2024-25 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

[Bad Goalie]

1/3/2025 Lehigh Valley Phantoms @ Utica Comets

Final score _
Lehigh Valley 4 Utica Comets 2

Another loss for the Comets.
Record now stands at 7-16-3-2. 18 points in 28 GP. Only Henderson with 16 and Manitoba with 15 are worse.

Comets have only won 1 game at home. Have to wonder just how long the fan base can hang in there.

There just doesn't look to be any more this team can do. They fight hard every game, but there just isn't enough talent to make things any better. Team averages just a hair over 2 goals/game having scored 60 in 28 games. That's tied with Manitoba for worst in nthe league. The losses will continue to pile up if that's the best they can do offensively.

Scoring:
Beckman (7) from Stillman (3)
Schmelzer (4) from Vilen (4)

SOG:
LV - 13 6 4 = 23
UTC - 8 4 10 = 22

PP:
Both teams 0/4

Next up for the Comets are the Belleville Senators at Utica 7 pm tomorrow (1/4/25).

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Utica f***ing sucks lol

 

[Bad Goalie]

1/4/2025
Belleville Senators at Utica Comets

Forwards:
(25) Foote (26) Schmelzer (20) Willman
(39) Hardman (67) Parent (34) Beckman
(15) Bowers (61) Stillman (11) Legare
(5) Gambardella (13) Malone (24) Halonen

D-Pairs:
(93) Misyul (44) Osipov
(3) MacKinnon (83) Vilen
(6) White (17) Nemec

Period 1
Parent goes for Hooking
1:33
Osipov shoots it out of play.
Osipov Delay of game 2:15 Comets down 5 on 3.

Wyatt Bongiovanni scores.
3:29
5 on 3 PP goal.
1-0 Belleville

Hayden Hodgson scores at 16:56
2-0 Belleville

Ist is over.
2-0 Belleville

SOG
9-5 Belleville

Period 2
Comets start the period on the PK.
Osipov is still in the box for 1:51

Wyatt Bongiovanni scores.
It's a PP goal and his 2nd PP goal of the game.
1:24
3-0 Belleville

Jan Jenik scores
6:18
4-0 Belleville

That's it for Poulter.
Brodeur up from Adirondack will replace Isaac. Not an easy thing to do. He's cold and unprepared. He backed up last night and Poulter was very good. I am sure he had no expectations of actually playing tonight, but welcome to the Aud. Good luck!

That didn't take long. 1:26 after Brodeur took the crease Angus Crookshank scores goal #5 for the Sens.

Angus Crookshank
7:44
5-0 Belleville

Comets can't escape the 2nd without giving up another. Guenette is allowed to walk off the right wing and score unimpeded.

Maxence Guenette
18:51
6-0 Belleville

The Comets have done very little to defend in their own end and both Poulter and Brodeur have been left up to their own devices.

Well the Comets at least won't be shut out as Gambardella works hard and earns one for himself. A backhander while crossing in front.

Joe Gambardella
19:49
6-1 Belleville

The 2nd period mercifully comes to an end. It has to be one of if not their worst period of the season. I don't mean just because they gave up 4 goals against, but by the way they have played.

SOG:
14-8 Belleville
2-period total 23-13 Belleville

Period 3
I have no fantasies of the Comets coming back to make a game of this one. I also don't see the Senators doing much more than shutting the Comets down and taking their 2 points. I'm not sure what their plans for the rest of tonight are, but the weather is pure S**T and maybe it 's safer to go to a hotel and take the bus ride tomorrow.

Period 3
Here we go. 20 more minutes have to be completed.

Shaya says the same thing I have already stated. He thinks they will "Muddy it up" and just take their game out of here.

First 5 minutes have seen 1 shot and that was from the Comets.

Comets are pressing and getting no results. This team can't score to save their lives. Maybe they'll get one more to keep up top their avg of 2 goals per game.

Misyul drops 'em with Hayden Hidgson. Daniil landed a big one to start it up, but then Hayden got his left free and landed maybe 5 good ones. 3 were uppercuts after Daniil tried to get his face out of range. He left the ice bloodied.

One Senator has not received the message to shut down the Comets and leave it at that. Wyatt Bongiovanni wanted his hattrick and he just got it.

Bongiovanni the hattrick
9:01
7-1 Belleville

Building is basically empty. No reason to fight a traffic getting out of the parking lots and backonto the bad snowy roads

Game going nowhere except running time off the clock for roughly 5 minutes before we get another attempted tilt Between Angus Crookshank and Colton White. Whte leveled Stephen Halliday with an open ic check in the neutral zone in front of the benches. Crookshank came to object. They never got anything going as players and zebras broke it up. Interestin that both Crookshank and Halliday were wearing full face sheilds.

Both get 2 for roughing and 10 minute Misconducts-Unsportsmanlike conduct.

Back to listless hockey for a little over 3 minutes and Jan Jenik gets called for Holding at 18:50. He doesn't like it and has bad words withthe ref and getsa a 10 minute Misconduct.

Comets to the PP. Big F**Cking Deal!!!!!!!!!!!

Halonen scores at 19:49. A PPG.

Halonen
19:49
7-2 Belleville

After the Halonen goal Pilon voiced his anger for the penalty that allowed the goal and he got 10 at 19:50.

SOG for the 3rd
8-7 Utica

SOG for the game 30-21 Belleville

Comets goals:

Joe Gambardella (2) from Vilen (5) and Beckman (12)
Halonen (12) from Nemec (6) and Gambardella (2) PP

Comets record is now 7-17-3-2.
Their record at home is disgusting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1-8-1-2. To state it honestly, it's 1W-11L.

Next outing Wednesday 1/8 vs the Syracuse Crunch at the Adirondack Bank Center/Utica Aud. Another home game.

 

[Bad Goalie]

1/3/25 - NONE

1/4/25 - NONE

1/5/25 - NONE

 

[Bad Goalie]

Utica Comets are a bad hockey team.
Offensively they average 2 goals/game.

Defensively
- they give up 3.6 goals/game.

- their PK is #30 in the AHL

- Nico Daws' 3.30 GAA is #46 in the AHL.
- Isaac Poulter's 3.34 GAA is #47 in the AHL. (interestingly tied with Henderson's Akira Schmid)
- Thus, neither goalie is playing better or worse than the other. The Forwards in particular do not play good D.

- The Comets' D has been a mess for most of the season.
Vilen didn't play here until 10/29 because of an injury in NJ training camp missing the 1st 6 games. Of the 22 games he has been here for he has only played 16.

Casey played 17 and was injured in the 17th. He has missed the last 11 and is still listed as week to week.

Hatakka who was labeled for Utica is styill recovering in NJ due to a preseason injury.

Andy Welinski was signed to a PTO. After playing a total of 8 games out of the Comets first 15 his agent found a better gig for him the DEL with Lowen Frankfurt.

DeSimone opened the season with Utica and was recalled to NJ, returned, recalled, returned, and recalled playing a total of 12 games. Yesterday he was waived in order to be returned to Utica. TODAY he was claimed off waivers by the Utah Hockey Club.

Colton White was recalled to NJ on 12/12. NJ then assigned him to the Canadian National team to play in the Spengler Tournament. He returned to NJ and wasre assigned to Utica on
1/1.

Over the course of the last few games the Comets acquired Dmitri Osipov in an ECHL trade for Jace Isley on 11/29. He has played in 13 games of the Comets 14 games since he arrived mainly due to the absence of Casey coupled with the movements of DeSimone and White.
The Comets have played with 2 actual right side D-men 6 times since his arrival and one for them with only 5 D-men.

Signed ECHL D-man Kurt Gosselin to a PTO on 12/26, who played 1 game, was missing from the next when Utica only played 5D-men, and then released on 1/2.

Signed ECHL D-man Matt Anderson on 12/30 and played him 1G. He's still on the roster.

They have carried Jackson van de Leest on and off as the 6th ot 7th D-man and actually played him in 6 games. He has no businees on nAHL ice.

Today they acquired a RD, Austin Strand, in a trade with the AHL Central Division 5th place Rockford IceHogs for future considerations. A player you trade for future considerations is not exactly one you hold in high reagard.

Today they also reassigned Jackson van de Leest to Adirondack.

The Comets currently have 9 D-men on their roster, one of whom is Matt Anderson, a PTO on loan from the Toledo Walleye. Seamus Casey is out injured. Which really means they have 7 D, but until it happens Anderson will be #8.

For the 1st time in a while 3 of them will actually be right shot D-men. 1 would be considered a high level AHL D-prospect in Nemec.

However, though I haven't seen it yet, I would think NJ will come calling very soon unless Hatakka is healthy and they plan to keep him or they will consider MacDermid their #7D. I don't think either will, be the case. Thus, the Comets stand to lose one of White or Nemec. Since that guy will be #7 and watching, I belive White will be recalled once again.

Utica's Current D
Right side:
Nemec
White
Strand
Osipov

Left side:
Misyul
Vilen
MacKinnon
Anderson

UP front they are healthy carrying 14.. The same that have been on the roster all season with a few minor injuries and a couple callups causing the lineup to get jockyed around. These are the guys who have accrued the state of affairs the Comets find themselves in.

1/6/25 - NONE

 

[Bad Goalie]

1/7/25 - None

 

[Dreamer]

Utica Comets are a bad hockey team.
Offensively they average 2 goals/game.

Defensively
- they give up 3.6 goals/game.

- their PK is #30 in the AHL

- Nico Daws' 3.30 GAA is #46 in the AHL.
- Isaac Poulter's 3.34 GAA is #47 in the AHL. (interestingly tied with Henderson's Akira Schmid)
- Thus, neither goalie is playing better or worse than the other. The Forwards in particular do not play good D.

- The Comets' D has been a mess for most of the season.
Vilen didn't play here until 10/29 because of an injury in NJ training camp missing the 1st 6 games. Of the 22 games he has been here for he has only played 16.

Casey played 17 and was injured in the 17th. He has missed the last 11 and is still listed as week to week.

Hatakka who was labeled for Utica is styill recovering in NJ due to a preseason injury.

Andy Welinski was signed to a PTO. After playing a total of 8 games out of the Comets first 15 his agent found a better gig for him the DEL with Lowen Frankfurt.

DeSimone opened the season with Utica and was recalled to NJ, returned, recalled, returned, and recalled playing a total of 12 games. Yesterday he was waived in order to be returned to Utica. TODAY he was claimed off waivers by the Utah Hockey Club.

Colton White was recalled to NJ on 12/12. NJ then assigned him to the Canadian National team to play in the Spengler Tournament. He returned to NJ and wasre assigned to Utica on
1/1.

Over the course of the last few games the Comets acquired Dmitri Osipov in an ECHL trade for Jace Isley on 11/29. He has played in 13 games of the Comets 14 games since he arrived mainly due to the absence of Casey coupled with the movements of DeSimone and White.
The Comets have played with 2 actual right side D-men 6 times since his arrival and one for them with only 5 D-men.

Signed ECHL D-man Kurt Gosselin to a PTO on 12/26, who played 1 game, was missing from the next when Utica only played 5D-men, and then released on 1/2.

Signed ECHL D-man Matt Anderson on 12/30 and played him 1G. He's still on the roster.

They have carried Jackson van de Leest on and off as the 6th ot 7th D-man and actually played him in 6 games. He has no businees on nAHL ice.

Today they acquired a RD, Austin Strand, in a trade with the AHL Central Division 5th place Rockford IceHogs for future considerations. A player you trade for future considerations is not exactly one you hold in high reagard.

Today they also reassigned Jackson van de Leest to Adirondack.

The Comets currently have 9 D-men on their roster, one of whom is Matt Anderson, a PTO on loan from the Toledo Walleye. Seamus Casey is out injured. Which really means they have 7 D, but until it happens Anderson will be #8.

For the 1st time in a while 3 of them will actually be right shot D-men. 1 would be considered a high level AHL D-prospect in Nemec.

However, though I haven't seen it yet, I would think NJ will come calling very soon unless Hatakka is healthy and they plan to keep him or they will consider MacDermid their #7D. I don't think either will, be the case. Thus, the Comets stand to lose one of White or Nemec. Since that guy will be #7 and watching, I belive White will be recalled once again.

Utica's Current D
Right side:
Nemec
White
Strand
Osipov

Left side:
Misyul
Vilen
MacKinnon
Anderson

UP front they are healthy carrying 14.. The same that have been on the roster all season with a few minor injuries and a couple callups causing the lineup to get jockyed around. These are the guys who have accrued the state of affairs the Comets find themselves in.

1/6/25 - NONE

If you could become GM between now and next season what would you do ?

 

[Devils731]

 

[Mgd31]

Goal and 2 assists for Nemec last night

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Beckman leads the team in pts but we healthy scratched last night? That makes no sense....

 

[Guttersniped]

Beckman leads the team in pts but we healthy scratched last night? That makes no sense....

Def a mystery.

 

[Bad Goalie]

A comets update on:

1/8/25
Syracuse Crunch at Utica Comets

Forwards:
(5) Gambardella (13) Malone (24) Halonen
(67) Parent (26) Schmelzer (20) Willman
(39) Hardman (15) Bowers (11) Legare
(25) Foote (16) Engaras (61) Stillman

D-Pairs:
(93) Misyul (44) Osipov
(83) Vilen (7) Strand
(6) White (17) Nemec

Goal - (1) Poulter

Mike Hardman opened the scoring early with a goal after Nemec wired a shot and Hardman tipped it in at 1:31.

Very early on very interesting event took place at 2:10 of the period. Foote hammered Crozier to the end boards. Cozier got up and went right after him.The gloves were dropped in the circle between Max Crozier and NOLAN FOOTE! The event saw 1 land 2 or 3 punches and then the other did same. The same series of punches continued more times. Wild looping punches to the head and then upper cuts to the head. The two eventually were standing tall holding on and appeared exhausted, but instead of jumping in, the linesman just stood and watched. Having regained their faculties, the two looked at each other and may even asked each other if they wanted to continue and they separated but still holding on to each other with one arm went at it again and fell to the ice. Then the linesmen jumped in. They got 5 each for fighting and would return to the fray 5 minutes later.

At 4:17 Shane Bowers made it 2-0. White fired a shot from the blueline. Bowers scooped up the rebound and fired it past Tomkins.

At 9:47 a Crunch wrister from the left point hit the crossbar and went out of play. That was close.

During the timeout Seamus Casey came on the ice through the well off to Poulter's right. It was announced he was selected to the AHL All-Star team. We have wondered what was wrong with him for some time . He last played on 12/14 in Syracuse. That was 8 games ago counting tonight.
Standing on the ice waving to the crowd with his left arm inside his coat and the left arm of the coat hanging loose one could make out that his left hand fingers were in his pants pocket. There was a black cast on his left hand up over his wrist. A friend of mine was at the same Dr. and said his left hand is broken.

Parent took a penalty for hooking at 11:13. The Comets killed it ,but a shot was taken Poulter at13:14 and the puck laid on the ice off to Poulter's left. Vilen and Engaras couldn't move the dad puck and Logan Brown moved in from the right and simply flipped it high into the net past Poulter on his knees. I would think Isaac believed 1 of those Comets would clear it from danger.

Goal at 13:19. The goal came on the Crunch's 5th shot.
2-1 Comets

The rest of the period would see Utica outshoot the Crunch 4-0.

End of 1st with the score 2-1 Utica
SOG:
9-5 Utica

Period 2

Hardman was put in clean on Tomkins at :33 and a harmless backhander was easily stopped by Tomkins.

Schmelzer was penalized at 3:35 for interference. The Cometsa likked itands when it ended Schmelzer was hit with a pass at the blueline by Foote and went in alone and Tompkins stopped him at 5:51.

Less than a minute later Halonen got 2 for tripping at 6:28.
Schmelzer got a good SH-chance and Tomkins stopped him again. As the penalty ended Bowers got agood SH-chance stopped by Tomkins.

Stillman in 1 on 1 with Tomoins from a pass by Nolan Foote and Stillman was stopped. Stillman got another chance off to the the right side of tompkins who made a split save.

Hardman was pulled down and no call.
Then Groshev got 2 for holding at 13:06.
Shortly thereafter the PP ended ahead of time at 14:08 as Hardman was called for kneeing.

4 on 4 for :58 seconds.
Crunch a short PP.
PK successful.

Crunch end the period SH as they are called for Too many men.

Period 2 ends

SOG:
8-5 Utica
2-period total:
17-10 Utica

Period 3
At 2:08 Parent drills Santini hard into the boards outside the Comets blueline. It was his second huge hit of the game. He ended the 2nd with a big hit on a Crunch player on the end boards. Walcott challenging Parent but the LM are there immediately so nothing comes of it.

The Crunch got 2 shots on it and Poulter came up big on a shot and the rebound. The Crunch got 1 more chance stopped by Poulter. That was it for the Crunch chances on their PP.

:35 seconds after the kill Malone carried the puck to the top of the right circle and as he was challenged by a Crunch skater closin=g on him for his left he shot a wrister from the top of the circle and .................................................. S------C------O--------R--------E--------D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shot went high to the glove side and Tomkins wihiffed on the save effort,

3-1 Utica. That's a big insurance goal. Now the Comets just have to keep it going. forget the lock it down BS. This team gets burned every time they try that.

Now the Comets to a PP. The Comets move it around the box back and forth with Schmelzer, Halonen, and Nemec al on the left side. Then it went from Nemec to Parent and into the bumper and Schmelze.He gave gave it back to Nemec moving to him and Nemec 1-timed a bomb past Tomkins low just inside the post to the right of Tompkins.

Nemec a PPG.
6:48
Comets 4-1

Now the Comets are trying the lock down game.
The result was 5 good chances for the Crunch which saw Poulter come up big.

Tompkins was called to the bench at 16:08, but was sent back at 16:55 on the fly. Don't get that.

Then with 2:14 to go Gambardella put a final nail in the game. He took a shot from the The left dot and beat Tompkins.

Gambardella
17:56
5-1 Utica The rest was 1 shot by the Crunch.

That's the game.

Perios 3 SOG:
11-7 Syracuse

Final Score-
5-1 Utica

Scoring:
Hardman (10) from Nemec (7) and White (8)
Bowers (1) from White (9 and Parent (6)
Malone (3) from Gambardella (3)
Nemec (3) fromSchmelzer (8) and Parent (7)
Gambardella (3) from Halonen (7) and Nemec (8)

1 goal and 2 assists for Nemec.
1 goals and 1 assist for Gambardella
2 assists for White
2 assists for Parent
Poulter 20/21

3 *s
#3 - Joe Gambardella (Utica Comets) 1G/1A
#2 - Simon Nemec (Utica Comets) 1G/2A
#1 - Isaac Poulter (Utica Comets) 20/21

Next up Friday, 1/10 at Rochester Americans, 7 pm.

 

[Bad Goalie]

1/8/25 - NONE

1/9/25 - None

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Bowers first of the year though he does have six assists- unlike last year when he had 10 goals but just four assists.

Is that a sign of better all around play or as he played a lesser role for the Comets?

 

[Bad Goalie]

Bowers first of the year though he does have six assists- unlike last year when he had 10 goals but just four assists.

Is that a sign of better all around play or as he played a lesser role for the Comets?

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what this guy has that has earned him the Contract handed out by NJ. Last year he played 43 games for the Comets and amassed an amazing 14Pts (10G/4A) in 43GP in addition to 10 GP with NJ in which he recorded 0Pts. and was paid $125K.

This year he was signed a 2-yr, 2-way contract. I would assume that contract was based upon his play last season. The new contract pays him $225K. That's absolutely ludicrous.

Max Willman was acquired during the same preseason and was used by NJ in a similar fashion as Bowers. They paid him $135K. He only played 33 games in Utica and put up 12G/10A/22Pts. He is a wing. He played 18 games with the Devils and recorded 3G/1A/4Pts. NJ is paying him $275K this season on his 2-way, but he has no contract for next season. His numbers for Utica this season are the same as Bowers, 1G/6A/7Pts in 27GP. Willman is also -18 and has been on the ice for 26GA.

Kyle Criscuolo was paid $330K. He put up 16G/26A/42 Pts in 63GP. Bowers would have projected to put up less numbers and Willman's projection would have been about the same. Criscuolo was not re-signed. Of the 3 he was a much better all around player.

Bowers is not a productive center by any means. He is more likely to score goals than set up others regardless of what the small numbers this season say. Willman has been played with many different line mates and it's made no difference in his game.

The best center the Comets had this season is playing for the Devils, Justin Dowling. The rest of the Comets centers are plumbers. Captain Schmelzer led a weak Comets team in scoring last season, 18G/34A/52Pts and was the only Comet to play all 72 games. He is a great #3 C on a team with appropriately acquired AHL centers. Right now he is once again centering the Comets top line with Bowers, Engaras, Malone, and Parent manning the other 3 slots. Coach Parent has been shuffling al the forwards around looking for some kind of magic for a team averaging 2 golas/game. Last game Bowers was centering Hardman and Legare, Before that it was stillman and Legare, before that Halonen and Stillman. The other centers have been doing the same. Engaras has had the most consistent line mates with Laberge and Legare.

My only point here is that Bowers and Willman are getting big bucks for this team and not earning anywhere near what their paychecks indicate they should be doing.

According to PuckPedia here's what they make and their current numbers:
Halonen is getting $175 this season and $275 next. 12/7/19 29GP
Beckman is getting $125K and will be an RFA. Currently 7/12/19 23GP
Foote is getting $150K on the first contract after his ELC ran out and will be an RFA. Currently 6/10/16 25GP
Hardman is getting $350K this season and next. Currently 10/4/14 21GP
Schmelzer is getting $275K this season and next. Currently 4/8/12 29GP
Laberge is getting $120K and will be an RFA Currently 2/1/3 24GP
Legare is getting $85K and will be an RFA Currently 3/1/4 27GP

 

[Bad Goalie]

1/10/25
Utica Comets at Rochester Americans

Forwards:
(5) Gambardella (13) Malone (24) Halonen
(39) Hardman (26) Schmelzer (20) Willman
(67) Parent (15) Bowers (11) Legare
(34) Beckman (16) Engaras (61) Stillman

D-Pairs:
(93) Misyul (44) Osipov
(6) White (17) Nemec
(83) Vilen (7) Strand

Goal - (1) Poulter

Period 1

Nothing much happening in the first 7 minutes.
TV TO

Willman on the rush throws it in front from the right corner and Schmelzer puts it home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Schmelzer
7:10
1-0 Comets

Bowers gets 2 for Slashing at 8:55

Comets kill it.

Shots are now 5-5 with 7:30 to go in the first.

Poulter a great glove stop. Pass from the bottom of the left circle and a 1-timer was rifled to that56 side of the net and Poulter lunged across the crease and made the stop while falling forward.

Comets to the PPat 13:19.

Halonen shot stopped.
Halonen another shot stopped.
Halonen another 1 time stopped.
Beckman 1-timer wide.

Komarov picks up a 4-minute penalty for high sticking.
17 seconds of 5 on 3.

Halonen another 1-timer.

Now down to the better part of 4 minutes.

Gambardella stopped in front.
Beckman stopped.
Stillman slapper stopped.

Levi is standing tall.

1st penalty is over.

Schmelzer stopped.
Scramble in front and Levi shuts it down.
Scrum in front. Stillman and Rathbone both off for roughing.

:55 left on the PP

Comets have wasted a 4-minute PP. Hope they don't look back at this opportunity as the difference in the game.

Last minute of the period.

Dumb TV TO
:46 to go in the period

End of the 1st
Comets didn't take advantage of some great opportunities

SOG
14-6 Utica
1-0 Comets

 

[Bad Goalie]

Period 2
Poulter a big stop.

Rochester a whole lot more jump than in the 1st.

Vilen shot snatched by Levi. Parent missed tipping it right in front of Levi.

Legare stopped right in front. Levi is the difference in this one thus far.

Rochester shorthanded again. They better make something of this one. PPs 4 -1 in the favor of Utica. The zebras will even this up eventually

3 on 1 down low and Halonen is stopped right off the draw.

Another PP pissed away.

TV TO
13:29 to go

Comets to the PK
Engaras 2 for Holding

Poulter holds on to a point shot.
Comets clear.
Comets clear.
Rathbone a wrister. Poulter a pad stop and the rebound is backhanded home. Poulter tried to put his glove on it but it moved out ahead of his reach and he had no chance on the goal.

I said they wasted their chances and the Amerks would get there's. Well, there it is, a PP goal for Rochester.

Wahlberg
8:09
1-1

Utica back to the PK.
Osipov
Hooking
10:18

With the #29 PK in the league, the Comets need to limit their time in the box.

Poulter hit in the mask by a Josh Dunne rocket. Time is taken for his recovery. Comets look like s**t on this PK.

Poulter down and the puck is loose and finally cleared out.

This PP looks like men vs boys. Still :42 to go.
These 2 PPs have turned this game completely around.

Poulter a stop and the PP is killed.

Another huge stop by Poulter.

Comets are lost. Poulter another stop.
Time outs are allowed , Parent. Your team is out to lunch right now. This is the way the bad Comets play when the pressure is on. They go to pieces.

Comets going back to the PK.
TV TO
5:36 to go

Nemec
Interference
14:24

Willman in alone but shadowed closely forced him to just shoot and Levi a pad stop from the bottom of the left circle.

Legare and Bowers get in and Bowers hits the post.
Now Leagre all alone and Levi stopped him.
The puck skills by the Comets on breakaways are pitiful.

After all those glorious short handed chances and the Amerks come back and squeeze a shot between the post and Poulter.

Novikov
16:43
2-1 Amerks

Like I have said many times these guys can continually rip your heart out. They simply cannot score on the number of wide open chances they get every single game.

Bowers a good chance and Levi stops him.

Levi another stop. The crowd chants LEVI, LEVI, LEVI, etc. They know he's been the major difference.

2nd comes to an end
The Amerks have turned the game around and taken the lead.
2-1

SOG:
14-9 Rochester
2-period total:
23-20 Utica

 

[Bad Goalie]

Period 3
20 minutes to make things happen.
Optimism? I have a problem doing that with this team, but I keep hoping.

Here we go. Stay out of the box and keep pumping shots on this guy. He can be beaten. Not a lot though - 15 GP - 2.19 GAA/.916 SAV%

PPs are even at 4 each.
Maybe they can swallow the whistles and let them play hockey.

Poulter is giving up way too many big rebounds right along the ice.

Comets allow an Amerk in clean and unlike the Comets he scored.

Rosen
2:58
3-1 Rochester
That may just be enough. Comets don't come from behind very often.
Goals surrendered early and late in periods have been a common occurence.

Another breakaway for the Amerks.
Forehand - backhand - goal.

Rousek
4:18
4-1 Rochester

A post for the Amerks.

The Comets are sleepwalking and this one is over and 14:33 reamains.

Asking a team that averages 2 goals a game to score at least 3 in 14 minutes is a monumental ask.

Amerks look like they are on a continual PP.

Another Amerk in all alone and he hits the post with Poulter beaten.

Hardman in and Levi makes the save. Is that normal or is that normal?
How can a team full of AHL players be so bad at breakawys or shooting chances from 10 feet across the ice between the dots. You'd think the net was 3 ft wide.

Under 10 minutes to go in the 3rd. Shots are 10-3 Rochester. This team knows how to turn up the heat and put teams away.

Comets back to the PK.
Beckman
2 for Interference
11:15

1-timer stopped by Poulter.

Schmelzer skates it out. Fight behind the play.
Rathbone and Bowers 5 each for fighting. Bowers lost the fight.
Bowers also got 2 for Crosschecking.

Comets down 5-3 because Beckman is still in the box.
2 stops for Poulter. Now a 3rd. A 4th. Puck out of play
:54 left of the 5 on 3.
Comets win the draw and send it down the ice.
Amerks back in and a shot from the slot - GOAL !

Jobst
12:42
5-1 Rochester.

Still almost a minute to go on the Bowers minor.
PK is over.

Stillman stopped.

Poulter holds on.

TV TO
5:19 to go

Mercy, please.
Run this clock out.
Rochester, work on your shut down game. Please?

Poulter holds on to a point shot.

Another TV TO
4:15 to go
They just won't let this one end.

Levi 2 more big stops.
He's not going to roll over.
Comets looking like they won't even hit their game avg. of 2 goals/game.

Levi makes an easy stop.

Whistle after whistle. This clock won't run out.

Beckman is in the box with 1:35 to go.

Beckman
Roughing
18:25

A scuffle at the Utica net front.
Joshua gets the only penalty.

Shaya complaining this one is over 2 and 1/2 hours old. I said it just won't end

4 on 4

Poulter bowled over after Nemec tripped a guy that got behind him and he crashed into Poulter.

Nemec 2 for tripping with 45 seconds to go.

Poulter another stop.

Comets lose this one 5-1.

3rd period SOG:
17-7 Rochester
Game total:
37-30 Rochetser

Only Comets goal -
Schmelzer (5) from Willman (7)

Rochester leads the North Divison with 22 wins and 47 points.
The Comets are dead last with 8 wins - (8-18-2-2)
30 GP/20 Pts

Next up the Toronto Marlies tomorrow night (1/11) at the Utica Aud at 7pm.
2-time Stanley Cup winning goalie Matt Murray played for the Marlies in their 3-2 victory in Syracuse tonight. Vyacheslav Peksa was the backup. He has played 1 period for the Marlies and has never started an AHL game. He might be getting his first tomorrow in Utica. Wouldn't be surprised to see him shut them out. Can't tell you how many times the opposition goalie gets one of the 3 stars every game in Utica. The season reveals it's not the goalies. Utica cannot score.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Bowers first of the year though he does have six assists- unlike last year when he had 10 goals but just four assists.

Is that a sign of better all around play or as he played a lesser role for the Comets?

I'm still trying to figure out exactly what this guy has that has earned him the Contract handed out by NJ. Last year he played 43 games for the Comets and amassed an amazing 14Pts (10G/4A) in 43GP in addition to 10 GP with NJ in which he recorded 0Pts. and was paid $125K.

This year he was signed a 2-yr, 2-way contract. I would assume that contract was based upon his play last season. The new contract pays him $225K. That's absolutely ludicrous.

Max Willman was acquired during the same preseason and was used by NJ in a similar fashion as Bowers. They paid him $135K. He only played 33 games in Utica and put up 12G/10A/22Pts. He is a wing. He played 18 games with the Devils and recorded 3G/1A/4Pts. NJ is paying him $275K this season on his 2-way, but he has no contract for next season. His numbers for Utica this season are the same as Bowers, 1G/6A/7Pts in 27GP. Willman is also -18 and has been on the ice for 26GA.

Kyle Criscuolo was paid $330K. He put up 16G/26A/42 Pts in 63GP. Bowers would have projected to put up less numbers and Willman's projection would have been about the same. Criscuolo was not re-signed. Of the 3 he was a much better all around player.

Bowers is not a productive center by any means. He is more likely to score goals than set up others regardless of what the small numbers this season say. Willman has been played with many different line mates and it's made no difference in his game.

The best center the Comets had this season is playing for the Devils, Justin Dowling. The rest of the Comets centers are plumbers. Captain Schmelzer led a weak Comets team in scoring last season, 18G/34A/52Pts and was the only Comet to play all 72 games. He is a great #3 C on a team with appropriately acquired AHL centers. Right now he is once again centering the Comets top line with Bowers, Engaras, Malone, and Parent manning the other 3 slots. Coach Parent has been shuffling al the forwards around looking for some kind of magic for a team averaging 2 golas/game. Last game Bowers was centering Hardman and Legare, Before that it was stillman and Legare, before that Halonen and Stillman. The other centers have been doing the same. Engaras has had the most consistent line mates with Laberge and Legare.

My only point here is that Bowers and Willman are getting big bucks for this team and not earning anywhere near what their paychecks indicate they should be doing.

According to PuckPedia:
Halonen is getting $175 this season and $275 next. 12/7/19 29GP
Beckman is getting $125K and will be an RFA. Currently 7/12/19 23GP
Foote is getting $150K on the first contract after his ELC ran out and will be an RFA. Currently 6/10/16 25GP
Hardman is getting $350K this season and next. Currently 10/4/14 21GP
Schmelzer is getting $275K this season and next. Currently 4/8/12 29GP
Laberge is getting $120K and will be an RFA Currently 2/1/3 24GP
Legare is getting $85K and will be an RFA Currently 3/1/4 27GP