Nation Sites
The Nation Network
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
A Look Back At Utica’s First Round Win Over Chicago
Courtesy: UticaComets.com
The Utica
Comets wrapped up their first ever playoff series doing things their parent
club could not: winning 3 games and eliminating their opponents. When we reviewed the series we noted that the Comets had nearly
the upper hand in all facets between the two teams (with the edge to Chicago in
shot suppression).
Comets wrapped up their first ever playoff series doing things their parent
club could not: winning 3 games and eliminating their opponents. When we reviewed the series we noted that the Comets had nearly
the upper hand in all facets between the two teams (with the edge to Chicago in
shot suppression).
The first
series went the full five games. With
three of the games ending in overtime and four of the games being won by a
single goal, it does not take any deep analysis to realize how easily this
series could have been won by either team.
series went the full five games. With
three of the games ending in overtime and four of the games being won by a
single goal, it does not take any deep analysis to realize how easily this
series could have been won by either team.
Let’s look
deeper into what went down between these two teams.
deeper into what went down between these two teams.
Possession
We can see
in the game by game possession statistics for this series that the Chicago
Wolves were not able to suppress the shots against by Utica. Utica not only controlled this series but
they dominated at an elite level. In a
series where the shots were 195 to 132, it is quite surprising that the series
goal differential for the Comets was only 13 to 11. It would have been quite easy for Chicago to
have quickly eliminated the Comets.
in the game by game possession statistics for this series that the Chicago
Wolves were not able to suppress the shots against by Utica. Utica not only controlled this series but
they dominated at an elite level. In a
series where the shots were 195 to 132, it is quite surprising that the series
goal differential for the Comets was only 13 to 11. It would have been quite easy for Chicago to
have quickly eliminated the Comets.
Breaking
these goals down to even-strength we do not see much of a trend in terms of the
Comets out-scoring Chicago. For the
first three games the Comets lead with a small margin but at the end of 5 games
the Comets and Wolves both had scored 7 even-strength goals each
these goals down to even-strength we do not see much of a trend in terms of the
Comets out-scoring Chicago. For the
first three games the Comets lead with a small margin but at the end of 5 games
the Comets and Wolves both had scored 7 even-strength goals each
From the
results perspectives on special teams the Comets did not replicate the
results. Despite having nearly equaled
as many special team opportunities (24 to the Wolves 25) the Comets never were
ahead in special teams goals.
results perspectives on special teams the Comets did not replicate the
results. Despite having nearly equaled
as many special team opportunities (24 to the Wolves 25) the Comets never were
ahead in special teams goals.
Their power
play was slightly more successful than their regular season counter-part having
scored on 5 of their 24 attempts. Their
penalty kill was not nearly as successful allowing 6 goals against on 25
attempts – nearly 10% lower than their season average.
play was slightly more successful than their regular season counter-part having
scored on 5 of their 24 attempts. Their
penalty kill was not nearly as successful allowing 6 goals against on 25
attempts – nearly 10% lower than their season average.
We are not
able to isolate shots to special teams so it is hard to be certain if these
results were driven in scoring variance (most likely give the small sample) or
if the Comets did not fare well here. We
knew going into the series the power play was going to be their Achilles heel –
but it turned out to be the opposite in that a bad penalty kill nearly cost the
Comets the series.
able to isolate shots to special teams so it is hard to be certain if these
results were driven in scoring variance (most likely give the small sample) or
if the Comets did not fare well here. We
knew going into the series the power play was going to be their Achilles heel –
but it turned out to be the opposite in that a bad penalty kill nearly cost the
Comets the series.
Goaltenders
If the
Comets were outplaying and out-shooting the Wolves, yet the goals were nearly
even, then how did the Wolves almost beat the Comets? Two words: Jordan Binnington.
Comets were outplaying and out-shooting the Wolves, yet the goals were nearly
even, then how did the Wolves almost beat the Comets? Two words: Jordan Binnington.
Binnington
nearly won the entire series for the Wolves having stood on his head for the
entire series. Despite the sheer amount
of shots the Comets were generating they were only able to score a few goals
against him. If it were not for the fact
the Comets were able to create as much offence as they did, the Comets likely
would have lost as Binnington was playing on top of his game.
nearly won the entire series for the Wolves having stood on his head for the
entire series. Despite the sheer amount
of shots the Comets were generating they were only able to score a few goals
against him. If it were not for the fact
the Comets were able to create as much offence as they did, the Comets likely
would have lost as Binnington was playing on top of his game.
We cannot
dismiss the Comets goaltenders though.
Jacob Markstrom started and played all 5 games for the Comets and he did
not fare too bad himself. Markstrom had
as many Quality Starts as Binnington did in the five game series, played above
average (0.9158 so far in the AHL playoffs), but was not as good as he was in
the regular season.
dismiss the Comets goaltenders though.
Jacob Markstrom started and played all 5 games for the Comets and he did
not fare too bad himself. Markstrom had
as many Quality Starts as Binnington did in the five game series, played above
average (0.9158 so far in the AHL playoffs), but was not as good as he was in
the regular season.
Given that
Binnington was able to post a save percentage nearly 2% higher than Markstrom
it comes to no surprise that the games were much closer in score than play
suggested. Binnington alone caused the
Comets to post sub-100 PDOs throughout the series. After 5 games the Comets finished with a
6.67% shooting percentage and a 91.67% save percentage for a PDO of 98.33%.
Binnington was able to post a save percentage nearly 2% higher than Markstrom
it comes to no surprise that the games were much closer in score than play
suggested. Binnington alone caused the
Comets to post sub-100 PDOs throughout the series. After 5 games the Comets finished with a
6.67% shooting percentage and a 91.67% save percentage for a PDO of 98.33%.
Players
We cannot
finish this deep dive without touching on the players. The AHL lacks the data to know what
individual possession statistics were but we did see many storylines emerge
through the series. Young Canucks such
as Hunter Shinkaruk had a great start to the series; Sven Baertschi returned to
Utica to post over a point a game; Brendan Gaunce emerged from his 2 game
benching to win the series; while Nicklas Jensen brought some negative light to
himself as he continued to not perform at the level his first-round pedigree
would indicate.
finish this deep dive without touching on the players. The AHL lacks the data to know what
individual possession statistics were but we did see many storylines emerge
through the series. Young Canucks such
as Hunter Shinkaruk had a great start to the series; Sven Baertschi returned to
Utica to post over a point a game; Brendan Gaunce emerged from his 2 game
benching to win the series; while Nicklas Jensen brought some negative light to
himself as he continued to not perform at the level his first-round pedigree
would indicate.
Goals came
from a variety of different players with no one player standing out for the
entire series.
from a variety of different players with no one player standing out for the
entire series.
Similar to
the goal scorers, those who were credited with the assists came from a
committee of players. Cal O’Reilly
continues to be a playmaking machine having earned 7 assists in the first round
alone. Canucks prospects Baertschi,
Friesen and Grenier all continued their strong play.
the goal scorers, those who were credited with the assists came from a
committee of players. Cal O’Reilly
continues to be a playmaking machine having earned 7 assists in the first round
alone. Canucks prospects Baertschi,
Friesen and Grenier all continued their strong play.
Scouting Notes
We had our KWings Insiderrr Sarah Hobday at one of the games in the series and she provided us these scouting notes:
My thoughts/notes on game 2:
- As
expected this was a pretty tight and physical game. The way Utica and
Chicago battle you would think it was a big rivalry team that they faced
10 times in the regular season.- 7 penalties were called in the 1st period (4 on Utica and 3 on Chicago) so special teams got lots of work.
- Bancks, Hamilton, Biega, and Huskins were on the 1st PK unit. DeFazio,
Corrado, O’Reilly, and Clendening were on the 2nd PK unit. Utica did a
poor job of clearing the zone during the first penalty kill of the game.
Utica did a better job during the second penalty kill by limiting
Chicago chances.- Grenier, O’Reilly, Shinkaruk,
Conacher, and Sanguinetti were on the 1st PP unit. Jensen, Friesen,
Conacher, Corrado, and Clendening were on the 2nd PP unit.- On the PP Grenier was usually positioned right in front of the net and was hard to move from that spot.
- Grenier got into the first tussle of the game during the first PP.
- The 1st period was all Utica – especially with all the great PP scoring
chances. The Chicago goalie, Binnington, stood on his head and was the
reason Utica didn’t score in the 1st.- Chicago opened the 2nd period with a PP goal at 1:10 when Utica failed to clear the zone.
- The momentum shifted to Chicago after they opened scoring. Chicago
dominated the rest of the game with continued outstanding play by
Binnington.- Shinkaruk scored a gorgeous goal in
the 2nd to tie up the game. But Chicago came back less than 2 minutes
later to score what became the game winning goal.- I
continue to be impressed with how much Grenier has grown and improved
as a player in the last couple years. I watched him often with Kalamazoo
in the 2012-13 season and saw a lot of potential in him. Grenier’s hard
work is evident in that he has grown in every aspect of his game. He
has a knack for scoring and really uses his size well.- Archibald saw limited ice time – most likely due to all the special team play.
Looking
Forward
As the
Comets wrapped up their first round in a much tighter and exhilarating series
than they probably wished. Looking at
the next round the Oklahoma City Barons are an even weaker possession team and
the Comets should be able to beat them.
Instead of five games the Comets will play a best-of-seven series which
should hopefully see the shooting variance turn to their favour.
Comets wrapped up their first round in a much tighter and exhilarating series
than they probably wished. Looking at
the next round the Oklahoma City Barons are an even weaker possession team and
the Comets should be able to beat them.
Instead of five games the Comets will play a best-of-seven series which
should hopefully see the shooting variance turn to their favour.
Then again,
this first round shows despite playing your best a hot goaltender can win (or
lose) the series for you.
this first round shows despite playing your best a hot goaltender can win (or
lose) the series for you.
Breaking News
- Canucks defenceman Filip Hronek reportedly injured in chippy IIHF exhibition game
- What does the future hold after Nils Höglander’s worst career season?: Year in Review
- With their season on the line, Stars healthy scratching ex-Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers vs. Wild
- Which teams do Canucks fans least want to see win the NHL Draft Lottery?
- Marco Rossi managed solid production despite mid-season trade and battling injuries: Year in Review