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Utica Week in Review: April 4th – 12th
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Jeremy Davis
Apr 16, 2016, 21:24 EDTUpdated:
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Photo credit: Lindsay A. Mogle / Utica Comets
The Comets had an okay string of games last week, earning three points in three games, though they were trending in the wrong direction – winning at the start and losing at the end. That hardly matters now as the Comets have gotten some of their best players back from Vancouver, including major minute loggers Brendan Gaunce and Andrey Pedan.
Last weekend the Comets locked up a playoff spot for the second consecutive season, but this weekend could be even more import with playoff positioning on the line. Read it for the review or the preview – either way, let’s dive into the latest edition of the Utica weekly update.

The Games

Wednesday, April 6th vs Binghamton: 4 – 2 Win
Utica Comets post-game report.
Saturday, April 9th at St. John’s: 3 – 2 Overtime Loss
Utica Comets post-game report.
Sunday, April 10th at St. John’s: 7 – 1 Loss
Utica Comets post-game report.

Roster Report

Lines:

Roster Moves:
There have been a whole mess of transactions since the Comets last played. The Comets will be getting four regulars back from the Canucks including Brendan Gaunce, Andrey Pedan, Mike Zalewski and Ronalds Kenins. This will drastically alter their lineup and give them a very strong chance of dominating this weekend’s games, and possibly moving out of eighth in the conference.
Additionally they made a few Tryout moves. They added Canucks prospect Carl Neill, who recently finished his season in the QMJHL, on an ATO. They also signed right winger Tyler Currier to a PTO, and released oft scratched defenceman William Wrenn from his PTO.
As you’ve probably heard, the Canucks signed North Dakota standout defenceman Troy Stecher to his first pro contract the other day, however he has opted to finish his semester at school and will not be joining the Comets on a PTO.
Injury Update:
After getting into a couple of games last week, both Darren Archibald and Wacey Hamilton reinjured themselves. They are considered day-to-day however, and could play this weekend. Kellan Lain is still out with no clear timeline for return. Brandon Prust is done for the season.

The Stats

Skaters:
#
Player
GP
G
A
P
+/-
Sh
PIM
28
A. Grenier
3
1
1
2
10
0
27
T. Fedun
3
1
1
2
14
8
17
T. Hensick
3
0
2
2
12
0
2
T. Ehrhardt
3
0
2
2
10
8
8
A. Friesen
3
1
0
1
8
0
13
B. Marino
3
1
0
1
3
0
18
K. Jones
3
1
0
1
3
2
38
C. Valk
2
1
0
1
7
0
36
†
W. Hamilton
2
1
0
1
3
0
34
C. Bancks
3
0
1
1
8
2
16
J. LaBate
3
0
1
1
14
9
14
*
M. Zalewski
1
0
1
1
3
0
15
*
R. Kenins
1
0
1
1
3
0
24
C. Cassels
3
0
0
0
4
0
6
A. Sautner
3
0
0
0
3
0
23
M. Pereira
3
0
0
0
5
0
20
J. Landry
2
0
0
0
2
0
5
D. Shields
2
0
0
0
5
2
7
J. Subban
2
0
0
0
9
2
25
†
D. Archibald
2
0
0
0
5
0
11
†
J. Negrin
2
0
0
0
1
0
39
M. Bubela
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
W. Wrenn
1
0
0
0
0
2
21
*
C. Higgins
0
0
0
0
0
0
37
*
A. Pedan
0
0
0
0
0
0
26
†
B. Prust
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
*
B. Gaunce
0
0
0
0
0
0
† Missed game(s) due to injury/illness; * Missed game(s) due to NHL call up.
Goalies:
#
Goalie
GS
Record
GA
SA
Sv%
GAA
32
R. Bachman
2
1-1-0
9
62
0.855
4.51
35
J. Cannata
1
0-0-1
3
29
0.897
2.88
Prospects:
  • Alex Grenier potted a goal and an assist in three games last week, while also firing ten shots on net. He hopped around on a few different lines, but settled on a line with Curtis Valk and Joe LaBate, which was somehow the Comets most dangerous line last week, given the people they were missing. That may change this week as the Comets get some players back and can once again put together some respectable forward units.
  • Alex Friesen had a goal in three games last week. Following Wednesday’s game, he was riding a five game point streak, but unfortunately he couldn’t carry it into the weekend.
  • Curtis Valk scored one goal in two games last weekend on The Rock. He played a bit of wing and transitioned to centre as Wacey Hamilton went down with another injury. He missed Wednesday’s game as he was briefly sent back to Kalamazoo (where he picked up one assist in one game) before being recalled two days later.
  • Joe LaBate played in three games, earning one assist and taking a team high 14 shots on net over teh course of the week.
  • Mike Zalewski and Ronalds Kenins both played in one game last week (Wednesday) and both earned one assist. They were called up to the NHL on consecutive days midweek, with Kenins playing the final two games and Zalewski taking part in the Canucks season finale (again). 40% of Mike Zalewski’s NHL games have been Canucks season finales, which is kind of impressive.
  • Cole Cassels and Ashton Sautner each played in three games without earning a point.
  • Jordan Subban played in two games last week without earning a point. He sat out on Saturday in what was evidently a healthy scratch. These things happen from time to time in rookie seasons, even with players who have point totals like Subban. Nevertheless, that won’t stop the fear mongerers from suggesting that the Canucks don’t like Subban and that he’s now expendable following the acquisition of Stecher. I mean, that could happen. It’s also possible that Subban was just a little banged up and needed an off day.
Team Level:
The Comets dominated their opponents last week in terms of possession, outshooting the opposition 132-91 over the course of the week, including a 52-23 burial of the Binghamton Senators on Wednesday, their only win of the week.
The Comets were 2-for-19 on the power play last week, as their play with the man advantage continues to sputter. It’s been a weakness for them all season long, even when the personnel was much stronger than it is now.
The Comets killed off ten out of 13 man disadvantages last week, which is a little below the success rate they’ve become accustomed to. This is especially true on home ice, where they allowed two power play goals in four opportunities last week. In spite of bit of a stumble, the Comets still have the highest penalty kill rate on home ice this season, with a mark of 89.9 per cent.
Leaders:

Player of the Week

There really wasn’t much going on last week, so I’m just going to give the Player of the Week Award to Alex Grenier, the only Canucks prospect who had multiple points last week.
Grenier has been playing some of his best hockey down the stretch this season, and of course it has to be with the goal of impressing for next year – there won’t be any more call ups to the big leagues this season.
The Canucks roster is looking quite crowded for next season, with a large number of RFAs that need to be sorted out, with Grenier among them. After a 2015 playoff run in which he looked like a shoe-in to break camp with the Canucks in 2015-16, Grenier’s chance may have passed him by. He’s waiver eligible next year, but the Canucks are so overstocked on players in his age group that waivers alone aren’t likely going to be enough to make the Canucks think twice about sending him to the American League again next season.
Grenier will have to have a helluva off season and come into camp guns blazing if he wants to prove that he’s worthy of sticking around. But first, he’ll need to have a strong start to the playoffs.

Looking Ahead

This is a huge weekend coming up for the Comets. While the Comets have already got a playoff spot locked up, they still have a chance to pass the Portland Pirates or the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in points, getting out of the eighth spot in the conference. Moving up one spot is the difference between playing the Albany Devils and the Toronto Marlies in the first round. You don’t want the Marlies, they’re f@#*ing scary right now.
The Comets play three games in three nights starting Friday at home in Utica. The Syracuse Crunch will pay a visit, fresh off being eliminated from playoff contention. On Saturday the tables will turn as the Comets head to Syracuse for a rematch.
On Sunday the Comets return home to host the Binghamton Senators, the Eastern Conference’s second worst team. This is the Comets season finale, and in all likelihood it will still have meaning as far as positioning goes, so it should be quite a show.

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