2024-25 Utica Comets and ECHL thread
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Blissfully Mediocre
Nemec seems to be coming alive offensive at least. Second three point night in the last few games?
Devils731
Registered User
- Jun 23, 2008
- 13,451
- 19,895
Definitely feels better now that he’s doing things like this.
Forge
Blissfully Mediocre
Up to 5 points tonight now
- Dec 20, 2018
- 23,237
- 52,838
Two views of Nemec’s 1st goal.
So hot.
So hot.
I was gonna let you in on the game, but @Guttersniped and @uticacomets have given you the main results.
Let me give you the scoring:
Period 1
12:48 Willman (2) from Bowers (7) and White (10)
14:00 Foote (9) from Nemec (9) and Strand (2 with Utica/ 5 overall) PP
Period 2
5:06 Stillman (3) from Foote (12) and Vilen (6)
The WolfPack scored the next 3 goals (including a SHG) and tied it up at 3-3.
13:01 Nemec (4) from Bowers (8) and Parent (8)
Period 3
1:33 Nemec (5) from Beckman (14) and Gambardella (4)
11:42 Willman (3) from Hardman (5) and Nemec (10)
16:50 Parent (4) From Engaras (4) and Nemec (11)
Daws 25/28
SOG:
HFD - 11 11 6 = 28
UTC - 13 7 9 = 29
PP:
HFD 0/2
UTC 1/3
3 *s:
#3 - Nolan Foote (Utica Comets) 1G/1A
#2 - Max Willman (Utica Comets) 2G
#1 - Simon Nemec (Utica Comets) 2G/3A
Nemec - 5 Pts
Foote - 2Pts
Willman - 2Pts
Parent - 2 Pts
Bowers - 2Pts
a
After tonight (1/15) Comets schedule coming up is brutal.
1/17 Laval Rocket@ Utica Aud 7 pm
1/18 Utica @ Laval Rocket
1/20 Utica @ Syracuse Crunch 1 pm
1/22 Bridgeport @ Utica Aud 7 pm
1/24 Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins @ Utica
1/25 Utica @t Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins 6:05 pm
3days off and then:
1/29 Utica @ Rochester Americans7:05
1/31 Belleville Senators @ Utica Aud 7 pm
2/1 Utica @ Bellville Senators
Comets at 10-18-2-2/24 Pts are currently 17 Pts behind 4th/5th place Toronto and Syracuse tied at 41 Pts each. 5th place is the final playoff spot.. A monumental task to even consider. Those upcoming 9 games could bury them with no possible way out. That's of course if the optimists among the Utica fan base could even think it possible. I'd dream it, but realistically hope NJ sees the errors in their ways and makes an effort to build a better team in Utica next season. This current squad is underwhelming despite the little uprisings they have before dumping a few in a row every time. We won't even go back to how many they had to lose before even winning their 1st.
Let me give you the scoring:
Period 1
12:48 Willman (2) from Bowers (7) and White (10)
14:00 Foote (9) from Nemec (9) and Strand (2 with Utica/ 5 overall) PP
Period 2
5:06 Stillman (3) from Foote (12) and Vilen (6)
The WolfPack scored the next 3 goals (including a SHG) and tied it up at 3-3.
13:01 Nemec (4) from Bowers (8) and Parent (8)
Period 3
1:33 Nemec (5) from Beckman (14) and Gambardella (4)
11:42 Willman (3) from Hardman (5) and Nemec (10)
16:50 Parent (4) From Engaras (4) and Nemec (11)
Daws 25/28
SOG:
HFD - 11 11 6 = 28
UTC - 13 7 9 = 29
PP:
HFD 0/2
UTC 1/3
3 *s:
#3 - Nolan Foote (Utica Comets) 1G/1A
#2 - Max Willman (Utica Comets) 2G
#1 - Simon Nemec (Utica Comets) 2G/3A
Nemec - 5 Pts
Foote - 2Pts
Willman - 2Pts
Parent - 2 Pts
Bowers - 2Pts
a
After tonight (1/15) Comets schedule coming up is brutal.
1/17 Laval Rocket@ Utica Aud 7 pm
1/18 Utica @ Laval Rocket
1/20 Utica @ Syracuse Crunch 1 pm
1/22 Bridgeport @ Utica Aud 7 pm
1/24 Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins @ Utica
1/25 Utica @t Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins 6:05 pm
3days off and then:
1/29 Utica @ Rochester Americans7:05
1/31 Belleville Senators @ Utica Aud 7 pm
2/1 Utica @ Bellville Senators
Comets at 10-18-2-2/24 Pts are currently 17 Pts behind 4th/5th place Toronto and Syracuse tied at 41 Pts each. 5th place is the final playoff spot.. A monumental task to even consider. Those upcoming 9 games could bury them with no possible way out. That's of course if the optimists among the Utica fan base could even think it possible. I'd dream it, but realistically hope NJ sees the errors in their ways and makes an effort to build a better team in Utica next season. This current squad is underwhelming despite the little uprisings they have before dumping a few in a row every time. We won't even go back to how many they had to lose before even winning their 1st.
NJ DevLolz
The Many Saints of Newark
- Sep 30, 2017
- 4,774
- 5,799
Good but his net front play is still weak.
Tonight I watched him actually HIT players standing at the Comets net front. That was something new.
1/15/25 - NONE
1/16/25 - NONE
1/17/25 - NONE
Last edited:
You will probably see more of that as his confidence grows.
1/17/25
Laval Rocket at Utica Comets
Final Score -
Laval 3 Utica 2
SOG:
LAV - 12 9 7 = 28
UTC - 5 10 10 = 25
PPS:
LAV - 0/2
UTC - 2/2
Scoring:
Schmelzer (6) from Willman (9) and Nemec (12) PP 2:54 of the 1st
Schmelzer redirected a centering pass from Willman into the net while driving to the net with a Rocket player applying physical pressure from behind.
Schmelzer (7) from Nemec (13) and Willman (10) 5:44 of the 2nd
Slapshot by Nemec stopped , but Schmelzer parked to the right of Primeau roofed the rebound.
Logan Mailloux broke the ice for Laval at 13:34 of the 2nd
Florian Xhekaj tied the game at 10:52 of the 3rd with on a shot on the ice directly at Daws, who reached his stick forward to and tipped it up into his own net. All he had to do was stope it at his feet and drop on it or deflect it to the far corner. Not a good goal.
Owen Beck scored the game winner at 15:00 of the 3rd. He had the puck moving down the middle and moved to his left. Daws over compensated and when Beck moved back to his right, Daws simply went to his knees in the middle of the crease and the shot went high to Beck's right for goal # 3.
Comets record now stands at 10-19-2-2.
The Comets played a very controlled game vs a a very fast, good skating team. They tried to front every puck carrier, played his body, and either forced him to give up the puck or angled him wide to the boards or corner. If the guy made a pass under the pressure, another Comet did the same to that Rocket recipient. Once a Comet gained the slighest bit of control, the goal was to simply move the puck away from trouble as soon as they touched it. It was an excellent game plan.
They spent as little time as possible in their own end against a fierce forechecking opponent. It was break up the Rocket thrust, get the puck out with a good 1st pass, up the ice, and then either carried it into the zone if they had open ice or fired it hard into the Rocket end and forechecked themselves. If that 1st pass wasn't there, there was no screwing around in their own end, they shot it up the ice into open space and then compted for It. If it was icing, fine. Live to fight another day.
They also resorted to long flip clears and then raced the Rockets for the puck or had already broke for the flip and beat their opponent to it, got it into the Rocket end, and it sometimes resulted in some offensive pressure of their own. The intention of the flip was to get the puck out of their own zone, up the ice where a fight for possession may end up a benefit to themselves. If they didn't get posssession the Rocket woulfd have to reset and try to bring it back while all the time the Comets were harassing evrey Rocket with the puck. The flips also were not intended to be hard enough to get called for icing.
They were very physical and delivered lots of checks all over the ice, some of which left their check down on the ice. If not down and out, the hits broke up the efforts of Rocket player after Rocket player. It wreaked havoc on their puck control game.
I have to believe if they played this style all season, the results would have been better than where they stand right now.
Noone knows what Comets team will show up from game to game. The inconsistency of these guys is astounding. Parent has had them playing much better and you can see improvement. The team seems to be playing for each other and you can't ask for much more than that. Only if they had better puck skills. A lot of their chances that come up empty would translate to goals so their average of 2/game would be higher and the win column would reflect it.
Both teams were boarding buses after the game heading for Laval for a 7 pm rematch tomorrow night.
Laval Rocket at Utica Comets
Final Score -
Laval 3 Utica 2
SOG:
LAV - 12 9 7 = 28
UTC - 5 10 10 = 25
PPS:
LAV - 0/2
UTC - 2/2
Scoring:
Schmelzer (6) from Willman (9) and Nemec (12) PP 2:54 of the 1st
Schmelzer redirected a centering pass from Willman into the net while driving to the net with a Rocket player applying physical pressure from behind.
Schmelzer (7) from Nemec (13) and Willman (10) 5:44 of the 2nd
Slapshot by Nemec stopped , but Schmelzer parked to the right of Primeau roofed the rebound.
Logan Mailloux broke the ice for Laval at 13:34 of the 2nd
Florian Xhekaj tied the game at 10:52 of the 3rd with on a shot on the ice directly at Daws, who reached his stick forward to and tipped it up into his own net. All he had to do was stope it at his feet and drop on it or deflect it to the far corner. Not a good goal.
Owen Beck scored the game winner at 15:00 of the 3rd. He had the puck moving down the middle and moved to his left. Daws over compensated and when Beck moved back to his right, Daws simply went to his knees in the middle of the crease and the shot went high to Beck's right for goal # 3.
Comets record now stands at 10-19-2-2.
The Comets played a very controlled game vs a a very fast, good skating team. They tried to front every puck carrier, played his body, and either forced him to give up the puck or angled him wide to the boards or corner. If the guy made a pass under the pressure, another Comet did the same to that Rocket recipient. Once a Comet gained the slighest bit of control, the goal was to simply move the puck away from trouble as soon as they touched it. It was an excellent game plan.
They spent as little time as possible in their own end against a fierce forechecking opponent. It was break up the Rocket thrust, get the puck out with a good 1st pass, up the ice, and then either carried it into the zone if they had open ice or fired it hard into the Rocket end and forechecked themselves. If that 1st pass wasn't there, there was no screwing around in their own end, they shot it up the ice into open space and then compted for It. If it was icing, fine. Live to fight another day.
They also resorted to long flip clears and then raced the Rockets for the puck or had already broke for the flip and beat their opponent to it, got it into the Rocket end, and it sometimes resulted in some offensive pressure of their own. The intention of the flip was to get the puck out of their own zone, up the ice where a fight for possession may end up a benefit to themselves. If they didn't get posssession the Rocket woulfd have to reset and try to bring it back while all the time the Comets were harassing evrey Rocket with the puck. The flips also were not intended to be hard enough to get called for icing.
They were very physical and delivered lots of checks all over the ice, some of which left their check down on the ice. If not down and out, the hits broke up the efforts of Rocket player after Rocket player. It wreaked havoc on their puck control game.
I have to believe if they played this style all season, the results would have been better than where they stand right now.
Noone knows what Comets team will show up from game to game. The inconsistency of these guys is astounding. Parent has had them playing much better and you can see improvement. The team seems to be playing for each other and you can't ask for much more than that. Only if they had better puck skills. A lot of their chances that come up empty would translate to goals so their average of 2/game would be higher and the win column would reflect it.
Both teams were boarding buses after the game heading for Laval for a 7 pm rematch tomorrow night.
Last edited:
It has to if he hopes to be successful in the NHL. It was the 1st of that kind of physicality I've seen from him in here in his 3 seasons here in Utica. The kid has skills up the ass, he simply has to put it altogether. As I understand it, that's the Devils plan for both Simon and Casey.
It was announced tonight that he was named to the North Division roster for the AHL ALL-Star Classic. The announcement had him with 5G and 16 Pts. It's now 5 goals and 18 points after 2 more assists on Utica's only 2 goals tonight.
It's really a shame that Nemec has been named to replace Casey who will be unable to play. In reality they both should have been named to that roster. Casey has 14 Pts, which still places him at #7 for the Comets in scoring. He's only played 17 games while the Comets have played 33. Nemec meanwhile has played 24 and his 7 points in the last 2 games have shot him to #4.
The top 3 Comets in scoring are Halonen, Foote, and Beckman all with 21 Pts.
After a period of "lacksadaisical" play, Nemec has accepted his fate and appears to understand what NJ is doing and has turned his game around. He is the top naturally skilled player on the roster with Casey close behind. Casey's injury has set his progress back a little. Wait until they are both in the lineup. No other AHL team will be able to ice 2 D-men more skilled and teeming with talent at such a young age.*
It's too bad the Comets don't have a couple highly talented forwards, preferrably at center to bolster their roster. If they did, the Comets would be in the thick of things in the AHL North Division instead of mining in the played out ore field they find themselves in.
Forge
Blissfully Mediocre
And as he continues to be annoyed and frustrated with the devils!
Jersey Fan 12
Positive Vibes
- Nov 20, 2006
- 7,348
- 3,221
Halonen no points, -1 in 11:35 minutes of ice time in 3-1 loss to Flyers.
Lazar and Tatar played less.
Lazar and Tatar played less.
1/18/25
Utica Comets at Laval Rocket
I watched this game last night until 1:30 am so this game update is a day late.
Forwards:
(67) Parent (15) Bowers (11) Legare
(39) Hardman (26) Schmelzer (20) Willman
(34) Beckman (13) Malone (5) Gambardella
(25) Foote (16) Engaras (61) Stillman
D-Pairs:
(83) Vilen (7) Strand
(93) Misyul (44) Osipov
(3) MacKinnon (17) Nemec
Goal - (1) Poulter
This game was repeat script by the Comets. It was a hard hitting, got the damned puck out as soon as possible (no fiddling around to set up a breakout, long flips up ice often served as the breakout, played the man and not the puck, filled all passing lanes, blocked shots, hard forecheck, strong backcheck, shot the puck when there was a lane, drove the net for rebounds, never took a break.
The only difference in this game from Friday's was between the pipes. Daws made a lot of strong saves on Friday, but surrendered 1 bad goal, a second I thought he should have had, and overplayed the shooter on the game winner.
Last night Poulter was lights out for 2 periods and 19 minutes and 45 seconds. He was nothing short of fantastic.
Apparently the refs felt it was only fair to give the Rocket the same chance to play 5 on 3 after having given such a situation to the Comets 5 minutes earlier. Utica did not score.
At 17:39 Bowers was assessed with a tripping penalty. 2:21 left to play. Laval pulled their keeper and went 6 on 4. 32 seconds later at 18:22 They whistled Foote for hooking. He went to the bin with a bleeding cut on his forehead. The Rocket were now playing 6 on 3! Ever seen that before? Even if you have, it was still a very rare event that you'd have to do a deep dive into your brain's hockey file to find. The Comets killed off the 1st of the 2, but with 15 seconds to go they just couldn't clear a rebound with Poulter down and bodies all around.
No goalie ever deserved the shutout more than Poulter considering the game he played.
Final score - Utica 3 Laval 1
SOG:
UTC - 7 12 10 = 29
LAV - 8 9 8 = 25
PPs:
UTC - 0/4
LAV - 1/6
Scoring:
Period 1
1:06 - Schmelzer (8) from (Willman (10) and Hardman (7)
Period 2
8:56 - Legare (4) from Parent (9) and Bowers (9)
Period 3
12:31 - Parent (5) from Misyul (5) and Osipov (2)
Poulter - 24/25
If the Comets can play this kind of game the rest of the season, they won't necessarily make a huge turnaround on what can only be described as a horrible season, but they will become a much more respected hockey team and one a fan base can get behind due to the full 18-man effort they have exerted in these 2 games vs what was before their loss last night, the #1 team in the North Division (Rochester won and coupled with the Laval loss are in 1st by 1 point).
Utica plays Game #35 on Monday afternoon at 1 pm and Game #36, the halfway point in their season, on Wednesday at home vs Bridgeport at 7 pm.
They are currently 11-19- 2-2. If playing this way they , could they could reverse their numbers, they would finish 30-22-4-4. That might actually capture the last playoff spot.
I wouldn't put a lot of stock in that outcome, but with 38 games to go as Bill Carey said, "So you're saying there's a chance?" Yup, but it is unimaginable. This was more than likely just another hiccup like we have seen all season. They tease us for a moment and then revert back to their old ways and the losses continue to mount up.
As the most jaded optimists we can only keep "wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin' and plannin' and dreamiin'. Dussty Springfield,1964.
Utica Comets at Laval Rocket
I watched this game last night until 1:30 am so this game update is a day late.
Forwards:
(67) Parent (15) Bowers (11) Legare
(39) Hardman (26) Schmelzer (20) Willman
(34) Beckman (13) Malone (5) Gambardella
(25) Foote (16) Engaras (61) Stillman
D-Pairs:
(83) Vilen (7) Strand
(93) Misyul (44) Osipov
(3) MacKinnon (17) Nemec
Goal - (1) Poulter
This game was repeat script by the Comets. It was a hard hitting, got the damned puck out as soon as possible (no fiddling around to set up a breakout, long flips up ice often served as the breakout, played the man and not the puck, filled all passing lanes, blocked shots, hard forecheck, strong backcheck, shot the puck when there was a lane, drove the net for rebounds, never took a break.
The only difference in this game from Friday's was between the pipes. Daws made a lot of strong saves on Friday, but surrendered 1 bad goal, a second I thought he should have had, and overplayed the shooter on the game winner.
Last night Poulter was lights out for 2 periods and 19 minutes and 45 seconds. He was nothing short of fantastic.
Apparently the refs felt it was only fair to give the Rocket the same chance to play 5 on 3 after having given such a situation to the Comets 5 minutes earlier. Utica did not score.
At 17:39 Bowers was assessed with a tripping penalty. 2:21 left to play. Laval pulled their keeper and went 6 on 4. 32 seconds later at 18:22 They whistled Foote for hooking. He went to the bin with a bleeding cut on his forehead. The Rocket were now playing 6 on 3! Ever seen that before? Even if you have, it was still a very rare event that you'd have to do a deep dive into your brain's hockey file to find. The Comets killed off the 1st of the 2, but with 15 seconds to go they just couldn't clear a rebound with Poulter down and bodies all around.
No goalie ever deserved the shutout more than Poulter considering the game he played.
Final score - Utica 3 Laval 1
SOG:
UTC - 7 12 10 = 29
LAV - 8 9 8 = 25
PPs:
UTC - 0/4
LAV - 1/6
Scoring:
Period 1
1:06 - Schmelzer (8) from (Willman (10) and Hardman (7)
Period 2
8:56 - Legare (4) from Parent (9) and Bowers (9)
Period 3
12:31 - Parent (5) from Misyul (5) and Osipov (2)
Poulter - 24/25
If the Comets can play this kind of game the rest of the season, they won't necessarily make a huge turnaround on what can only be described as a horrible season, but they will become a much more respected hockey team and one a fan base can get behind due to the full 18-man effort they have exerted in these 2 games vs what was before their loss last night, the #1 team in the North Division (Rochester won and coupled with the Laval loss are in 1st by 1 point).
Utica plays Game #35 on Monday afternoon at 1 pm and Game #36, the halfway point in their season, on Wednesday at home vs Bridgeport at 7 pm.
They are currently 11-19- 2-2. If playing this way they , could they could reverse their numbers, they would finish 30-22-4-4. That might actually capture the last playoff spot.
I wouldn't put a lot of stock in that outcome, but with 38 games to go as Bill Carey said, "So you're saying there's a chance?" Yup, but it is unimaginable. This was more than likely just another hiccup like we have seen all season. They tease us for a moment and then revert back to their old ways and the losses continue to mount up.
As the most jaded optimists we can only keep "wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin' and plannin' and dreamiin'. Dussty Springfield,1964.
Nemec was forced to play with MacKinnon? I guess that’s his punishment for talking to the Slovak press so candidly.
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