2024-25 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

[Bad Goalie]

2/28/25
Rochester Americans

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

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

Goal - (1) Poulter


Period 1
Both teams played a hard fast game with the Comets delivering the hits.

The Amerks game was to play the Comets like shirts. They were on the Comets like hair on a dog in all 3 zones which enabled the Comets to get shots if one of them lost his check.

Houser was kept busy. The Comets won the period on the shot count 10-3, but the score was 0-0 and you could actrually say the reason was Poulter not Houser. Granted he only made 3 stops but they were of the 10-bell variety.

Period 2
This 1 turned out to be a good 1 for the Comets on the scoreboard, but that was it for their shining in the 2nd.

The Amerks were all over the Comets from the opening faceoff.
Then at 3:30 White took a hooking penalty. Wearing the A he was able to question the call and the ref leaned into the penalty box and the 2 had a discussion of a length of time I don't recall ever watching.
I don't know what you could say became of the discussion, but the Comets did have time to get their heads together and regroup.

The Comets killed the penalty remarkably well allowing only 1 SOG which was their 8th of the period pushing the shot total for the game into their favor 11-10. The Comets had yet to put a single shot on Houser.

The Amerks would get 1 more at 8:41, but the Comets took the puck back up the ice into the Amerks zone and after battling for space and recapturing the puck after losing it, Dmitry Osipov let a wrister go from a few feet inside the blueline and with Beckman creating a perfect screen almost at Houser's toes, it went in.
Something must have been going on between the 2 of them because after the puck went in beckmand squared up with Houser and had something not nice to say to Houser and then laughing he saketds out to greet Osipov where he and the other 3 were happily celebrating.

The goal was Osipov from Beckamn who had got the puck out to the blueline to Dmitry and then went right to Houser's doorstep unimpeded.

Comets took a 1-0 lead on their 1st shot of the 2nd period at 9:19. They would manage only 3 more in the period.

9:19
Osipov
1-0 Utica

Poulter was standing on his head for most of the period. He was putting up a remarkable stand.

End of 2
1-0 Utica
SOG 17-4 Rochester

Period 3
Early in th 3rd period Utica drew a penalty.

2:13
Vsevolod Komarov
Slashing

Their last PP goal was 7 games ago in Providence!
Let history be damned.
Foote scored high glove side from the rightr circle to make it 2-0.

2:57
Foote
Utica 2-0

3:43
Ryan Johnson
Tripping

Utica 0 shots on goal

Then at 8:43 The Amerks dented the scoring column.
Konsta Helenius
2-1 Utica

Almost immediatelyafter the Rochester goal Stillman had to get his name somewhere on the game sheet
9:03
Stillman
High-sticking
Comets killed it allowing only 2 shots on Poulter and they were really good chances. The Amerks move the puck so well and set up splendid chances.

They were'ny happy withthat kill. a little over a minute later:
12:39
Hatakka
Tripping

4 shots from from very dangerous spots and Poulter once again finding ways to get pieces of them.

At 17:06 Hoser went to the bench. The Amerks regrouped to bring all 6 into the zone. IThe Comets valiantly tried to hold them off but to no avail.

18:35 After 2 Comets in the high slot had the puck on their stick blades and both flubbed the chance to shoot it clean out of the zone and up the ice, the Amerks made them pay.

18:35
Noah Ostlund
2-2

Nobody got close to a shot inthe reamianing minute plus.

OT -
OT has not been friemndly territory for the Comets. Recently Casey made the season high-light tape onn his goal February, 8th.

Then they lost to Rochester on 2/15.

And here they were again on 2/28

going into this shootout their OT record was:
1 OT Win - 4 OT Losses - 2 SOL

The OT would end scoreless.

Poulter made 3 stops from near hand shaking distance since the Comets were slwer than their oppponent and eventually 1 guy was ablse to defeat his check and gaet a shot from close in. 1 of them was a dross crease pass thjat Poulter had to go across diving on his knees on into the shooter and body the shot away. A deperation, all out, give himself up save!
In the final seconds Parent got behind his check and broke in alone and his backhander was shouldered over the crossbar and wide.

The Shootout:

Utica shoots first
Round 1 -
Halonen Stopped
Konsta Helenius stopped

Round 2 -
Foote - Stopped
Mason Jobst - Stopped

Round 3 -
Willman - Stopped
Isak Rosen - Stopped

Round 4 -
Parent - Stopped
Zachary Metsa - Stopped

Round 5 -
Stillmam - SCORES!
Nicolas Aube-Kubel - SCORES

Round 6-
Vilen - SCORES!
Noah Ostlund - SCORES

Round 7 -
Legare - Stopped
Clague - Stopped

Round 8 -
Hardman - Stopped
Lukas Rousek - Stopped

Round 9 -
Beckman - SCORES!
Riley Fiddler-Schultz - STOPPED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comets win the shootout 4-3 in 9 rounds.
Poulter had the loss on his shoulders 5 times and he stood up to the challenge. The 5th one won the game.

Final Score -
Utica Comets 3 Rochester Americans 2 (S0)

SOG:
ROC - 3 17 10 3 = 33
UTC - 10 4 2 2 = 19

PP:
ROC - 0/5
UTC - 1/3

Scoring:
Osipov (1) from Beckman (19)
Foote (17) from Vilen (16) and Beckman (20)

Beckman Shootout Game Winning Goal in Round 9

3 *s
#3 - Dmitry Osipov (Utica Comets) 1G/his 1st of the year
#2 - Isaac Poulter (Utica Comets) 31/33 and 7 of 9 in the shootout

Isaac Poulter was the hands down star of this game and the only reason the Amerks didn't go back to Rochester with the win.

Rochester is not only the #1 tam in the North Division , but their 73 Points are tops in the AHL with Hershey's 67 next best.

Utica on the season vs. the Amerks are 2-6-2-1 while Rochester is 9-1-0-1.

Utica is 20-24-4-2 on the season with 22 games to go.
Meanwhile Belleville has moved ahaead of the Syracuse Crunch into trhe 5th and final playoff spot with 56 points to the Crunch's 55.

Utica trails Syracuse by 9 points and Belleville by 10. The Crunch have played 1 more game than either of the other 2. The Comets chances of overhauling the 2 ahead of them is slim at best. They would likely have to win 17 of their remaining 22 to have a chance while the other 2 would have to play at .500 They have only won 20 of their last 50. I don't give them hope of pulling off such a miracle..

Utica plays in Hartford tomorrow at 6pm and then buses back to play the Crunch on Sunday at 3pm in Utica.

 

[Louskoolaid89]

Epic Shootout. I don't mind one of those occasionally. Fans got their money's worth last night.

 

[Triumph]

Looks from the boxscore that the Wolfpack put the puck in their own empty net tonight.

 

[Devils731]

Looks from the boxscore that the Wolfpack put the puck in their own empty net tonight.

They did. Backhand pass from the offensive corner split the defense during a delayed penalty.

 

[Bad Goalie]

3/1/25
Utica Comets at Hartford WolfPack

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

D-Pairs:
(8) Hatakka (6) White
(83) Vilen (3) MacKinnon
(93) Misyul (7) Strand

Goal - (56) Brodeur

Period 1

Comets were in charge for the first 12 minutes outshooting the WolfPack 8-2.
Isn't that the way? Hartford scores on their 3rd shot. A long shot from the left point that found it's way through a screened Brodeur.

12:01
Brandon Scanlin
1-0 Hartford

After the goal the WolfPack took charge and amassed 4 of the period's last 5 shots.

Brodeur has been great since the goal and has kept the Comets only down a single goal.

Insisde the last 2 minutes the Comets drew a penalty.
18:49
Jake Leschyshyn
Interference

For the remainder of the period on the PP the Comets didn't register a SOG. The Comets PP has not been good during the season, but never worse than at least the past 8 games. They have gone through PP after PP without even getting a single shot.


1-0 Hartford

Period Ends
1-0 Hartford
SOG:
9-7 Utica

Period 2

Comets start the period on a 49 second PP.
They got 1 hot and the PP ends.

8:25
Parent stopped on a breakaway by Garand.

SOG are 5-4 Hartford

Later in the period Strand was in clean and the opponent went to the ice to attempt to knock it off his stick from off to his side and behind. Did he throw his stick? They are taking the puck to center ice. Penalty shot? There is a lengthy conversation.

They are saying it was knocked off his stick and then the stick came out of his hand due to the force of Strand's body.

Brodeur has been bailing the Comets out on one turnover, out of position Comet allowing a clean look, beaten 1on1 situation after another. He has been nothing short of sensational since the WolfPack scored 12 minutes into the game.

Comets are about to be called on a penalty to Colton White at 17:30 Garand is off and The WolfPack are in control. A pass goes out to the blueline past the WolfPack player and it goes all the way down the ice and................................

..........................................................UNBELIEVABLY...................................................................i

GOES INTO THE EMPTY NET

AN OWN GOAL BY HARTFORD TIES THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's 1-1

17:58
Comets goal!
Nobody knows who. The scoring table will have to go back through the video to see who was the last Comet to touch the puck.
1-1

Incidentally the time of the goal stopped the clock and that's when Colton White is called for his penalty.

17:58
White
Hooking

Comets kill the penalty and the period ends.

Santeri Hatakka is credited with the Hartford own goal.

End of period 2
1-1

SOG:
14-5 Hartford

This is just like the Comets did last night. They outshot Rochester 10-3 in the first and then got blown out in SOG 17-4 in the 2nd.

They had scored the game's 1st goal on their 1st shot of the 2nd period. Then scored in the 3rd to make it 2-0.
Like has happened several times this season they gave up a late goal and then with the Amerk goalie on the bench it was tied.

We'll see how the 3rd ends up tonight.

Period 3

It's back and forth for the first 8 minutes with both sides geting chances.

Gambardella is stopped and the whistle starts a....................................
TV TO
11:06 to go

Hartford controls the faceoff and brings it into the Comets end. A shot from the right boards top of the circle high and it's tipped in a crowd in front and the WolfPack takes the lead.

9:08
Nathan Sucese
2-1 Hartford

Hartford leads in SOG 30-19. It's only 2-1 thanks to Brodeur.

Garand withut a stick, but the puck leaves the zone.

Comets are actually pressing.

McCarthy blast from the point blockered aside by Brodeur.

Comets gain possession as
Legare gets it in the left circle and heads up ice.
He's got a Wolf in his pocket.
Across the blueline.
Across the red line.
Into the Wolfpack end.
He lowers a shoulder past the dot and pulls the puck iside the pocket clinging dernder who is trying to ride him out.
At the bottom of the circle he releases a very hard wrister ...................................................................................and

S____________C_____________O___________R_____________E_____________S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12:07
Legare
2-2

Over the course of the remaining 7 minutes both teams played it close to the edge. Neither wants to lose this thing.

Brodeur made a huge stop on Barbashev!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hardman is stopped.

Susese is stopped on another beauty by Brodeur.

Neither team taking any chances now with 4 to go and both teams tightening up in their own zones.

3:08 to go.

TV TO
2:04 to go

:32 to go
Faceoff int he Comets end

With time running out Engaras takes a "Hail Mary" from outside the blueline and Garand sends this one to OT.

3rd is over
2-2
SOG:
12-11 Hartford

OT -
Comets won the draw and took it into the HFD end and lost it.

Comets get it back in their own end and turn it over in the Wolfpack end again.

Comets get it back.

The Wolfpack bring it back in offsides and it's not called!!!! It's the 2nd time they have let a blatant offsides go unwhistled that a blind man would have called. Brodeur never lost his concentration and makes a stop, but it trickles to the goal line and Brodeur, on his belly, stretches out to pull it in just short of the goalline. They review it and they saw exactly what I saw.

Beckman shot goes off a leg. Comets back in their own zone. Bring it back into the Wolf end.. lose it and HFD brings it back to the Comets end, but once again turn it over.

Comets take that turn over and boost ir up ice and they have a 2 on 1 with Beckman carrying and Willman on his left. Pass to Willman directlty in the middle of the low slot and he whiffs!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hartford 3 on 2 staight across the Comets blueline. The shot is blocked in the high slot. Pass out to Beckman and he is all alone from center ice.
DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Garand stops him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now Brodeur a huge stop on Mackey all alone and he holds on.
1:22 to go.

Comets win the draw.

Selfish Halonen carries it the length of the ice. He's got a man with him. Won't pass it. Goes behind the net and loses it on the right wing boards.

Hartford takes it into the Utica zone. Comets battle along their right wing boards. Schmelzer burts free and wirs a pass to an uncoverd Strand. Strand comes out twith the puck. It's a 2 on 1 with Halonen. A little of your own medicne Halo. Strand shoots from the left dot and it's back out to Center. Parent gathers it up and brings it back in. He shoots......... It's knocked down and held by Garand.

:19 to go.

Engaras wins the draw clean, but it's wide of Vilen who was et up for a 1-timer. It's out of the zone and that ends the OT.

OT ends still 2-2
SOG 3-3

SHOOTOUT

Both teams had a shootut last night.

Utica beat Rochester in 9 rounds
Hartford beat Springfield in 7 rounds.

Hartford goes 1st

Round 1
Alex Belzile - SCORES
Max Willman - SCORES!

Round 2 -
Dylan RooBroeck - SAVE BRODEUR
Topias Vilen - SCORES!

If Brodeur stops their 3rd shooter the Comets win.
Fingers crossed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ROUND 3 -
Blake Hillman - BRODEUR the SAVE

COMETS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COMETS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!! COMETS WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Final score -
Utiuca Comets 3 Hartford WolfPack 2 (SO)

SOG:
UTC - 9 5 11 = 29
HFD - 7 14 12 = 36

PP:
UTC - 0/1
HFD - 0/1

Scoring:
Santeri Hatakka (1) Unassisted (EN Hartford own goal)
Nathan Legare (9) from Brian Halonen (11) and Xavier Parent (14)
Topias Vilen (OT GWG)

3 *s
#3 - Nathan Legare (Utica Comets) 1G
#2 - Jeremy Brodeur (34/36)
#1 - Topias Vilen (The OT game winning goal)

The Comets have won the first 2 of their 3 in 3 this weekend. Bothe wins i n Shootouts. The #1 reason for their success was the play of Isaac Poulter vs the Rochester Americans (31/33) and Jeremy Brodeur (34/36) vs the Hartford WolfPack.

UP next for the Comets -
Syracuse Crunch tomorrow (3/2) 3pm at the Utica Aud

They did. Backhand pass from the offensive corner split the defense during a delayed penalty.

Thanks to both of you guys. You stole my thunder. LOL

 

[Mgd31]

Utica swept a 3 game weekend. Pretty impressive

 

[My3Sons]

Utica swept a 3 game weekend. Pretty impressive

Dumping Nemec unlocked Utica

 

[Mgd31]

Dumping Nemec unlocked Utica

Yup him and Casey were the problem

 

[Emperoreddy]

 

[Bad Goalie]

3/2/25
Syracuse Crunch at Utica Comets

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

D-Pairs:
(8) Hatakka (6) White
( ) (7) Strand
( ) (3) MacKinnon

Goal - (1) Poulter

Period 1

Syracuse lead SOG 4-0

Foote gets the Comets 1st shot at 7:26.

Comets to the PK.

8:04
Hatakka
Hooking

Comets kill it. Syracuse 4 SOG. Poulter the answer on that PK. The Comets did not clear the zone until 9 seconds remained in the PP.

Comets 2nd shot didn't happen until almost 11 minutes were gone. After that shot the Comets got the last 3 shots of the period.

1st period ends
Syracuse had the advantage over what appeared to be a tired Comets team. That's understandable considering that Utica has gone to shootouts in victories on Friday and Saturday. Syracuse is als playing their 3rd in 3 nights meaning both squads may be feeling some fatigue, but since both for the Crunch games were played in Syracuse, I'd say the Comets, after a 9-round shootout on Friday, a bus trip to Hartford for a 6pm game settled in another shootout, and then a return bus trip to Utica for this 3pm game, are the more fatigued of the 2.
SOG:
9-5 Crunch

Period 2

2:38
Roman Schmidt
Legare
both off for Roughing.

17 seconds of 4 on 4 and the Crunch score.

2:56
Steven Santini
1-0 Syracuse Crunch

HOLY S**T!!!!!!!
Another Own Goal.

Schmelzer was tied up along the right wing boards with Tobie Bisson in the Crunch end. The puck squirted back to Conor Sheary dot high along the boards behind the other 2. He passed the puck to Steven Santini skating all alone to the right of his keeper apparently heading behind his own net. He wasn't expecting the pass from Sheary and in while in motion put his stick down to stop the puck while approaching the end line and he inavertently tipped it past a shocked Halverson.

Schmelzer the last Comet to touch the puck along the baords with Bisson gets credit for the goal.

I'd like some math wizard to calculate the odds of a team getting credit for goals in 2 games in 2 nights vs 2 different teams scored by the oppositon into their own nets!

4:24
Schmelzer (unassisted)
1-1
Both goals scored in the 4 on 4 situation.

Teams battling along the right wing boards for seemingly forever until it finally popped free to Bowers. Foote, who was in that board scrum after coming on the ice in a line change circled back out towards the blueline.
The puck went out to the blueline and Bowers and Beckman broke down the right wing boards with beckman leading the duo. Foote who had circled out high had broke back down the center of the ice to the left side of the slot uncontested. Bowers turned in looking to the middle and hit Foote in stride. Foote took the pass and fired it on the fly past Halverson.
G______________O_____________A____________L!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5:47
Foote
2-1 Comets

7:39
Dylan Duke
Holding the Stick
He was skating down the slot with the puck, dumped it and went after it. White was in his way and on his way by the little bit of interfernce by the slowing down White, he took White's stick out of his hands and threw it away.

Comets to the PP.

Just short of a minute later Willman blunders while on the PP.

8:38
Willman
Cross-checking

4 on 4 for 1:01 Then the Crunch will geta short PP.

Foote ripped a shot off the post

Duke's peanlty is up. Crunch get a :46 second PP.

PP over. 5 on 5

The parade continues.
10:57
Conor Sheary
Unsportsman like conduct
What's this?
also
Logan Brown
Hooking

Comets a 2-man advantage for a whole 2 minutes!!!!!

Crunch are stalling left and right, but here we go.

Halverson stops Foote 1 timer formthe high slot.
Beckman hits the right post.
Beckman shoots 1-timer wide.
Foote stopped from the right circle..
Beckman misses the net.
Beckman from the bottom of the right circle AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He S---C---O---R---E---S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12:29
Beckman PPG
3-1 Comets

Still :28 to go on the second penalty. No dice. Back to even strength.

Engaras is crushed in the Syracuse zone.

TVTO
5:27 to go

Crunch 2 good chances.
Jujhar Khaira shoots and Poulter denies him and
Conor Geekie the rebound and Poulter is there again1

Comets join the parade. Did you expect anything less?
15:31
Legare
Holding the stick

Comet sin 2 on1 and Stillman can't get a shot as the puck rolls in onm Halverson.

Schmelzer got it out but just across the blueline and they bring it right back in and score.

16:20
Jack Finley PPG
3-2 Utica

Comets keep the pressure on for the 3 minutes putting 3 shopts on Halverson and he stopped them all.

Period 2 ends
SOG:
13-8 Utica
2-period total:
18-17 Utica
That one was wild. Noody can actually take control of the game. It's back and forth with both teams getting good chances and both putting the puck in the net.
3-2 Utica

A ton of whistles in this game and it's taking forever. 2 priods and the ame is 2 hours old.T he number of stoppages may be an advantage for the Comets. They are getting a lot of little in game time for short rests.

Peiod 3

Play for the first 5 minutes has been ragged.

Now the Comets give the Crunch a chance to even this one up.
5:28
Misyul
Interference

Comets kill this penalty with the only shot coming from Nolan Foote in the first 30 seconds.

After killing the penalty while not allowing a shot on goal that let up and 14 seconds later the Crunch tie it up.

7:42
Steven Santini
3-3

Now 15 seconds after the tying goal the Comets go back on the PK.
7:57
Hatakka

That didn't take long!!!!!!!!!!!!
8:04
Max Crozier PPG
The Crunch get trhe lead 4-3 with 2 goals in the first 8 minutes of the period.

What a change of fate.
Just under 12 minutes to go and the Comets go from a 3-2 lead to a 4-3 deficit. 2 goals in 7 seconds.

Since the goal at 8:04 the Crunch have shut them down completely. 7 minutes without a shot.

TV TO
5:55 to go

15:35 and Colton White finally puts a shot on goal.

Comets seem to have reached for a last gasp with the White shot and are finally putting some pressure on Halverson.

Beckman takes a shot from the right point and it comes off Halverson's pad. It was deflected on the way in and he had problems with it and couldn't control the reboubnd, but no Comet was there to take advantage.

Willman shoots fromm the middle just across the bluline and Halverson holds on.

Willman shoots from the goal line about 6 feet from the right post and Halverson holds on.
Poulter to the bench with 3 minutes to go.

Misyul shoots from the left boards below the dot and halverson was able to get a stick on the shot from a weird angle.

Crunch clear it down and Strand reaches for it at his own blueline, misses and it go es all the way acoss the goal line and the LM calls it icing. A break there.

Poulter back on halfway to his blueline. Schmelzer wins the draw and there goes Poulter again.

Schmelzer shoots from the left circle. Halverson stops it offis mask and the rebound goes to Crozier in the left circle. aMax Crozier comits a huge error by shooting it over the glalss in an attempt to clear the zone off the glass.

Comets have put 6 shots on goal in the last 2 minutes!

Npow theyb go the PP!!!!!!

1:57 to go. The Comets are down by 1. They desperately need at least a point from this game after already having gained 4 in the last 2 nights to make it 5 in a 3 on 3 weekend.

Let's see waht Parent decides to do. Does he go 6 onm 4 or start out 5 on 4 and hold off fro a bit before calling poulter again.

Crozier going to the box drag assing. He is sick as you can imagine..

The Crunch call TO.

WE have our answer, Parent sends out 6 to take the faceoff. Schmelzer wins the draw.

Foote shoots from the top of the right circle and it deflects out of play.

Beckman gets a shot form the middle of the left circle and it deflects out of play.

1:31 to go.

Schmelzer wins the draw again! back to the point.
Beckman another shot anbd a body goes down to block i , but it stays in.

Beckmnan shoots again and it's blocked. again. :49 to go.

Foote shoots from the right circle halverson stops it and Halonen grabs the rebound and whips a spin around wrister that goes betrween Halverson's legs >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

HE S______________C______________O____________R____________E_____________S!!!!!!!
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:39 seconds to go and the Comets have snatched defeat from the Crunch.

I'm bettting on OT again for the 3rd stgraight night.
They won the first 2 in shootouts

SO far 5 points out of a possible 6 on a 3 in 3 weekend.

There's the horn. It's on to OVERTIME! The best they can do is win this one and only pick up a single point on the Crunch as Syracuse has already earned 1. A loss would allow Syracuse to add 2 points to their lead. The Comets really NEED this one.

BECKMAN! BECKMAN! BECKMAN! BECKMAN! BECKMAN! BECKMAN!
He took so many shots down the stretch and came up empty until this one. The most important shot of the game. He and Hartman got ion 2 on 1 and artman slid a hard shot into Halverson'ds feet that he had no chance to control and Beckman slammed the rebound past him!

C--O--M-E-T-S W----------------I---------------------------N!?!?&**!!

5-4 in OT

 

[Bad Goalie]

3/2/25
Syracuse Crunch at Utica Comets

Final Score -
Utica Comets 5 Syracuse Crunch 4 (OT)

SOG:
SYR - 9 8 5 1 = 23
UTC - 5 13 11 1 = 30

PP:
SYR - 2/5
UTC - 2/4

Scoring:
Schmelzer (15) Unassisted - Syracuse own goal
Foote (18) from Bowers (11)
Beckman (11) from Foote (19) and Strand (10) PPG
Halonen (20) from Foote (20) and Vilen (17) PPG
Beckman (12) from Hardman (9) and Vilen (18)

Poulter 19/23

3 *s
#3 - Brian Halonen (Utica Comets) 1 G
#2 - Nolan Foote (Utica Comets) 1 G
#1 - Adam Beckman (Utica Comets) 2 G

3 Point night for Adam Foote
2 Point night for both Beckman and Vilen

Comets win 3 in 3 a mighty task in itself, but having to take all 3 to OT and only getting the W in OT in 1 of them.
The other 2 were Shootouts.
The first in 9 rounds vs the AHL's #1 team, Rochester.
The 2nd in 3 rounds in Hartford.
D-man Topias Vilen scored the winner in the 2nd one and also scored in the 1st one.

Out of 11 shots taken, Vilen was the only Comet to score twice.

Comets record now stands at 22-24-4-2 for 50 Points
They trail 5th place Syracuse by 8 points and 6th place Belleville by 6. The 5th place is the goal and they have to get by both of the teams ahead of them.

I have already stated that doing such would be a miracle. They have won 5 of the last 6
and inched closedr. They did this once before and then lost few and all the ground gained was lost. These 5 wins has sarted the run all over again. The problem is they only have 20 games left and will have to maintain a clip close to the one they have just completed to have a chance.

Considering they lost the 1st 13 games they played. Just reaching .500 at season's end would be an accomplishment. They are only 2 wins below that magic number. Anything more would be gravy. A playoff berth would be a miracle.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Though Shane LaChance may very likely end up a Utica Comet if he takes a contract to start next season, He does not count as a W/C obtained by the NJ Devils brass for the Comets once the 13 losses to start the season, Therefore my countdown continues.

3/1/25 - NONE
3/2/25 - NONE
3/3/25 - NONE
3/4/25 - NONE

 

[Bad Goalie]

3/5/25
Utica Comets at Laval Rocket

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

D-Pairs:
(6) White (7) Strand
(83) Vilen (3) MacKinnon
(93) Misyul (3) Osipov

Goal - (1) Poulter

Laval is in a battle with Rochester for 1st place in the AHL North Division.
They have won 4 of the previous games this season.

I have a bad feeling about this one and that's all I"ll say.

Right off the draw in the Utica end and the Comets are already down 1-0. Shot from the right wing boards dot high or lower and it just beat Isaac clean.
1 shot - 1 goal.

2:23
Jared Davidson
1-0 Laval

Hartman went right to the net and caused Primeau to make a good stop in his crease.

Halonen hits a post.

Beckman misses a pass right in the low slot with Primeau out of position. That was a goal. They fail on so many of these chances.

TV TO
12:19 to go

Halfway through the 1st shots are 4 each.

Man are the Rocket getting great chances and their shots are very hard and fast! good thing those shots are missing the net.

Comets to the PK

TV TO
9:43 to go

10:17
Stillman
Slashing

Utica 25th in the AHL on the PK

Cleared down the ice.

Comets stop it at the Blueline and all the way down.

All the way down again. 1st minute gone.

Cleared out.

Cleared all the way down.

Tossed out of the zone.

Out again.
It's killed.

Legare stopped in close.

Halonen shot blocked right in the low slot.

Fight - MacKinnon and Florian Xhekaj.

MacKinnon seemed to take some punches then got his right loose and landed 2 .
Broken up.
Florian is bleeding.

Both get 5 for Fighting
Florian got a roughing as well

Comets to the PP.
1 minute gone and the Comets haven't yet set up

Now Vilen goes for 2.


14:11
Vilen
Tripping

4 on 4 for 1:11

Huge save on a shot by a Rocket taking a centering pass while cruising through the slot.
Comets have yet to touch the puck 4 on 4 and now it's a short PP.

Willman fails to collect a pass which would have sent him in alone.
4 on 4 favors the Rocket by a long shot. They are so much better skaters.

Back to 5 on 5.

TV TO
2:49 to go

2 on 1 and the Rocket score. Good pass across the crease and the 2nd Rocket gets credit. It was deflected by either the Rocket D-man who was the other in the 2 on 1 or Osipov. Both sticks were there.

17:26
David Reinbacher
2-0 Laval

4 on 4 again.

18:10
Reinbacher
Tripping
and
Parent
Roughing

They have scored again. Thrown in front, off Poulter, and another Rocket in front pumps in the rebound right on the doorstep.
These guys really crash the net.

18:42
Dauphin
3-0

Poulter looks lost tonight.

Bowers in all alone and easily stopped.

Beckman gets a bad giveaway and walks in and shoots from the right dot and >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>S--C--O--R--E--S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

19:47
Beckman
3-1

Comets gave up a goal inside the last 2 minutes of the period. An issue that has plagued them all season.

Period 1 ends
3-1 Laval
SOG:
11-9 Utica

Period 2

Comets to an early PP.

2:33
Zack Hayes
Tripping

Hartman a shot and it's cleared.

Hartman fans on a pass.

Willman saved on a shot forced at the left goal post.

Cross ice pass missed by Halonen at the left post.

Man the lack of hand eye exhibited by the Comets all season has hurt their goal scoring.

Misyul took a shot off his right foot and he is in some kind of pain. Laval iced it so he was able to get off.

Comets exert pressure 2 good shots and then Beckman passes it back to the blueline perfectly splitting his 2 D-men. That kills the Comets pressure vs a tired Rocket 5. Hockey IQ.

Halonen gets a good pass from Engaras at the net front off the rush. He whiffs again. Put your damned stick on the puck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MacKinnon shooting the puck ends any pressure the Comets have when he's out there. Shoots it high at a keeper with nobody in front of him. Cherry picking and a whistle.

Halfway through the second. 6-4 Comets in shots.

TV TO
8:52 to go.

Comets are shooting from far out because that shot is open, but they are not dangerous chances. SOG are not indicative of how dangerous those shots are or not.

2 on 1 with Engaras and Malone. Malone shoots and Primeau blockers it to the end boards.

Malone picks up the puck and brings it back and hits MacKinnon at the point.
MacKinnon wrister knocked aside and Willman has trhe puck 10 feet away from a wide open side, and shoots it wide.

Bowers and Beckman in pon a 2 on 1. Bowers slides it across and Beckman is stopped by a sliding primeau with a huge save.

All thes chances and the Comets come up empty. So often this ends up a goal when the opponrent finally gets a chance of their own. Primeau has been THE man up to this point.

TV TO
5:14 to go

Foote can't handle a cross ice pass at the bottom of the right circle with no challenge. So much of this all game long.

Halonen tries to stuff one at the right post and Primeau won't budge.

Primeau holds on again.

Poulter holds on with 1:18 to go last 2 minutes and the Comets are shaky again.

Halonen a shot off a faceoff with 5 seconds to go and primeau made the stop.

Period 2 is done
Still 3-1 Laval
SOG:
15-10 Utica
2-period total 26-19 Comets. Can't begin to count how many chances the Comets have failed to convert on open chances mostly due to whiffing, fumbling passes, or missing the net.

It's a Wednesday night in Laval Quebec at the Place Bell . The seating capacitry is 10,062 but there are no empty seats in that building. Sold out and the seats are full. They are not counting season ticket holders who aren't there like the Comets have done to make it seem more were there than actually were. Hockey is Canada's sport and they come out on any night of the week.

Period 3

Daws is being treated like a special case if the team in Laval is any evdience. Poulter is playing and Brodeur is backing up. Allen and Markstrom are healthy in NJ. The AHL transactions say Daws was sent back on 3/2. Unless that's just a paper move Daws is sitting back home in Utica.

Foote and Stillman are in and Stillman can't handle the pass from Foote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AGAIN!

2 stops by Poulter. A point shot and the rebound in tight. That would have been the end.

Laval will be clearing their zone any time the puck comes in and will not get outmanned on any Comets rushes.

Laval called for a penalty.

3:02
Lucas Condotta
Tripping

3:34
Stillman
Interference
What a dunce!

4 on 4
It's over

PP for the Rocket
Shot from far out and deflected in front and it's 4-1.

5:16
Logan Mailloux tipped from right in front.
4-1

I call this one all over except for the 13 remaining minutes to tick off.

TV TO
13:02 to go.

Shaya says there's lots of hockey left. 47 minutes and they have managed 1 goal and all of a suddenm 13 minutes is a lot of time left for them to score 3 goals without giving up any more.

Shots are now all even at 27 each. So much for that Comets advantage in shots.

The last 3 Laval goals have all come from right at the netfront.

Comets have not been able to make or take a pass since the 4th goal was scored.

TV TO
8:45 to go

Comets needed 3 goals to get even this period at this point they have 2 shots on goal. Laval has shut them down completely.

This shows the difference between the really good teams and those trying to get there when it comes to putting teams away once you have them on the ropes.

Comets pulled Poulter at 13:28.
They sent him back on a whistle.

Now Laval is penalized. Poulter is gone 6 on 4. 1-timer by Foote. Nope he missed it/flub.

Poulter back on and now off after they win the draw. Primeau a save.

A lot of puck movemanet but no shots on net.

4:20 to go. 6 on 5 with Poulter still off.

16:12
Misyul High Sticking
trippimg.
Now a bench penalty.
Unsportsmanlike conduct
Malone serves it.

5 on 3 for the Rocket
Poulter has killed the 1st minute.

A Laval slap shot is wide and off the boardsa and all the way down.

Back in and Osipov clears it down

Laval back in Poulter agian and it's out again.

They come back in and more work by Poulter, but they finally score.

18:15
Joshua Roy
5-1

Game over.

FInal score -
Laval Rocket 5 utica Comets 1

SOG:
UTC - 11 15 6 = 32
LAV - 9 10 13 = 32

PP:
UTC - O/4
LAV - 1/5

Scoring:
Beckman (13) Unassisted

Poulter - 27/32

Next up Syracuse Crunch at Utica on Friday 3/7/25.

Curent standings are:

5 - Belleville 60 Pts (defeated Hershey today)
6 - Syracuse 58 Pts
7 - Utica 50 Pts
All 3 have played 53 Games according to AHL.com standings

That means the Comets are 10 points out of the playoffs. Their task has always been monumental and each loss makes it more impossible to perform a miracle.

I have already said if they could reach .500 it would be a remarkable finish considering they started the season with 13 losses. They are curreently 3 games under at 22-25-4-2.