CanucksArmy Utica Comets Post-Game: The No Quit Comets Do It Again. Beat Penguins 5-4 in Overtime

4:05 pm Pacific

The eighth-ranked Utica Comets rolled into Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to take on the fourth overall Penguins for game number 52 of the Comets’ season today. Both teams came into the day with 64 points, but the Penguins had the better winning percentage to give them a four-spot edge in the standings.

Utica had the league’s third-best power play and penalty kill, with their power play operating at 21.9%, having scored 45 times with 213 man advantages. Their penalty kill was running at 86.2%, having given up 31 goals while shorthanded 225 times.

The Penguins had the league’s 28th ranked power play, scoring 27 times on 191 power plays and operating at 14.1%. Their penalty kill was sitting 21st in the AHL, operating at 81.6%, giving up 42 goals while shorthanded 228 times this season.

Zack MacEwen was still the Comets’ leading scorer amongst active players with eight goals and 18 assists, good for 26 points in 46 games. Patrick Wiercioch was their active leading blueliner with six goals and 14 assists to give him 20 points in 35 games this season.

Daniel Sprong was leading the Penguins in points with 20 goals and 19 assists in 38 games to give him 39 points for the season. Kevin Czuczman was their leader on the backend with three goals and 20 assists to give him 23 points in 44 games.

The Comets were coming off a 3-1 win over Binghamton, while the Penguins were blown out 12-3 by Rochester yesterday. The Comets had a road record of 15-5-3-1 coming into today, while the Penguins were sporting a home record of 19-6-0-1.

Utica had outscored their competition by a count of 148-137 this season, while the Pens had outscored theirs by a margin of 161-136.

I am a big fan of Comets fans. This is an incredible group of supporters that show up for home games and get rowdy. They also hit the road to support their favourite team, and they do it in droves.

In other Comets news, The Vancouver Canucks announced a few hours before game time that Reid Boucher was on his way back to the Comets. Great news for the Comets, not as great for Boucher. You can read more about the Boucher recall in the link below.

Scratched today for the Comets were: Carter Bancks, (injured), Yan-Pavel Laplante, (injured), Brendan Woods, (injured), Jayson Megna, (injured), Evan McEneny, (injured), Jalen Chatfield, (injured), Jaime Sifers, (injured), Reid Boucher, (in transit), and Justin Taylor.

13 Griffen Molino – 36 Wacey Hamilton (A) – 15 Zack MacEwen

58 Michael Carcone – 21 Michael Chaput (A) – 17 Alexis D’Aoust

16 Joe LaBate – 11 Cam Darcy – 82 Andrew Cherniwchan

22 David Dziurzynski – 19 Cole Cassels – 27 Tony Cameranesi

6 Ashton Sautner – 8 Dylan Blujus

28 Patrick Wiercioch (A) – 55 Guillaume Brisebois

44 Adam Comrie – 29 Frankie Simonelli

30 Thatcher Demko

This first period was sloooooow. The Comets had a tough time getting out of their own end for their first shift. It would be a preview of what would be a grinding first period of hockey.

David Dziurzynski dropped the gloves with the much smaller Patrick McGrath, and the smaller player played defence for the first part of the fight before using a leg yank to take Dziurzynski down. I’m not sure if the man even threw a punch, but he skated away from the tussle acting like he just won the heavyweight title. Each man was given five for fighting, while McGrath was also assessed a 10-minute misconduct on the play.

The early going was physical in this one, with both teams looking to lay the body when they could.

Ashton Sautner had a good look for a point shot and he took it, but Pens’ netminder Casey DeSmith denied him. Michael Carcone used his wheels again, getting in on a two-on-one and electing to take the shot. DeSmith was ready with a save and said no.

At the other end of the ice, Thatcher Demko made a nice pad save on a quick shot from Kevin Czuczman. Joe LaBate grabbed the rebound and went the other way to get a shot off that DeSmith turned aside. Cam Darcy followed up with a chance of his own and DeSmith had his number too.

Griffen Molino fed to Wacey Hamilton from behind the net for a chance and DeSmith was equal to the task.

Zack MacEwen was whistled for high-sticking at the 5:42 mark and the Comets would have to kill a penalty. Demko came up with a save on a chance in close and was forced into two more rebound saves to keep the game tied at zero. Garrett Wilson let fly with a shot and Demko denied him as well. The Comets would come up with a good kill.

Demko made a save off a Jared Tinordi point shot and Michael Chaput went the other way and put a shot off the cross-bar.

Former Canuck, Joe Cramarossa put the Pens up 1-0 at the 9:31 mark when he beat Demko for his fourth goal of the season. Gage Quinney picked up his 11th helper of the season on the play, while Garrett Wilson earned his 14th.

Patrick Wiercioch would send the Comets back to the penalty kill at the 10:09 mark when he was sent off for slashing. Luckily for him, Garrett Wilson took a slashing penalty of his own just seven seconds later.

Michael Carcone made a nifty move to get past a Pens’ defender and get a scoring chance, but DeSmith was ready with another save.

Jared Tinordi sent another shot through traffic that Demko stopped and covered when a crowd formed in his crease. Dylan Blujus sent a point shot on net at the other end and DeSmith did the same as Demko when he held for a faceoff.

Kevin Spinozzi was sent off for unsportsmanlike conduct at the 16:06 mark and the Comets would get a power play. Dylan Blujus hit Chaput with a pass, but the Comets’ forward sent his shot high and wide. Adam Comrie fed Guillaume Brisebois for a one-timer but he was once again denied by DeSmith.

Ashton Sautner sent a low, hard shot on net and DeSmith turned it aside. At the other end of the ice, Demko gobbled up another Tinordi offering and held for the whistle. Once again, a scrum ensued in front of the net. Demko would make another save off of Joe Cramarossa and the former Canuck was looking like he wanted to cause another ruckus. Demko would make another save off a point shot before this period would end. The two teams were tied with 12 shots apiece for the opening frame.

The first period took forever to play, and the second started out looking like that would continue. I promise you, if you hang on until the end of the period, you will be glad you did.

Adam Comrie let fly with a point shot and DeSmith made the save, after which, more of the pushing and shoving was seen. These two clubs were feeling salty today.

Thatcher Demko saw Adam Johnson come his way with a shot off the rush and he made the save to keep his team within a goal. Griffen Molino got crushed along the boards when he was sandwiched between Tinordi and another Pens’ player, but Molino was still able to get his pass away. We would be hearing more from Molino before the period would end.

Alexis D’Aoust made his way into the Pens’ zone with a nice rush, getting a shot off that DeSmith was ready for. Adam Johnson blocked an Adam Comrie shot and he went the other way for a breakaway on Demko. Thatcher didn’t have to make the save on this one, however, as Johnson fired his shot wide of the net.

McGrath got a shot off the rush and Demko whipped out the mitt to deny him. Michael Chaput was dumped in front of the Pens’ net and the Comets would get a chance on the power play. It was Kevin Czuczuman who was sent off for interference.

Zack MacEwen had a nice chance on the power play but DeSmith stymied him. Guillaume Brisebois bobbled the puck at the Pens’ blueline and the Pens got a break the other way. Thatcher Demko stood tall and kept the score at 1-0. The Comets would be unable to get their power play to click.

Brisebois was looking to make up for his gaffe when he sent a shot into a crowd in front of the Pens’ net, but somehow DeSmith saw it and covered for a faceoff.

Patrick Wiercioch was looking to keep putting up points in the absence of Philip Holm when he put a point shot on net, but it was deflected out of play. Ashton Sautner was next to try to crack the DeSmith code, sending a hot shot on net that DeSmith turned aside. DeSmith was having himself a heck of a game today.

Cam Darcy set Brisebois up for a one-timer and DeSmith made that save, along with the two rebounds that followed. Tony Cameranesi hit Darcy with a pass that he quickly put on net, but once again, DeSmith said no.

At the other end of the ice, Cody Wydo fired a shot on net and Demko got a pad on it and steered it to the corner.

Alexis D’Aoust dished to newcomer Frankie Simonelli for a one-timer and DeSmith made the save and covered for a whistle. This was when the wheels would start to come off the wagon for DeSmith and the Pens as the Comets scored a staggering three goals in a minute and two seconds.

First up was Tony Cameranesi with his first goal with the Comets. David Dziurzynski picked up his third helper of the season on the play, while Patrick Wiercioch earned his 15th.

Next up was Michael Chaput with his 12th goal of the season. This one was scored on a breakaway and was unassisted.

Rookie Griffen Molino capped off the onslaught with his third of the season. Zack MacEwen earned his 19th helper of the season on the play, while Wacey Hamilton picked up his seventh.

It was a heck of a way to finish up a period and just goes to show that you can never count this Comets team out. The Comets finished the period with a 20-7 advantage on the shot clock.

The third period started with another round of fisticuffs as Thatcher Demko made a save and was bumped into by his own player, Ashton Sautner. Somehow, that led to Garrett Wilson and Sautner throwing down for what was Sautner’s first fight as a pro. Sautner ate a few before landing a solid blow at the end of the fight. Sautner and Wilson would each receive a five-minute fighting major, while Sautner also got an extra two minutes for roughing. This all happened in the opening 32 seconds.

The Comets would come up with a good kill, but not before Demko made a pair of saves off the stick of Jean-Sebastien Dea. The penalty trouble would not end there, however, as Michael Chaput was sent off for holding just a minute and 30 seconds after the Sautner minor was served.

With Chaput, one of the teams better penalty killers in the box, it would be Michael Carcone who would do some of the heavy lifting on the kill. Carcone did great work putting the pressure on the Pens in their own end, not letting them get much of a sniff.

Carcone couldn’t stay out for the whole penalty though and the Comets got into a little trouble. First, it was Thomas DiPauli who got a shot off that Demko grabbed and held for a whistle. Next up it was Daniel Sprong with a chance that Demko turned aside. DiPauli came back with another pair of chances and Demko shut the door. A scramble broke out in Demko’s crease and the puck was nowhere to be found. Brisebois snuck in behind Demko and made sure the puck was not going to cross the line and the Comets caught a break.

Moments later, Andrew Cherniwchan was hacked down right in front of the ref after blocking a shot and no call was made. Wacey Hamilton was soon whistled for holding the stick and that was when Demko blew up. He gave the officials an earful, presumably for missing the call on the Cherniwchan play. After the smoke had cleared, Demko had received two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct, which was served by Zack MacEwen, plus an additional 10 minutes for abuse of the official. Hamilton, if you remember, was also given that holding the stick penalty. All of this meant that the Comets would find themselves defending a five-on-three situation.

Cole Cassels kicked off the kill with another big faceoff win and he cleared the puck down the ice. The Pens would come back the other way and beat Demko to get back within a goal. It was Jarrett Burton who picked up the goal, his seventh of the season. Daniel Sprong earned his 20th helper of the season on the play, while Jean-Sebastien Dea grabbed his 19th.

Demko had to come up big to keep the Pens from tying the game at three when the Pens put on the pressure and nearly buried one.

Alexis D’Aoust was using his wheels and his will again, blasting down the left-side boards, squeezing past the Pens’ defender and getting a chance and creating another off of his rebound, getting the puck back to Wiercioch for a chance that was stopped and held onto for the whistle.

Ethan Prow would tie the game at three when he beat Demko for his second goal of the season. Joe Cramarossa picked up his ninth assist of the season on the play, while Kevin Spinozzi earned his second.

Joe LaBate sent a hot shot on net off the rush, but it was turned aside by DeSmith. LaBate followed that up by burying Kevin Czuczuman with a hit and getting the puck to Wiercioch for a chance that was turned aside. Wiercicoh followed up with another chance but was shut down again.

At the other end of the ice, Dylan Blujus continued to show his strong defensive game, sliding to break up a play in the Comets’ zone.

Garrett Wilson would put the Pens back up by a goal at the 13:36 mark when he beat Demko for his 10th goal of the season. Jarrett Burton picked up his second assist of the season on the play, while Jarred Tinordi grabbed his seventh.

Wilson was trying to add to the lead when he broke in with another clean chance on Demko, but Thatcher shut the door.

The Comets were running out of time, but if we have learned anything about this group, it’s that there is no quit in them. Cole Cassels would tie the game at four with 2:40 remaining on the clock. It was another gritty effort goal by Cassels, his fifth of the season. Cam Darcy picked up the lone assist, his 15th, on the Cassels marker.

This game would have to go to the extra frame. The Pens finished the period with a 15-7 advantage on the shot clock.

Patrick Wiercioch would complete the comeback for the Comets just 49 seconds into overtime. The lanky defenceman picked up his seventh goal of the season to give the Comets the win. Wacey Hamilton earned his eighth helper of the season, and second of the game, while Michael Carcone picked up his ninth after what had been a little longer pointless streak than he would have liked.

That was it in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Comets skated away with a 5-4 overtime win. Utica finished with an advantage of 40-34 on the shot clock for the game.

The Three Stars in the building today were:

3rd Star: Joe Cramarossa. One goal, one assist.

2nd Star: Garrett Wilson. One goal, one assist.

1st Star: Patrick Wiercioch. Game-winning overtime goal, one assist.

3rd Star: Griffen Molino. Molino has a goal and an assist in two games since returning from injury. He isn’t going to be a huge point producer, but he has value to the Comets as an energy guy who can get in fast on the forecheck to make something happen in the offensive zone for his linemates. He now has seven points in 27 games this season. Molino was just starting to go on a little run when he got injured and was playing with Cassels and Carcone at the time. I would like to see Trent Cull reunite that trio and see if they can all get going again.

2nd Star: Wacey Hamilton. The Comets’ grizzled veteran picked up two assists today and did some great work on the penalty kill. He is up to three goals and 11 points now on the season. Those are not world beater numbers, by any means, but he contributes elsewhere on the ice and in the room as one of the leaders on this club.

1st Star: Patrick Wiercioch. Wiercioch now has seven goals and 15 assists to give him 22 points this season. Philip Holm, the Comets blueline points leader, was recalled to the Canucks on February 13th. Since then, the Comets have played three games and Wiercioch has four points over that span. He has been very steady, and very good all season in Utica and has really picked up the slack with Holm not around.

12:00 noon Pacific