The Utica Comets | 2020-2021 Thread

[Bad Goalie]

Comets have been called for 5 penalties and Sracuse is 0/5. Good news, NO?

Comets got 2 PPs and coughed up another SHGA.
Reinke got to the puck in the right corner and was pressed immediately, but got it clean to Tucker behind the net. He took his sweet time setting it up for himself and had the puck stolen and centered in the same move. Raddysh was naked and alone in front of the net and snapped it home without stopping it and beat Hofer from 1o feet. The kid didn't have a chance .

1-0 Syracuse.

SOG -
Crunch - 13
Utica - 9
The first was a mixed up mess as far as lines and D-pairings. 5 penalty kills and 2 Power Plays makes that happen. Hofer was the difference in the period. The 4th line barely saw the ice anywhere but from the bench.

Major problem for the Comets was the failure to win a draw at either end of the ice. The result was the Crunch power play always had the puck. At the other end the Crunch breakout was on the move or the Comets PP was going back to their own to get the puck and had all kinds of trouble just getting back into the offensive zone.

All in all it was poor period by the Comets and are lucky it's only 1-0.

 

[Bad Goalie]

2nd is underway

Comets on the PK for 1:29. They get the kill.

Now the Comets are on a PP, but Hofer saved their bacon or they would have surrendered their 2nd SHG of the game. Comets gave up a 2 on 1 and Hofer made a great stop.

Focht hits the crossbar.

Now the Comets to another PP.
Now it's a 5 on 3.
Their 4th 5 on 3 in the last 3 games.
They manage to get one shot. 0/4 on those 4 5 on 3s.

McKenzie gets a shot from the doorstep and Montembeault deflects it over his net. Mckenzie charges behind the net from the LW side and scoops up the puck and comes out on the RW side and scores on the wrap around while his body is still behind the goalline.

Great goal and a 1-1 game.

From this point I will refer to the Crunch keeper as Monte.

 

[Fatass]

2nd is underway

Comets on the PK for 1:29.

Winning 2-1 after two, and Gads with his 10th. Comets look to have their legs, and are skating much better than those first games back. Bone is amazing. Kid has NHL star written all over him.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets to another PP and Anas wires a tape to tape pass into the crease to Gadjovich. Gadj had camped out slanted his blade at the net and Anas hit it square. The puck deflected in top shelf.

2-1 Comets.

You could see what Jonah was showing Anas and Sam it on the nose.

Comets got another PP and the only scare was Focht hitting his 2nd post.

 

[Bad Goalie]

2nd ends 2-1 Comets.

SOG:
Crunch - 3
Comets - 22

That's right! 22 shots and 2 goals.

2-period total 37-17 Comets.

 

[Fatass]

2nd ends 2-1 Comets.

SOG:

GREAT GOal by
gads. Unbelievable up by
Bone. MY God Bone is brilliant.
Lockwood is flying too. LETs get these kids up in
Van.

 

[Bad Goalie]

3rd is under way.

Anas and Gadjovich get out together 2 on 4. Anas works around, dipsy doodle in and out, in and out, back and forth. Keepaway from the Crunch while in their faces. It opened Gadj off to his left for a pass and he wired it home. 1:18 into the period

Comets up 3-1.

 

[Bad Goalie]

ANOTHER SCORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Right off the draw from the left side.
Jasek to Baertschi and he wires it home.

4-1

3:18 into the 3rd.

 

[Bad Goalie]

What a swipe of the leather by Hofer.

Kielly might be looking at becoming the #2.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets to the PP again.
4 on 2 Crunch after the penalty ends. Hofer a save and arebound and the open Crunch froward with a broken stick and a real big break for Hofer.

No pun intended.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Now the Crunch to the PP. Comets had an 8-5 edge. If refs attempt to even it up, there will be a parade of Comets to the box. It's 8-6 now.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Lockwood is a good penalty killer.

 

[Fatass]

A couple of the CAnuck Comets really looking good. Bone and Lockwood are clearly NHL players. Gads plays like a slot machine. In the right situation he could help us. But Bone is just so gooood.

 

[Grantham]

Now I know why BG is big on Sam Anas. Kid put on a globetrotter routine and had Syracuse #64 spinning like a top. The Manchild then collects the dish and rifles it home the.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets kill the penalty.

Gadj grazes Monte's mask

2 on 1 the other way.
Rathbone makes a great play to foil it.

2 big stops by Hofer. This kid is settling into a zone. Kielly could definitely find himself #2.

Kielly will get his games with the congested schedule the Comets have ahead of them.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Monte a great save on a Comets 2 0n 1. Good pass from Jasek and McKenzie was stopped on a better save.

Comets to a PP with 3:39 to go in the 3rd.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Comets get out 3 on 1 after defending against the shorthanded Crunch in the Comets zone. It got all messed up but Jasek held the puck on the outside between the circle and the boards and waited. Reinke appeared coming down the slot, Jasek hit him on the fly, and he roofed it.

G______O_____A_____L

5-1 Comets.

 

[Grantham]

Can already see that Rathbone is more direct and decisive defensively than QH. Has made two really nice defensive plays this game. Very quick. Can see is is more similar to Makar in that way than Hughes. No slight to Quinn, as I think he is still better overall offensively, save the shot.

 

[Grantham]

Double post...

 

[Bad Goalie]

:30 seconds to go in this one.

2-game losing streak comes to an end. Hofer was outstanding. He held them in this one during a very sloppy first by his mates including 5 penalties.

His boys woke up and the snowball just kept rolling down the hill and they got better and better. 22 shots in the 2nd and gained a 2-1 lead.

They came out supercharged in the 3rd scoring 2 goals in the first 3:18 to take over at 4-1.

They added a PPG at 17:31 to put the game to rest.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Final score;
Utica Comets 5 Syracuse Crunch 1

SOG:
Crunch - 14 3 8 = 25
Comets - 9 22 16 = 47

PP:
Crunch - 0/6
Comets - 2/9 (Didn't help their PP% a whole lot.)

McKenzie (2) from Rathbone (5), N.Stevens (7)
Gadjovich (10) from Anas (10) and Reinke (7) PP
Gadjovich (11) from Anas (11) and Rathbone (6)
Baertschi (3) from McKenzie (2) and Jasek (8)
Reinke (1) from Baertschi (6) and Jasek (9) PP

3 Stars:
1 Jonah Gadjovich (Utica Comets) 2G
2 Joel Hofer (Utica Comets) 24/25
3 Curtis McKenzie (Utica Comets) 1G/1A

My honorable mentions:
Sven Baertschi (Utiuca Comets) 1G/1A
Mitch Reinke (Utica Comets) 1G/1A
Sam Anas (Utica Comets) 2A
Jack Rathbone (Utica Comets) 2A
Taylor Raddysh (Syracuse Crunch) 1 Assist and was a thorn in the Comets side all night long.
Lukas Jasek (Utica Comets) 2A

Hofer hadn't played a game in a year when he reported to the Comets from the St.Louis Taxi. He was a little stunned when ther Crunch scored 17 seconds into the first period on Saturday. However, like a good goalie he got down to business and mad a bunch of fantastic saves or that 5 goal Crunch total could just as easily have been 10. He picked up here tonight and was in the zone. In spite of the Comets offesnsive surge, they coughed the puck up like 3 shots for a dollar all over the rink and Joel was often left to bail their sorry asses out and he did so with luster and earned his first professional win. For those who don't realize it, he is a 20 yr-0ld rookie and just might turn out to be a real good one for the Blues.

 

[Bad Goalie]

McGing has to be happy that Witkowski was scratched by the Crunch tonight. He took Wit hard into the end boards on Saturday and left him lying in a heap. Whwn he got up he was hunting McGing and Arseneau intercepted him it was a knock 'em sock 'em robot bout. Arseneau went to the locker room and Witkowski didn't return. A bigger reason for Hugh to breathe a sigh of relief not to see Witkowski was that Cull had scratched Arseneau and thus, McGing would not have had a body guard.

The fact is the Crunch were without 6 players who defeated the Comets last Saturday night in Syracuse. A big missing piece was Alex Barre-Boulet. He was recalled to Tampa. Witkowski was joined by 4 others on the scratch list. You see, teams with adequate rosters rotate bodies. The Crunch team the Comets play tomorrow will have a fresher lineup while the Comets will likely ice much the same outfit. Teves may be a slight upgrade on Wesley, but Wesley actually did okay tonight. Cameron out and Arseneau in would be an upgrade. Jackson in and Cameron out would be meh.

Think we probably see Kielly tomorrow. It's been Hofer in the last 2 and this is a back to back tomorrow. They go again on Friday in Providence and I'd guess that's Hofer turn again.

 

[orcatown]

Team struggled early but seemed to get their legs under them (first time since the return to play) in the second. Same with the PP. Looked disorganized early but started producing and that was critical to the win.

Canuck prospects

Gadjovich - continues to look dangerous around the net. Skating is the big issue and you still have to be worried about it if he moves to the next level. Got to get more spring in that first step.

Lockwood - has great wheels and good top end speed. Had forechecking shift in the early part of the second that seemed to get team going (as pointed out by the color guy) Very strong effort there and also on some of his later shifts. Did a good job on the PK. However has to start scoring

Focht - again liked his game. Was probably as good as anyone in his puck movement on the PP when he got the chance. Came back well and helped break up plays as well. His play making and passes are creating some scoring chances

Woo - steady. Thing to like is how he moves the puck quickly - its rarely long on his stick. Indicates he is anticipating the next pass or play as the puck is coming to him. That's a huge attribute. Don't have that (see new guy Bowey) and you can't play at the next level.

Jasek - given a very central role on the team - on the first line, the PP and the PK. Yet I don't think he is exploiting this chance as much as he should. I thought he was weak on the PP, ok on the PK and so-so 5 on 5. Kind of wish this opportunity for development was going to a better prospect than Jasek. Made a nice pass on the final goal.

Eliot - stepped in when Rathbone got run and gave some pay back. Energetic player but little helter skelter in his end. Does provide some up ice push.

Rathbone - outstanding skater and did a good job of walking the line on the PP. Looks best with Woo. Comets went with 5 d-men and didn't think that Rathbone meshed well with some others. Really looks for the stretch pass. Probably has the highest ceiling of any Canuck prospect in Utica.

Others

Hofer - looks like St. Louis has very good goal tending prospect here. He kept the team in it in the first when the Comets got totally dominated (5 penalties against didn't help) Very composed goal tender with seemingly few weaknesses. Looks excellent.

Anas - was turnover machine through lot of the game but then made a couple of good plays that led to goals. Getting him back into top form is critical for the team.

After the very bad last effort against Crunch nice to see the team bounce back.

 

[UticaHockey]

McGing has to be happy that Witkowski was scratched by the Crunch tonight. He took Wit hard into the end boards on Saturday and left him lying in a heap. Whwn he got up he was hunting McGing and Arseneau intercepted him it was a knock 'em sock 'em robot bout. Arseneau went to the locker room and Witkowski didn't return. A bigger reason for Hugh to breathe a sigh of relief not to see Witkowski was that Cull had scratched Arseneau and thus, McGing would not have had a body guard.

The fact is the Crunch were without 6 players who defeated the Comets last Saturday night in Syracuse. A big missing piece was Alex Barre-Boulet. He was recalled to Tampa. Witkowski was joined by 4 others on the scratch list. You see, teams with adequate rosters rotate bodies. The Crunch team the Comets play tomorrow will have a fresher lineup while the Comets will likely ice much the same outfit. Teves may be a slight upgrade on Wesley, but Wesley actually did okay tonight. Cameron out and Arseneau in would be an upgrade. Jackson in and Cameron out would be meh.

Think we probably see Kielly tomorrow. It's been Hofer in the last 2 and this is a back to back tomorrow. They go again on Friday in Providence and I'd guess that's Hofer turn again.

Sounds like Kielly may be banged up. Jason Shaya and Gary Heenan were speculating last night if Hofer will start again tonight or if they will give Fitzpatrick his first start.

 

[THRILLHOIAF]

Focht - again liked his game. Was probably as good as anyone in his puck movement on the PP when he got the chance. Came back well and helped break up plays as well. His play making and passes are creating some scoring chances

Agreed, he's probably the best part about PP2 -- I wonder if the team would consider moving him up to PP1 in place of Jasek.
PP1 is loaded with too many distributors as is and need a shooter other than Gadjovich's net-front tips. Which is legitimately their only PP1 scoring play right now.

PP2 has dynamic puck movement thanks to Rathbone but the shooters on PP2 are awful. Jasek would automatically be the best forward distributor on PP2. Which is something they need. Nolan Stevens, Curtis McKenzie and Hugh McGing are not good powerplay distributors, but Jasek is.

Jasek - given a very central role on the team - on the first line, the PP and the PK. Yet I don't think he is exploiting this chance as much as he should. I thought he was weak on the PP, ok on the PK and so-so 5 on 5. Kind of wish this opportunity for development was going to a better prospect than Jasek. Made a nice pass on the final goal.

I have a favourable outlook on Jasek -- last season he struggled HARD with 5v5 matchups, but this season I think he's done pretty well. Unfortunately, like the Comets issues with their powerplay, he has no shooter on his line. McKenzie is a good puck retriever and battler, but Jasek and Baertschi are BOTH distributors without a finisher.

That's true for pretty much the entire Comets lineup. There's such a lack of shooters on the team it's crazy.

With Kole Lind up with the Canucks, the second highest goal scorer is *checks notes* JOHN STEVENS followed by a tie between Baertschi and VINNY ARSENEAU!

Eliot - stepped in when Rathbone got run and gave some pay back. Energetic player but little helter skelter in his end. Does provide some up ice push.

I wonder if they'd ever try converting him to a winger JUST for the powerplay. He has an absolute BOMB of a shot. Could do serious damage if put in the Boucher spot as a one-timer option.