CanucksArmy Utica Comets Post-Game: Comets Down Syracuse 3-1 in First Game of Home and Home Series

Utica Comets Post-Game Report

4:00 pm Pacific

The seventh overall Syracuse Crunch rolled into Utica today to take on the 10th ranked Comets for game number 46 of the season. This was also the first game of a home and home series that will wrap up tomorrow in Syracuse. The two teams sat just three points apart, with the Comets showing 53 points to the Crunch’s 56.

Utica’s special teams were still keeping pace near the top of the league with their power-play sitting sixth overall with a 19.7% success rate, and their penalty-kill sitting fifth overall, having killed off 85.9% of the penalties that they have given up this season.

Syracuse had the league’s 17th ranked power-play with a 15.9% success rate, while their penalty-kill was ranked seventh overall, having killed off 85.2% of the penalties that they have taken.

The Comets top scorers were: Reid Boucher with 22 goals and 17 assists, to give him 39 points in 36 games. Nikolay Goldobin with seven goals and 20 assists to give him 27 points in 25 games this season. Philip Holm ranked third in Comets scoring with nine goals and 14 assists to give him 23 points. Big Zack MacEwen was the Comets rookie points leader with six goals and 16 assists to give him 22 points in 40 games.

The leading scorers for the Crunch were: Matthew Peca with eight goals and 23 assists to give him 31 points on the season, tied with Mathieu Joseph who also led Crunch rookies with eight goals and 23 assists to give him 31 points as well. Anthony Cirelli was up next with nine goals and 20 assists to give him 29 points in 39 games.

The Comets were coming off a 3-2 overtime win over Lehigh Valley, while the Crunch last played to a 4-2 loss to Toronto. Utica had gone 7-1-2-0 over their previous 10 games, while the Crunch had gone 6-3-1-0 over the same span.

The Comets had a home record of 8-9-3-2, while the Crunch brought a 13-9-1-2 road record with them into today’s game. The two teams had played each other six times this season with each team holding three wins, with one of the Crunch wins coming via the shootout. The Crunch had outscored the Comets 17-14 thus far in the season series.

The Crunch had outscored their opponents by a 148-121 margin this season, while the Comets had outscored their opposition 130-126.

In other Comets news, Reid Boucher and Thatcher Demko represented the Comets at the AHL All-Star Game held this past weekend in Utica. Boucher and Demko not only finished on the winning team, but Boucher also became the first Comets’ player to ever score a goal in an All-Star Game.

Boucher followed that news up by being announced as the AHL Player of the Month.

We found out today that Thatcher Demko had sustained a minor injury during practice, necessitating the signing of Mitch Gillam to a PTO. Gillam was brought in on a brief PTO last week as well when Demko was under the weather and wasn’t able to back up Bachman.

Scratched today for the Comets were: Carter Bancks, (injured), Yan-Pavel Laplante, (injured), Jayson Megna, (injured), Brendan Woods, (injured), Griffen Molino, (injured), Evan McEneny, (injured), Thatcher Demko, (injured), Tony Cameranesi, Andrew Cherniwchan, David Dziurzynski, and Patrick Wiercioch, (vet rule).

16 Joe LaBate – 21 Michael Chaput – 15 Zack MacEwen

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

24 Reid Boucher – 11 Cam Darcy – 77 Nikolay Goldobin

44 Adam Comrie – 36 Wacey Hamilton (A) – 17 Alexis D’Aoust

6 Ashton Sautner – 5 Jalen Chatfield

55 Guillaume Brisebois – 8 Dylan Blujus

52 Philip Holm – 26 Jaime Sifers (A)

32 Richard Bachman

This first period was a feisty one. Both teams looked like they came to play.

Ashton Sautner kicked things off with a nice defensive play in his own end to break up a Crunch play and send the puck the other way.

The Comets would find themselves shorthanded early when they were assessed a too-many-men penalty at the one minute mark of the opening frame.

Richard Bachman was busy and he was sharp. The Comets netminder made a save off the stick of Mat Bodie and then held strong as Adam Erne whacked away looking for a rebound.

Bachman followed that up with back-to-back saves with a scramble in his crease. The Comets would come up with a good kill to keep the game tied at zero.

After the penalty finished up, it was announced in the arena that Reid Boucher had been named the AHL Player of the Month and the crowd went wild. They love ’em some Boucher in Utica.

Adam Erne had another big chance, finding the puck on his stick, wide open in the slot after a Comets turnover. Bachman once again stood tall and was ready with a save.

Darren Archibald was making life miserable for Crunch players, throwing a hard hit to separate the Crunch player from the puck for a turnover. Archibald took the puck the other way for a shot that was turned aside by Ingram.

Jalen Chatfield was seen heading off the ice with the trainer with 12:20 remaining in the period and he did not return. Adam Comrie moved back to defence from the wing.

The Comets would get their first crack on the power-play at the 8:01 mark when Adam Erne was sent off for cross-checking.

Philip Holm dished a nice pass to Boucher for a one-timer but Ingram was there with the save. Goldobin had a shot tipped wide by Archibald before having a chance of his own snatched up by Ingram. The goaltenders were good in the first.

The Comets had some good chances on their power-play, but they were unable to get anything to go.

Zack MacEwen followed up the power-play with a nice shot, but he saw Ingram make the save and hang on for the whistle.

Richard Bachman made a save at the other end and a melee broke out. Business was about to pick up in this one as these two teams have a strong distaste for each other.

Bachman was busy again for a handful of saves, stopping a Mat Bodie blast before back-to-back saves with another scramble in his crease.

Joe LaBate brought his big boy game today. He was dishing hits any chance he got, and he got a chance to crush Olivier Archambault, and he took it.

Wacey Hamilton fed D’Aoust with a crisp pass and the winger got a quick shot away, but Ingram was ready with the save and held on for the whistle. Hamilton followed that up with back-to-back chances and both were turned aside by Ingram.

Archibald centred to Cassels, but the centreman was tied up and drew a slashing call on Alexander Volkov.

Nikolay Goldobin turned a puck over for a shorthanded Syracuse chance, but Bachman was there with the save, sending Goldobin back the other way for a chance, but once again, Ingram was equal to the task.

This game was getting physical with another melee breaking out between Carcone and Reid McNeill after Adam Comrie was dumped along the boards. Carcone was assessed four minutes for roughing and another two for boarding. McNeill was given four minutes for roughing.

The Comets did great work on the kill to keep this game tied at zero. Bachman was sharp with a right pad save on Erik Condra, following it up with another save. With the puck frozen, another meeting of the minds broke out, but cooler heads would prevail.

Bachman was doing everything he could to keep the Crunch off the board, turning aside a Daniel Walcott offering.

Michael Chaput had a nice end-to-end rush, getting a shot away, but seeing Ingram flash the leather to make the save.

That was about it for the first period. The Comets held a 14-11 advantage on the shot clock for the opening frame.

Joe LaBate kicked this period off with another big hit, this time on Ben Thomas. Big Joe was feeling it today.

Alexis D’Aoust would put the Comets up 1-0 early when he used his wheels to hustle to the net for a tip-in goal over the shoulder of Ingram. The goal was D’Aoust’s eighth of the season. Guillaume Brisebois earned his seventh helper of the year on the play, while Jaime Sifers picked up his third.

The Crunch quickly took their timeout after the D’Aoust goal, and the Comets were going to keep their foot on the go pedal.

Chaput sent a puck to the Syracuse crease where LaBate was ready with his shovel. The big winger was digging away for a rebound, but none would be found.

Erik Cernak had a chance at the other end of the ice, getting a hot shot off that Bachman steered over the glass.

Dennis Yan was whistled for holding at the 5:03 mark when he couldn’t handle Archibald and had to resort to hugging the big man.

Holm let fly with a point shot with Chaput ready for the rebound, but Mikey Chaps couldn’t get it to go.

You know who could get it to go? Nikolay Goldobin, that’s who. Goldy slid off the boards towards the middle and let fly with a wrist shot that beat Ingram. The goal was Goldobin’s eighth of the season to bring his point totals to 28 for the year. Reid Boucher picked up his 18th assist, and 40th point for the second time this season, (Boucher had an assist taken away in favour of Cole Cassels after last game). Philip Holm earned the other assist on the play, giving him 15 helpers on the year.

Not long after the Goldobin goal, Darren Archibald would draw another penalty, this time on Daniel Walcott for hooking. Archibald is a tireless worker and he can be difficult to handle.

Connor Ingram was busy in this game, being outshot in all but the third period. Goldobin sent a shot on net and Ingram blockered it away. Next, it was Boucher dishing to Holm at the point for a wrist shot that Ingram gloved down. Boucher was up next with a pair of chances of his own that were turned aside. The Comets would not be able to take advantage with the extra man.

Dylan Blujus was having another strong game today, making a timely defensive play in the Comets’ zone, sliding to block a pass and break up a scoring chance.

Archibald led all players in this game with six shots on net, and when he wasn’t putting the puck on net, he was putting it in places where his linemates could potentially do some damage. Archibald sent a puck on net for a Carcone tip-in chance, but once again, Ingram would deny the Comets of a goal.

At the other end of the ice, Bachman wasn’t going to let Ingram have all the glory, darting from one side of the net to the other to stone Anthony Cirelli on a wraparound chance.

Boucher had a breakaway chance, but Ingram turned his shot aside.

Joe LaBate was still dishing hits, like this little number on Dennis Yan in front of the Crunch bench.

The hit by LaBate led to a Comets’ scoring chance the other way.

The Cassels, Carcone, Archibald line was once again being disruptive, spending extended time in the Crunch zone and putting the pressure on.

Philip Holm made a nifty pass to send Cam Darcy in for a scoring chance, but the centreman sent his shot wide.

Erik Condra was in on a two on one, choosing to shoot rather than pass. Bachman made him look a fool with a nice save. On the ensuing face-off, Alexander Volkov let fly with a quick shot, but Bachman was quicker with an alert save.

Reid McNeill and Dylan Blujus would make acquaintances after the whistle and both would be sent off for roughing. During the four-on-four play, Syracuse was pouring on the pressure. Just after the four-on-four ended, Dennis Yan would get the Crunch to within one. Yan ripped a shot off the face-off win and beat Bachman for his eighth goal of the season. Mitchell Stephens picked up the lone assist, his 12th of the year.

The Yan goal came at the 19:13 mark, and at the 19:40 mark Adam Comrie and Reid McNeill were each assessed penalties. Comrie was sent off for slashing, while McNeill was called for high-sticking.

That was it for the second period. The Comets held a 13-7 edge on the shot clock for the middle frame.

The third period started with the teams playing with four skaters aside.

Alexis D’Aoust picked off a pass in the Crunch zone and got it to LaBate for a scoring chance, but the big winger couldn’t get it to go.

At the other end of the ice, Bachman made a trio of saves as Adam Erne got a shot off, Bachman made the save but gave up a pair of rebounds that he also had to contend with.

Zack MacEwen went the other way and bullied his way into the Crunch zone for a chance, but the big fella was tied up and unable to get a shot off.

The Cassels line had another strong shift spent entirely in the Syracuse zone. This line will not be outworked by many others.

Nikolay Goldobin found himself on a partial break, getting a shot off, but Ingram stood tall with the save.

The two teams would have some good back and forth play for a few shifts, ending in a Bachman save and the puck being frozen for a whistle.

Erik Condra found himself wide open in the slot and he unloaded with a quick one-timer, but Bachman was ready with the save and held on for another whistle.

At the other end of the ice, Blujus walked the line and loaded up a wrist shot and sent it on the net. Once again, Ingram swallowed it up and left no rebound. Shortly after it was Cam Darcy who would be thwarted by Ingram as the Darcy offering was blockered away to the corner.

The Comets would get a chance to put the Crunch away when Anthony Cirelli was whistled for cross-checking when he decked Reid Boucher at the 13:53 mark. The Comets were having a tough time in the face-off circle and spent a good portion of their power-play trying to retrieve the puck.

Dylan Blujus would get a nice one-timer away, but Ingram said no. The Comets would end up icing the puck on the power-play and would be back in their own end starting over again.

Adam Comrie was sent off for interference at the 15:41 mark and we would have a brief period of four-on-four play before the Crunch went to the power-play. The Crunch would summon Ingram to the bench with 3:38 left in the period. During the six-on-four play, Volkov loaded up a blast, but Bachman kicked out the leg and made the save.

Adam Erne had another chance from in close, but once again, Bachman shut the door. Darren Archibald had a chance at the yawning cage and he took it, but his shot was off the mark. The Comets would kill the Comrie minor.

With 1:17 left in the period, Syracuse played the stalling game to get their players an extra breather. They had six skaters on the ice and put backup goaltender Eddie Pasquale in the net. The officials were wise to them and sorted the mess out, but the Crunch got that extra breather.

With a minute and five seconds remaining in the game, Erne hooked Michael Chaput down at centre-ice and the Comets would finish the game on the power-play. Comets fans held their breath as Bachman was forced into a big save late and then they heard a Syracuse shot ring off the iron.

Dylan Blujus would put this one away with an empty-net, power-play goal. The goal was Blujus’ third of the season. Darren Archibald picked up the lone assist on the play, his seventh of the season.

The win puts the Comets just one point behind their rivals in Syracuse with the opportunity to pull even with them in the second half of their home and home series tomorrow.

That was it in Utica. The Comets and Crunch finished the period tied with 10 shots apiece while the Comets held a 37-28 advantage for the game.

The Three Stars in the building today were:

3rd Star: Connor Ingram. 34 saves.

2nd Star: Nikolay Goldobin. One goal

1st Star: Richard Bachman. 27 saves.

3rd Star: Alexis D’Aoust. D’Aoust was playing well when he went down with his injury. He and Zack MacEwen seemed to be wrestling the rookie scoring crown from each other once a week. Now that D’Aoust is back, he has two points in three games. He plays a gritty, speedy game and once he gets his feet back under him, he will give the Comets another scoring threat who can play a heavy game.

2nd Star: Darren Archibald. The big fella had six shots on net today and picked up another assist. He now has seven goals and seven helpers to give him 14 points in 24 games this year. Archibald brings a certain level of snarl to the lineup and having him ride shotgun with Cassels and Carcone is rubbing off on the pair. The trio is great at causing chaos in the offensive zone and the make their opponents uncomfortable with their crash and bang style of play.

1st Star: Richard Bachman. Bachman came up big more than once today. The Comets will need Bachman to be at his best if he has to go again tomorrow with Demko’s status uncertain. Coming up with a big win today should help both Bachman’s confidence, along with that of his team. Bachman is now 4-0-2 in his last six starts.