CanucksArmy Utica Comets Pre-Game: Game #48, Utica Comets at Cleveland Monsters

Game #48

Utica Comets at Cleveland Monsters

Saturday, February 1st, 2020

1:00 pm Eastern/10:00 am Pacific

It’s a quick turn around for the 26-17-2-2 Utica Comets as they get right back to it with the 20-21-2-2 Cleveland Monsters, (Columbus affiliate) for game 48 of the season today at 1:00 pm Eastern/10:00 am Pacific. The Comets took yesterday’s game 3-0 after Mikey DiPietro posted his first pro shutout. Congrats, Mikey!

The Comets kept the Monsters’ power play at bay, shutting down all three opportunities that they gave up while scoring once on four man-up chances of their own. Jalen Chatfield was dinged for roughing, while Brogan Rafferty took a double minor for causing leakage with a high-stick. Dylan Blujus, for his part, took slashing and roughing penalties. Derek Barach did time for tripping, while Brett Gallant and Kevin Stenlund were dinged for roughing. Former Canucks/Comets defender Adam Clendening was whistled for kneeing, Stefan Matteau for hooking, and Kole Sherwood was given two plus 10 for unsportsmanlike conduct in the final minute and a half of the game.

The Monsters outshot the Comets in all three periods yesterday, with the final frame being the worst at a 10-3 margin. Mikey DiPietro stopped all 27 shots that he faced, while Veini Vehvilainen allowed three goals on 16 shots. The Comets might not want to tempt fate today and try to get a few more shots on the opposing goaltender.

Carter Bancks picked up his sixth goal of the season in yesterday’s contest after a nice bit of work from Tanner Sorenson on the forecheck. That hustle from Sorenson earned him his second assist of the season.

Nikolay Golobin scored the other two goals to bring his total to 17 on the season. Lukas Jasek and Ashton Sautner both earned their eight assists of the season on Goldy’s first goal, while Kole Lind and Brogan Rafferty picked up the helpers on his second. For Lind, it was assist number 27 of the season and 39th point. Rafferty, for his part, picked up his 33rd assist of the year on the play and his 39th point as well. His next point will tie the Comets single-season record for points by a defender.

Rafferty’s 33 assists are already a single-season record for a Comets defender as he surpassed Patrick Wiercioch’s 27 a while back.

With a quick turnaround against the same team, comes a condensed pre-game.

The two clubs will get after it today at 1:00 pm Eastern/10:00 am Pacific. As always, stay tuned for your CanucksArmy post-game report following today’s action.