9 = 35
CLE - 11 11 8 = 30

PP:
Both teams 0/1

Scoring:
Beckman (5) from Foote (8) and DeSimone (3)
Beckman (6) from Foote (9)
Hardman (8) from Bowers (4) and Nemec (4)

Poulter - SA 30/ GA 2/ SVS 28

3 ***s
#3 - Mike Hardman (Utica Comets) 1 G-GWG
#2 - Nolan Foote (Utica Comets) 2 A
#1 - Adam Beckman (Utica Comets) 2 G

Comets end their 3-game losing streak.
6- 13-1-2

The Comets were the better team tonight against the North Division's #1 team.
The Monsters held their own and forced the Comets to play their best game of the season, which they did.

Utica appeared to have worked hard after having played only one game since 12/6 and that was a 3-2 loss in Syracuse on the 14th. That's 11 open days. They came out working their asses off and didn't stop until it was over.
They actually executed face off plays.
Their breakout was quick and if nothing was there it was quickly out of the zone and attck whomever got to it first.
There were very few instances of Cleveland dominating puck possession in the Comets end.
There weren't shots coming from guys standing alone to receive passes and fire at the net unmolested from short distances like we have seen all season.

They attacked the puck in all 3 zones causing lots of turnovers and bad passes.

They shot the puck from everywhere. Wish the AHL recorded scoring chances because they had a s**tload. They got lucky on several Monster chances that missed the net, but also had their own fair share of the same.

They were physical from start to finish.

They were quick to get the puck out of their zone.

They forechecked and backchecked with a ferocity that I haven't seen this season.

They were rewarded for all of their efforts.

Would dearly love to see that kind of effort on home ice.

Next up. Right back in Cleveland tomorrow at 7 p.m.
 

Bad Goalie

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12/18/2024 - NONE
Apparently Casey has an upper body injury per the Rome Sentinel and will be out for weeks.
That will put Osipov in the lineup fro some time. The only other option would be to move MacKinnon or Vilen to the right side and play van de Leest on the left.

Osipov is the lesser of 2 evils.

Dowling made the trek from New Jersey to Cleveland and played well for the Comets last night. Lazar played well for NJ, but his knee is "angry" and Keefe says they are looking to shut him down until after the Holidays.

Dowling was right back on the plane and will likely play for the Devils tonight. That's a lot of work for the man. 3 games in 3 nights with 2 trips to and from Cleveland, Ohio.

Engaras probably back in for the Comets tonight even though Dowling was listed as a LW. So, that means they used 4 centers without him allowing for a stronger lineup with Dowling out on the wing. Don't think they have another LW to play where Dowling did so, Parent will have to shuffle his lineup once again.

I'm sure Dowling returning was an uplift for the team. Let's hope his quick departure doesn't create a downturn. They played their best game of the season last night and I'm pretty sure that the 1st place Monsters will not take kindly to a loss to their Division's cellar dweller and the #29 team in the entire league (3 points above the AHL cellar). I look for a very different Monsters team with a much different state of mind. The Comets better be ready right out of the gate or this one could get ugly early.
 
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My3Sons

Nobody told me there'd be days like these...
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Apparently Casey has an upper body injury per the Rome Sentinel and will be out for weeks.
That will put Osipov in the lineup fro some time. The only other option would be to move MacKinnon or Vilen to, the right side and play van de Leest on the left.

Osipov is the lesser of 2 evils.

Dowling made the trek form Jersey to Cleveland and played well for the Comets last night. Lazar played well for NJ, but his knee is angry and Keefe says they are looking to shut him down until after the Holidays.

Dowling was back on the plane and will likely play for the Devils tonight. That's a lot of work for the man. 3 games in 3 nights with 2 trips to and from Cleveland, Ohio.

Engaras probably back in for the Comets tonight even though Dowling was listed as a LW.
You'd think someone would play 6 games in 3 days if it meant they could get out of Cleveland.
 

Bad Goalie

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You'd think someone would play 6 games in 3 days if it meant they could get out of Cleveland.
LOl!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on. You could spend a lot of time in the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". Bet you could dredge up a lot of old times and memories there. I'm older than you so I'd have even more. Any of the early Rock and Roll stuff sucks me right in and it carries on through the 60's and early 70's before my senses calm down and I "Second my emotions", but move on.

I mean I listen to Smokey's discography alone for days. Do you remember the ad where the father yells, "Turn that noise down!" and the kid answers back with a heartfelt emotional response, "But dad, it's Smokey!"

I made comments of that nature to my C&W crazed father for a good many years until I got out from under his roof. I still had to return there for 5 summers during my college years. My mother bought me "The Beatles", the double white album for the 2nd Christmas back from school. I played it on the living room stereo and dad sat there through the whole thing. Amazingly he said, "I guess those guys really are good."



 
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My3Sons

Nobody told me there'd be days like these...
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LOl!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on. You could spend a lot of time in the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". Bet you could dredge up a lot of old times and memories there. I'm older than you so I'd have even more. Any of the early Rock and Roll stuff sucks me right in and it carries on through the 60's and early 70's before my senses calm down and I "Second my emotions", but move on.
Actually I would love to go to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. So do you recall the actual first breakthrough of rock and roll? Was it Elvis or Bill Haley?
 

Bad Goalie

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Jan 2, 2014
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LOl!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on. You could spend a lot of time in the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". Bet you could dredge up a lot of old times and memories there. I'm older than you so I'd have even more. Any of the early Rock and Roll stuff sucks me right in and it carries on through the 60's and early 70's before my senses calm down and I "Second my emotions", but move on.




Actually I would love to go to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. So do you recall the actual first breakthrough of rock and roll? Was it Elvis or Bill Haley?

Bill Haley and His Comets.1955

Elvis was right on his tail (1956) along with others others (Carl Perkins, Conway Twitty, the Dixie Cups, Howlin" Wolf, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison) who recorded at the Sun Records small studio under the control of Sam Phillips.

Buddy Holly was in on this time frame but did not record at Sun. He opened for Elvis a few times and Bill Haley. Holly recorded in a small studio owned and run by Norman Petty, who became his manager. Petty presented the Demos to Brunswick Records and nation wide releases followed and Holly shot onto the charts (1957). There were a lot of new artists under the label of Rock and Roll. Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper were among them. The rest IS history.
 
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My3Sons

Nobody told me there'd be days like these...
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Bill Haley and His Comets.1955

Elvis was right on his tail (1956) along with others others (Carl Perkins, Conway Twitty, the Dixie Cups, Howlin" Wolf, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison) who recorded at the Sun Records small studio under the control of Sam Phillips.

Buddy Holly was in on this time frame but did not record at Sun. He opened for Elvis a few times and Bill Haley. Holly recorded in a small studio owned and run by Norman Petty, who became his manager. Petty presented the Demos to Brunswick Records and nation wide releases followed and Holly shot onto the charts (1957). There were a lot of new artists under the label of Rock and Roll. Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper were among them. The rest IS history.
Buddy Holly was backed by.....the Crickets

in 1960 there was a group calling themselves.....the Silver Beetles that was playing gigs in Liverpool. I wonder if there was any influence?



You tell me.....
 

Bad Goalie

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Buddy Holly was backed by.....the Crickets

in 1960 there was a group calling themselves.....the Silver Beetles that was playing gigs in Liverpool. I wonder if there was any influence?



You tell me.....

Holly influenced so many stars over history and still does The Beatles loved him. Tom Petty and Jeff Lynn join the mix.

The Beatles cover of "Words of Love" and Petty's "Not Fade Away" are great.
 
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Bad Goalie

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Jan 2, 2014
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12/19/24
Utica Comets at Cleveland Monsters

Forwards:
(79) Laberge (16) Engaras (11) Legare
(5) Gambardella (15) Bowers (61) Stillman
(34) Beckman (26 (Schmelzer (25) Foote
(39) Hardman (67) Parent (24) Halonen

D-Pairs:
(3) MacKinnon (17) Nemec
(93) Misyul (57) De Simone
(55) van de Leest (44) Osipov

Goal - (50) Daws

Period 1
Monsters strike first. Luca Del Bel Belluz scores on the 1st shot of the game.
2:09
1-0 Cleveland

Osipov and van de Leest on for the Comets. The goal was a 2 on 1 rush.

Comets PK successful after Willman was called for tripping.

33 seconds later the Monsters score again.

Denton Mateychuk
at 11:13
2-0 Monsters

Osipov and van de Leest on once again.

SOG are 11-3 Monsters
Unlike last night the Monsters have open players in the slot and off to the sides of the net at the bottom of the circles.
The Comets are skating in mud. Not creating anything. This is the polar opposite Comets of the team that played here last night. Apparently they are satisfied with a split in the back to back.

The Comets best chances in the first were a SH chance by DeSimone, a tip in front by Beckman, MacKinnon wrister that hit the post (may have been tipped),

Osipov was called for slashing at 19:38. They survived to the end of the preiod. Will open the 2nd with 1:38 left to kill.

Period 1 comes to an end.
2-0 Monsters
SOG are 12/7 Cleveland
 

Bad Goalie

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Jan 2, 2014
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Period 2
The 1:38 wasn't killed off.

Wolansky hits the post.
Denton Mateychuk scores his 2nd in the opening minute of the 2nd. Goal was on a wrister through a maze from the top of the circle.

Mateychuk at
:57
3-0 Cleveland

Comets get 1 with a PP goal by Willman. Willman has been invisible for a long time. This is only his 2nd of the season.


Comets get a PP as Butler is called for slashing at 4:16.

Comets have gone nowhere with this PP. :23 top go

Willman S----C------O------R------E------S!
This one will be one Cajan would like back. The shot came from the center of the ice halfway between the circles and the blueline. It was a wrister and it went right through him.

This was Willman's 1st goal since game 2. went 18 without 1 and gets his 2nd in the 19th game since goal #1. He is supposed to be one of the Comets that was signed to provide offense.

Willman from Halonen - a PPG
5:56
3-1 Monsters

After the Comets goal the Monsters owned the ice. They cashed in with a goal by Gavin Brindley.

Brindley at
9:46
4-1 Monsters

Max McCue and Nolan Foote mucked it up at the end of the period and both got 2 for roughing at 20:00.

Period ends with Monsters up 4-1.
SOG 14-11 Monsters
2-period total:
26-18 Cleveland
 
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Bad Goalie

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Jan 2, 2014
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Period 3
Comets behind the 8 ball as the period begins. @0 minutes to go and trailing by 3. If you ask me their chances, I would say highly unlikely.

Daws is not good with the puck. He throws it in one direction or the other from behind the net and often fails to look first. Thus, turns it over a lot. He has done it so often that when he comes out of the net at home there are fans yelling, "Stay in the net!"

Schmelzer gets 2 for Cross-Checking at 6:56.


With Schmelzer still in the box Bowers gets 2 for Slashing at 7:39 and has to mouth off and gets 2 more for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

5 on 3 for the Monsters for over 1 minute.

Schmelzer is out and they still have almost 3 to go.

Ist Bowers Penalty is over.

Working on the 2nd

Sillinger a wrister from the high slot with traffic in front and Daws is beat on the blocker side.

Gambrell at 10:35.
5-1 Monsters.

:30 seconds later the Monsters score again. van de Leest in front tied up with the goal scorer but left his stick untended and he slid the pass on the ice past Daws on his blocker side. Terrible net front play by van de Leest.

Pearson at
11:06
6-1 Cleveland

Lots of nonsense going on after the goal.
Laberge got 2 for roughing and a misconduct
Ceulemans got 2 for roughing. Then he got 10 for continuing the altercation.
Schmelzer got 10 for arguing with the BS non calls all period and the even worse the BS calls the Comets were called on.

Parent serving the minor to Laberge as the Monster end up with another PP out of all that nonsense.
All of these penalties called at 11:06.

Now the Monsters are called for too many men ending their PP.

So the Comets get a short PP as parent returns to the ice and get nothing out of it. Not even a shot.

McCue gets 2 for interference at 14:19. Adam Beckman gets the Comets lone shot on the PP. They were in control for the 1st minute with no shots. PP ends wih little to show for it.


With 19:07 left LaBate gets 2 for slashing. The Comets bench picks up a bench penalty and Stillman serves it.

It's finally over.
SOG -
12-4 Cleveland

Final score -
6-1 Cleveland

SOG:
38-22 Cleveland

Comets lone goal:
Willman (2) from Halonen (6) PPG

Comets now 6-14-1-2
 

Guttersniped

Satan’s Wallpaper
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Dec 20, 2018
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This season has been a bit of a struggle for Adirondack, compared to last year’s dream season, but one bright spot is rookie goalie David Fessenden.

Tired: He’s 2-1-0 with a .933 SV 1.93 GAA

Wired: He had a goalie fight last night where he completely smoked the Reading (Philly’s affiliate) goalie.

That’s Kevin Petruzzelli he’s pummeling, Detroit’s 2017 3rd Rd pick (#88) who signed an 2 year ELC with Toronto, out of Quinnipiac, in 2022. He signed with Lehigh Valley this season.

 

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