CanucksArmy Utica Comets Post-Game: The Comets Lose 3-2 to the Crunch to End Their Winning Streak At 3.

The 19th place Utica Comets were in for a test today as they welcomed the eighth overall Syracuse Crunch to the Adirondack Bank Center for their fifth meeting of the season.

The Comets had won two of the previous four games and lost one of them in a shootout. Utica had faired pretty well against the Crunch this season, but there was a six-point gap between them in the standings.

The Comets held a wide edge on the power-play, with Utica sitting eighth overall, and the Crunch being ranked 20th. Utica also held an advantage on the penalty-kill, though they did not have as big an edge as they did on the power-play. Utica sat seventh, while the Crunch sat eighth-overall while down a man.

Matthew Peca was the Syracuse points leader with 28 in 36 games, while their blue-line was led by Jamie McBain with 18 in 34 games. Reid Boucher was still the Comets points leader with 30 in 27 games, while blue-liner Philip Holm led the back end with 19 in 29 games this season.

Holm was also second amongst AHL defensemen with five power-play goals this season. He also sat 17th league-wide for points by a defenseman.

Patrick Wiercioch was still first amongst AHL defensemen with two shorthanded goals this season.

The Comets had been red-hot of late, having won their previous three games. The Crunch, however, had been hotter, having won six straight.

Utica had gone 5-2-1-2 over their previous 10 contests, while the Crunch had gone 7-3-0-0 over the same span.

In 36 games this season, the Crunch had scored 124 goals, while giving up 101. The Comets, for their part, had done a nice job of closing the gap with their goals for differential, coming into the game having scored 105 goals while giving up 106 in 36 games.

In the previous four games between the two teams, Anthony Cirelli led all players with five points, all assists. Cirelli is a player that I’d like to see the Canucks try to target in trade if they can work a deal with the Lightning. Philip Holm had only played in three of the first four games between the two clubs, but he led all Comets with three points.

In other Comets news, Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 in Vancouver sent out a few tweets of interest to Comets fans this morning. Dhaliwal had been speaking with Comets GM Ryan Johnson about Thatcher Demko and what he has meant to Utica this season.

First, Johnson touched on the fact that the Comets are in a playoff position, despite their plethora of injuries, call-ups and the sheer volume of PTO players they’ve used on their roster this season. I agree with Johnson that Demko has played a huge part in any success that the Comets have had this season, but I also wouldn’t sell Trent Cull and his staff short. Cull has kept this team focused, and has all his players pulling on the same end of the rope this season.

Next, the GM gave his thoughts on the idea of Demko being called up to help the Canucks. Johnson is not a fan of that idea and I have to say that I agree with him.

Scratched for the Comets today were: Cam Darcy, (injured), Jayson Megna, (injured), Yan-Pavel Laplante, (injured), Jaime Sifers, (injured), Evan McEneny, (injured), Griffen Molino, (injured), Brady Brassart, (injured), Joe LaBate, (injured), Alexis D’Aoust, (injured), Carter Bancks, (injured), Brendan Woods, (injured), Danny Moynihan, and Anton Cederholm.

24 Reid Boucher – 36 Wacey Hamilton – 15 Zack MacEwen

25 Darren Archibald (A) – 19 Cole Cassels (A) – 58 Michael Carcone

44 Adam Comrie – 82 Andrew Cherniwchan – 22 David Dziurzynski

18 Vincent Arseneau – 27 Tony Cameranesi – 39 Marco Roy

6 Ashton Sautner (A) – 8 Dylan Blujus

52 Philip Holm – 55 Guillaume Brisebois

28 Patrick Wiercioch – 5 Jalen Chatfield

30 Thatcher Demko

The Comets were wearing their green jerseys for today’s game. I wish the Canucks would wear something similar as a third jersey, love those greens.

Wacey Hamilton made his return to the lineup today after missing the last 11 with an injury. Hamilton started the game between Reid Boucher and Zack MacEwen, but he would be replaced by Tony Cameranesi after the first shift.

The Cassels, Archibald, Carcone line came out and had a solid shift spent almost entirely in the Crunch zone, but the Comets were otherwise pretty flat looking in the opening minutes of this one.

Thatcher Demko was playing some very good hockey in the opening frame, facing 16 shots. One of those shots came early off the stick of Carter Verhaeghe when he came wide on a wraparound, only to be thwarted by Demko. That save was followed up by a point shot through a crowd that Thatcher covered up.

The first five minutes went by without the Comets managing a shot on net.

The Crunch, however, were getting shots and at the 5:08 mark Daniel Walcott redirected a Verhaeghe shot past Demko to put the visitors up 1-0. The goal was Walcott’s second of the season, while Verhaeghe earned his 16th assist of the season.

Just 11 seconds after the Walcott goal, Alex Gallant was sent off for interference when he hit Hamilton from behind. Adam Erne was sent off 1:30 later for delay of game after he sent a puck over the glass.

The Comets had their chances on the power-play. Tony Cameranesi redirected a puck in front, which Connor Ingram was able to get a pad on. Adam Comrie grabbed the rebound and sent it right back on Ingram, but once again, he was equal to the task. The Comets would be unable to capitalize on their power-play. That would be a common theme today.

Wacey Hamilton would be sent off for boarding at the 9:08 mark when he crushed Ben Thomas behind the Syracuse net. A scrum ensued, but cooler heads prevailed and Hamilton was the lone man heading to the box.

Demko was once again being Demko, making a nice save off of a Matthew Peca shot. The Comets would kill off the Hamilton minor.

Patrick Wiercioch had a nice wraparound chance with Cameranesi and Archibald banging away for a rebound, but Ingram held strong.

Reid Boucher nearly set Guillaume Brisebois up for a goal when he caught the defenseman streaking into the Crunch zone with a hot pass. Brisebois ripped the puck on net and the crowd heard it ring off the iron.

Adam Comrie would tie the game at one at the 12:47 mark when he ripped a one-timer past Ingram for his third goal of the season. Ashton Sautner earned his sixth helper of the year on the play, while Dylan Blujus also picked up his sixth assist of the season.

Demko was forced to make a big save off of Mat Bodie right after the Comrie goal. Thatcher came to play today. Demko then made back to back saves off of Michael Bournival and Mitchell Stephens.

Vincent Arseneau was sent off for holding at the 16:11 mark and the Comets would head to the penalty-kill. Dylan Blujus was blocking shots and clearing pucks, doing good work once again on the kill.

Michael Bournival put the Crunch up 2-1 just after the penalty expired. Bournival took a feed in tight from behind the net and beat Demko for his 12th goal of the season. Matthew Peca picked up his 21st assist on the play, while Erik Condra earned his fourth.

That would be it for the first period. The Crunch had a 16-8 advantage on the shot clock in the opening frame.

The second period kicked off with a nice early chance by David Dziurzynski that was turned aside by Ingram.

We would see some rough stuff early when Marco Roy was whistled for boarding at the 2:16 mark. Roy wasn’t the only player being penalized though as Daniel Walcott was also assessed with a boarding penalty as well as an unsportsmanlike call. The Comets would end up with a brief power-play. It was only a brief power-play because Philip Holm was sent off for slashing just 13 seconds later.

During the four on four play, Reid Boucher ripped a shot past Ingram to pick up his 17th goal of the season. Patrick Wiercioch was awarded his 10th assist of the season on the play, while Zack MacEwen earned his 14th.

Shortly after the goal, it looked like Boucher might get another as he had two chances before drawing a tripping penalty on Kevin Lynch. Boucher has been very good at drawing penalties in Utica this season.

Thatcher Demko had to be sharp on the power-play as Peca came in with a shorthanded chance but the steady netminder turned him aside. Demko was wearing some pretty sweet looking new pads today. Not only does the kid stop pucks like a beast, he looks the part too.

Michael Carcone had a nice chance that Ingram got the glove on to keep the game tied at two.

Reid Boucher’s bread and butter this season has been that potent one-timer that he can get off quickly. He tested Ingram with another, which the netminder gobbled up. Cole Cassels got into a scrum after the puck was smothered. Cassels is looking confident right now.

Dylan Blujus was sent off for slashing at the 10:17 mark after Demko made a save off of Adam Erne. The Comets penalty-kill would get down to work and kill the Blujus minor.

Wiercioch had a big point shot tipped just wide by Hamilton. Wiercioch was having another solid game for the Comets today. It’s too bad the big fella never got a chance while he was up with the Canucks. Maybe later in the season after Jim Benning swings a deal or two up top.

Guillaume Brisebois was having another solid game. He had a nice shot turned aside by Ingram midway through the period.

Michael Bournival was sent off for tripping at the 14:08 mark and the Comets went back to the power-play. The Comets had chances but couldn’t get anything past Ingram.

Demko made a big save through traffic late off of the stick of Mat Bodie and the period would finish up with the Comets showing a 17-7 advantage on the shot clock.

The Comets came out quickly to start the third period but Philip Holm’s hip check at the 2:02 mark that was somehow considered a tripping penalty would put a damper on that quick start.

Carter Verhaeghe would take just 22 seconds to put the Crunch up 3-2 when he was left all alone in the slot while a scrum went on in the corner. The puck squirted loose from the pile right to Verhaeghe, who would make no mistake with a shot to the glove side on Demko. The goal was the eighth of the season for Verhaeghe. Mat Bodie earned his 13th assist of the season on the play, while Adam Erne picked up his 14th.

Vincent Arseneau had a chance shortly after when he broke in wearing a Crunch player on his back like a jersey, but Ingram was ready with another save.

Reid Boucher drew his second penalty of the game at the 3:35 mark when Jamie McBain upended him and was sent off for tripping. The Comets couldn’t get anything going on the power-play and once again it was no dice for the home team. The Comets went 0-8 on the power-play today, yikes! Their penalty-kill fared better, giving up one goal on six Crunch man advantages.

Ashton Sautner was showing once again that he is a steady defender who can be counted on in his own end. Matthew Peca looked to have a golden chance to put the Crunch up 4-2 before Sautner poked the puck from his stick and out of harm’s way.

The teams would go back and forth as Verhaeghe set Peca up with a nice pass and Demko turned him aside. Andrew Cherniwchan had a chance at the other end turned aside by Ingram right after.

Ben Thomas would send the Crunch to the penalty-kill at the 7:08 mark when he was whistled for a high stick. Boucher had a one-timer tipped wide and the Comets had another chance on a scramble in the Syracuse crease but they would be unable to convert.

Dylan Blujus was trying his best to even the score as he would spin and fire the puck, only to have it turned aside. The puck found its way back to Blujus and he let fly with another shot, once again, Ingram had his number.

Boucher was showing that he wasn’t going down without a fight when he hustled down the wing on the back-check to cause a turnover and break up a Syracuse rush.

Guillaume Brisebois was whistled for holding on Adam Erne at the 10:47 mark and the Comets penalty-kill would be put to the test again.

Sautner and Archibald broke into the Crunch zone, shorthanded and each had a chance before getting a faceoff in the Syracuse end.

Mat Bodie had three shots in this game and one of them came on this power-play, but Demko was there to make the save.

Demko took a puck up high while making a save and he was slow to get up, but the young netminder shook it off and stayed in the game.

Tony Cameranesi had a nice chance with just over five minutes left in the third when he broke in but had the puck swept off his stick as he was upended by Dominik Masin. Zack MacEwen had a chance but shot it wide before the whistle was blown and Masin was sent off for his trip on Cameranesi.

Carcone set Wiercioch up with a nice feed but the big defenseman’s shot was turned aside by Ingram. Adam Comrie had two big shots turned aside by Ingram on the power-play as well.

Trent Cull summoned Demko to the bench for the extra attacker with 1:35 to go and called his timeout at the 1:30 mark.

Boucher nearly set up Cassels for the game tying goal but Cassels couldn’t get a stick on the puck with a yawning cage in front of him. Seconds later it was Carcone who was being set up by Boucher for the tying goal, but Carcone fired wide. That was it in Utica.

The Comets lost another close one in this season series with Syracuse.

Utica finished the final frame with a 14-10 advantage in shots for the period and a 39-33 advantage for the game.

The Three Stars in the building today were:

3rd Star: Adam Comrie. One goal.

2nd Star: Connor Ingram. 37 saves.

1st Star: Carter Verhaeghe. One goal, one assist.

3rd Star: Adam Comrie. Comrie is a defenseman who was signed to a PTO contract to help the Comets through their rash of injuries. He has yet to play a game for the Comets at his natural position, instead, he has been lining up as a winger. Comrie, the winger, now has three points in seven games with Utica. If he keeps that up, Jim Benning might sign him to suit up in Vancouver as a fourth liner…okay, maybe not.

2nd Star: Reid Boucher. Boucher picked up goal number 17 today in his 28th game with the Comets. He also put five shots on net. For all the talk of Boucher’s goal-scoring prowess, and he can score, he can also dish a sweet pass. Boucher has 14 assists to go along with those 17 goals. Twice in the dying seconds, Boucher set teammates up for sure-fire goals, only to have Cassels not connect on the pass and to have Carcone fire the puck wide.

1st Star: Thatcher Demko. This game could have been a whole different story if not for the play of Demko in the opening frame. Demko stopped 14 of the 16 first period shots that he faced to keep his team in this one. Demko goes out and does his job, game-in and game out. He made more than one point-blank save in this game and always gives you the feeling that the Comets can win the game they are playing. Thatcher finished the game with 30 saves.