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Utica Comets Deep Dive: Calder Cup Playoffs Round 2
Courtesy: @lamogle
The Utica
Comets are on their way towards the Calder Cup finals as they are already
playing the Grand Rapids Griffins in the Western Conference final. Things are looking up for the Comets as they
were able to take a 2-1 series lead on the strength of a Sven Baertschi natural hat trick in game 3.
Comets are on their way towards the Calder Cup finals as they are already
playing the Grand Rapids Griffins in the Western Conference final. Things are looking up for the Comets as they
were able to take a 2-1 series lead on the strength of a Sven Baertschi natural hat trick in game 3.
To get to
the final the Comets had to spend nearly two weeks, and go the distance of a
full seven game series with the Oklahoma City Barons. In our preview we noted that the Comets were a stronger
possession team, had a better depth of talent and the stronger goaltender. Oklahoma City was stronger in term of special
teams.
the final the Comets had to spend nearly two weeks, and go the distance of a
full seven game series with the Oklahoma City Barons. In our preview we noted that the Comets were a stronger
possession team, had a better depth of talent and the stronger goaltender. Oklahoma City was stronger in term of special
teams.
This turned
out to be true as these areas played a key role in taking the series the full
seven games. Read past the jump to see
what went down.
out to be true as these areas played a key role in taking the series the full
seven games. Read past the jump to see
what went down.
Possession
The Utica
Comets started off the series by being greatly outplayed by the Barons. This trend however did not last long and it
turns out that has been the only game all post-season the Comets have been
outshot. Over the series the Utica
Comets controlled an estimated 55.7% of possession during close situations. This greatly helped the Comets as they were
able to outscore the Barons at Evens as well:
Comets started off the series by being greatly outplayed by the Barons. This trend however did not last long and it
turns out that has been the only game all post-season the Comets have been
outshot. Over the series the Utica
Comets controlled an estimated 55.7% of possession during close situations. This greatly helped the Comets as they were
able to outscore the Barons at Evens as well:
There were
only two games where the Comets were outscored at Even-strength which was games
1 and 6, both games they lost in the series.
The running differential in the even-strength goals between the two
teams showed that the Comets ran a clinic on the Barons.
only two games where the Comets were outscored at Even-strength which was games
1 and 6, both games they lost in the series.
The running differential in the even-strength goals between the two
teams showed that the Comets ran a clinic on the Barons.
This of
course did not hold true during the special teams. This is the area of weakness that was noted
during the season preview:
course did not hold true during the special teams. This is the area of weakness that was noted
during the season preview:
Over the
series the Comets had 23 powerplay opportunities to the Baron’s 25. The difference came largely in part of their
success. The Comets were only able to
score on 1 powerplay (game 4 with a final score of 7 to 4) for a mere 4.35%
success. The Barons were able to score
6 power-play goals, with 4 coming from game 4 which was a mess. Overall the Comets had a Special Teams Index
of 80.35%. They will have to improve up
on that if they are going to succeed against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
series the Comets had 23 powerplay opportunities to the Baron’s 25. The difference came largely in part of their
success. The Comets were only able to
score on 1 powerplay (game 4 with a final score of 7 to 4) for a mere 4.35%
success. The Barons were able to score
6 power-play goals, with 4 coming from game 4 which was a mess. Overall the Comets had a Special Teams Index
of 80.35%. They will have to improve up
on that if they are going to succeed against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Goaltenders
Another
reason the game went a full 7 games was the success their goaltender, Richard
Bachman, had over the series. In 7 games
he posted an extremely high 94.81% save percentage. He was largely the reason the Comets could
not score on the power play and he kept many games closer than they seemed.
reason the game went a full 7 games was the success their goaltender, Richard
Bachman, had over the series. In 7 games
he posted an extremely high 94.81% save percentage. He was largely the reason the Comets could
not score on the power play and he kept many games closer than they seemed.
Jacob
Markstrom had a much better series than he did in the first round, bringing his
save percentage above playoff average (after round 2 it was .9164). He was still 1% off of Richard Bachman’s
performance.
Markstrom had a much better series than he did in the first round, bringing his
save percentage above playoff average (after round 2 it was .9164). He was still 1% off of Richard Bachman’s
performance.
Bachman
posted 5 Quality Starts through the series and 2 okay games. This is compared to Jacob Markstrom’s 5
Quality Starts, 1 okay game and 1 Really Bad Start (game 4).
posted 5 Quality Starts through the series and 2 okay games. This is compared to Jacob Markstrom’s 5
Quality Starts, 1 okay game and 1 Really Bad Start (game 4).
Game 7,
with both teams facing elimination, the game came down to a goaltenders
duel. It was thanks to Alex Grenier,
being able to put 1 shot past Bachman, who had saved 39 on the night, to win
and allow the Comets to advance.
with both teams facing elimination, the game came down to a goaltenders
duel. It was thanks to Alex Grenier,
being able to put 1 shot past Bachman, who had saved 39 on the night, to win
and allow the Comets to advance.
Over the
post-season the Comets continue to succeed despite their shooting and save
percentages at 98%. In this series the
Comets had a 5.54% save percentage with a .934 save percentage giving them a
PDO of 98.90%.
post-season the Comets continue to succeed despite their shooting and save
percentages at 98%. In this series the
Comets had a 5.54% save percentage with a .934 save percentage giving them a
PDO of 98.90%.
Players
Alex
Grenier has emerged as the hero in round 2.
He lead all Comets in this round with 4 goals including the series winning
goal in game 7. He is definitely
attracting the attention of Jim Benning, who is currently in Utica, and I would
imagine has earned himself a good opportunity to play in Vancouver next season.
Grenier has emerged as the hero in round 2.
He lead all Comets in this round with 4 goals including the series winning
goal in game 7. He is definitely
attracting the attention of Jim Benning, who is currently in Utica, and I would
imagine has earned himself a good opportunity to play in Vancouver next season.
Alex
Friesen also had a good series as he was the only other Comet to notch more
than one goal.
Friesen also had a good series as he was the only other Comet to notch more
than one goal.
Assists
came from a variety of places in this series, manly from veterans such as Alex
Biega (4), Brandon DeFazio (3), Travis Ehrhardt (3), and Bobby Sanguinetti
(3). Alex Grenier continued to shine
with his 3 assists.
came from a variety of places in this series, manly from veterans such as Alex
Biega (4), Brandon DeFazio (3), Travis Ehrhardt (3), and Bobby Sanguinetti
(3). Alex Grenier continued to shine
with his 3 assists.
Through the first two rounds Cal O’Reilly leads the
team in scoring with 12 assists in 14 games.
Right behind him are two Canucks prospects in Alex Grenier, (4 goals, 6
assists, 14 games) and Sven Baertschi (3 goals, 6 assists in 12 games) who was
more active in the first round.
team in scoring with 12 assists in 14 games.
Right behind him are two Canucks prospects in Alex Grenier, (4 goals, 6
assists, 14 games) and Sven Baertschi (3 goals, 6 assists in 12 games) who was
more active in the first round.
Darnell
Nurse was introduced to the series, by the Oklahoma City Barons, in game 4 in
which he created havoc and earned himself 4 points, with 3 in the first
game. Jake Virtanen was introduced into
the series in game 6, thanks to injuries in Carter Bancks and Darren
Archibald. His biggest moments for being
noticed was when he was hitting people.
He also fired 4 shots on goal in his first 2 games.
Nurse was introduced to the series, by the Oklahoma City Barons, in game 4 in
which he created havoc and earned himself 4 points, with 3 in the first
game. Jake Virtanen was introduced into
the series in game 6, thanks to injuries in Carter Bancks and Darren
Archibald. His biggest moments for being
noticed was when he was hitting people.
He also fired 4 shots on goal in his first 2 games.
Conclusion
The series
went basically how it was forecasted. We
knew that the Comets were the better team in terms of possession, and this was
reflected in the even-strength scoring.
We knew that the Barons had the better special teams, and this was
reflected in the Special Teams scoring.
went basically how it was forecasted. We
knew that the Comets were the better team in terms of possession, and this was
reflected in the even-strength scoring.
We knew that the Barons had the better special teams, and this was
reflected in the Special Teams scoring.
What we
least were able to predict was the ability for the Baron’s goaltender to have
as strong of a performance as he did.
Thanks to his high save percentage, he was able to limit the Comets
goals and almost won the series for the Barons.
least were able to predict was the ability for the Baron’s goaltender to have
as strong of a performance as he did.
Thanks to his high save percentage, he was able to limit the Comets
goals and almost won the series for the Barons.
The Comets
have to hope their shooting percentage in round 3 will turn positive for them as they play a tough Grand Rapids team.
have to hope their shooting percentage in round 3 will turn positive for them as they play a tough Grand Rapids team.
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