Highlights

Numbers

Quick Hits

• Like Sunday’s game, the Comets started very well. Apart from a couple of blips, one in the final minute that wound up in the back of their net, Utica generally controlled play with a strong cycle game, manufacturing shots and chances off the cycle.
• Once again, Brendan Gaunce and Mike Zalewski were very impressive playing low in the offensive zone. We all know Gaunce by now, but the 22-year old Zalewski is also a guy I’m reasonably high on, even given his poor counting stats.
• Both players have long frames and excel along the boards. Zalewski is a tenacious worker with decent hands who seems to do a fantastic job at pinning opponents deep. He works the cycle game well with Gaunce, as their trio with Wacey Hamilton was one of Utica’s most dangerous lines in the early going.
• Hamilton drew into the lineup for Jake Virtanen, who missed the game with an illness. Hunter Shinkaruk also left the game briefly after taking a hit in the second period, and Brandon DeFazio appeared to be injured late after being slammed into the end boards.
• The Monarchs also suffered more than their fair share of bumps and bruises tonight. Their starting goalie J-F Berube left the ice in agony after appearing to hurt his right knee stopping a Nicklas Jensen shot, and AHL MVP and Monarchs leading scorer Brian O’Neill was also knocked out of the game after being on the receiving end of an Alex Friesen hit early in the first period.
• The Berube injury may not be as major as it seems on first blush, because 22-year old backup goalie Patrik Bartosak was a standout in the CHL and posted a better save percentage than Berube this past season. He might even be an upgrade on Berube. If there’s a saving grace for the Comets, Bartosak has been on the IR and this was the first game he’d dressed for in a while, so he may be rusty.
• O’Neill’s injury is definitely a bigger problem for the Monarchs. The shifty forward is one of the central pieces of the Manchester attack, and he led the AHL in scoring this past regular season. He plays on their top line and first unit powerplay, so losing O’Neill will open a big hole in the Monarchs lineup.
• As you would expect from a Conference champion, the Monarchs are deep though. Guys like Sean Backman, Nick Shore, and Adrian Kempe should be able to at least partially fill O’Neill’s shoes should he miss any time.
• The Comets did a better job tonight against the Monarchs powerplay, however it still looked incredibly dangerous as the game drew nearer and nearer to a conclusion. Even though Manchester is an exceptional 5-on-5 team, the Comets will be best served to play as much of the game at 5-on-5 as they can. Taking penalties is always bad, but judging by Utica’s relative inability to get a lot going on their powerplay, and Manchester looking impressive on theirs, a special teams battle could kill the Comets.
• The top line of Alex Grenier, Cal O’Reilly, and Nicklas Jensen was responsible for all three Comets goals tonight, as O’Reilly and Grenier in particular continue to play well. Grenier has come a long way since the Canucks drafted him as a draft+1 player in the 3rd round of 2011, displaying some pretty impressive skills through the neutral zone to generate chances off the rush. Given that he’s 6’5, it will be interesting to see how long a look he’s given at Canucks camp this season.