CanucksArmy Utica Comets Pre-Game: Game #26, Toronto Marlies at Utica Comets

Game #26

Toronto Marlies at Utica Comets

Wednesday, December 11th, 2019

7:00 pm Eastern/4:00 pm Pacific

The 17-4-2-1 Toronto Marlies, (Toronto Maple Leafs affiliate) are in town today to take on the 14-8-1-2 Utica Comets for game 26 of the season at 7:00 pm Eastern/4:00 pm Pacific. The Comets are coming off of a 6-3 win over Bridgeport, while the Marlies last played to a 4-1 win over San Antonio.

The Marlies have gone 8-2-0-0 over their previous 10 contests, while Utica has a record of 4-3-1-2 over that same span. With only one loss on home ice this year, the Marlies have been deadly in Toronto, they are not as strong away from their home barn, however, as they show a record of 5-3-2-1 on the road. The Comets, for their part, have gone 6-5-1-1 at home this year.

Both clubs have outscored their competition this year with the Marlies up 87-64 while the Comets have scored 89 goals and have given up 72.

The Comets have the better special teams between the two clubs this year, going 24/98 on the power play for a success rate of 24.5%. Their penalty kill has allowed 14 goals while down a man 111 times for an 87.4% success rate.

The Marlies power play has scored 17 times on 84 opportunities to give them a success rate of 20.2% with the extra man, while their penalty kill has allowed 20 goals while down a man 90 times for a 77.8% success rate.

Pontus Aberg leads all Toronto scorers with 10 goals and 14 helpers, giving him 24 points in 22 games this year. Kenny Agostino sits second with 13 goals and nine assists to give himself 22 points in 21 games, while Jeremy Bracco rounds out their top three with his three goals and 18 assists, giving him 21 points in 24 games.

Kristians Rubins is the rookie leader in Toronto with one goal and five assists, giving him a whopping six points in 16 games. Brogan Rafferty is the Comets rookie leader with three goals and 17 helpers to give himself 20 points in 25 games. Rafferty is on a 60 point pace from the blueline in his rookie campaign.

Ridiculous Reid Boucher leads all Comets scorers with 17 goals and 12 assists to give himself 29 points in 20 games this year. Nikolay Goldobin sits second with nine goals and 12 assists, giving him 21 points in 19 games, while Kole Lind rounds out the top three with six goals and 14 assists to give himself 20 points in 25 games. Kole is also on a 60 point pace this season.

The two clubs have squared off twice already this season with each team coming away with a win. The Marlies hold the edge in scoring with a lead of 8-7 over the two contests.

The Comets power play has been better the Toronto’s in the series with Utica going 3/8 to give themselves a 37.5% success rate with the extra man against the Marlies, while Utica also did better work on the penalty kill, shutting down seven of the Marlies 10 chance for a 70% success rate.

With 18 penalties called between the first two games of this series, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see another game where special teams will play a big role.

Adam Brooks and Brogan Rafferty have each put up four points in the series to share the lead, while Jeremy Bracco, Justin Bailey, and Reid Boucher have each earned three points over the first two games.

Mikey DiPietro started both games against the Marlies and shows a record of 1-1 along with a goals-against-average of 4.05 and a 0.830% save percentage.

The Marlies have used Kasimir Kaskisuo, (1-0, 3.00 GAA, 0.850% save percentage vs Utica) and Joseph Woll, (0-1, 4.11 GAA, 0.833% save percentage against Utica) in the series.

With the Comets getting some bodies back, the team announced today that forwards Tanner Sorenson and David Pope have been returned to the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL. Pope didn’t see any action on this recall, but Sorenson played in two games and picked up an assist for his efforts.

There has also been some suggestion that TheBigFella has once again been summoned by the parent club. If Rick says that he’s hearing that Zack has been recalled… there’s a pretty good chance that Zack has been recalled.

Annnd, there it is…

The two clubs will get after it today in Utica at 7:00 pm Eastern/4:00 pm Pacific. As always, stay tuned for your CanucksArmy post-game report following today’s action.