In the second-to-last week of the season, the Utica Comets (AHL) dropped two of their three games. Unfortunately, the Comets were also officially eliminated from Calder Cup playoff contention. A 13 game losing streak to begin the season was just too much to overcome, and, despite a valiant effort, Utica was officially eliminated.
For last week’s review, click here.
Weekly Results
Crunch 2, Comets 1 (OT); Apr. 9
Utica was officially eliminated in their first game of the week. After a Syracuse Crunch first period goal, the Comets responded in the game’s second frame as Xavier Parent scored his 15th of the season. With Utica’s tragic number at one, and the Crunch the team Utica was chasing in the standings, the Comets did something unorthodox to try to win the game in regulation.
To try to prohibit Syracuse from picking up the one point they needed to eliminate Utica, the Comets pulled Nico Daws in hopes of winning the game in regulation. Utica was unable to score, so the game went to overtime, and the Comets were officially eliminated.
In overtime, the Crunch scored just 38 seconds in to get the 2-1 victory. Daws stopped 18-of-20 in the loss. The Comets’ power play struggles continued, as they went 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
Comets 3, Checkers 1; Apr. 12
Despite the elimination, the Comets responded with a victory on Saturday against a very solid Checkers team. Like the first game of the week, Utica allowed a first period goal. They were down 1-0 until the third period.
The Comets answered in a big way, scoring three third period goals. Brian Halonen scored his 25th of the season just two minutes into the period to knot things up. Halonen then scored the game-winning goal with just about two minutes left in regulation, his 26th of the year. The captain Ryan Schmelzer iced the game with an empty-net goal, his 21st of the season.
Isaac Poulter was sensational in net, stopping 33-of-34 and leading the Comets to victory. He, along with a perfect 5-for-5 penalty kill, saw the Comets to victory as they were outshot 34-21 in the game.
Checkers 6, Comets 3; Apr. 13
In the second of a back-to-back, against the Checkers once again, the Comets fell due to five unanswered Charlotte goals in the middle of the game.
Unlike the first two games of the week, Utica jumped out to an early lead, as Halonen continued his huge week with his 27th of the season. Dylan Wendt then got his first goal of the year, to put the Comets up 2-0 just 3:10 into the game. The 24-year-old Wendt is an undrafted winger from Western Michigan University. He had 44 points in 38 NCAA games his final season of college. He has mainly spent this season in the ECHL where he has 28 points in 43 games.
After the Comets got a 2-0 lead, Charlotte scored five unanswered goals spanning from the middle of period one through late into period two. Xavier Parent did help stop the Utica drought, as he got his 16th of the season, making it a 5-3 game after two periods.
Charlotte scored the game’s only other goal halfway through the final period, making it 6-3. Daws started in net for Utica, and only stopped 27-of-33. Utica was only able to muster 20 shots of their own. The Utica penalty kill also only went 3-for-5 and the power play, despite scoring a goal, went 1-for-4 while allowing a shorthanded tally.
Statistic Update
Brian Halonen continued his great season despite losing two-of-three. The Comets’ leading goal scorer has four points over his last four games, including three goals. His 27 goals are seven higher than his previous career-high set last season and also rank 12th in the league.
The captain, Ryan Schmelzer, has been one of the hottest Comets down the stretch. He now has a five game point streak and 12 points over his last 10 games. He is up to 41 points in 69 games played this season. He is still off the 52 point career-high mark he set last year, however, the 41 points are now the second most of his career and lead the team.
Isaac Poulter turned in a sensational outing in the lone Comets’ win of the week. In that game, he posted a 0.971 save percentage and now has his save percentage up to 0.901 on the season. His 16-11-6-1 record is impressive given the Comets lost 13 games to begin the season. In games started by a goalie other than Poulter this season, the Comets are 14-20-0-1.
Standings Update
As mentioned, the Comets were officially eliminated from playoff contention the second the Syracuse Crunch clinched a point by forcing Wednesday’s game to overtime. Utica, who still remain in last in the North Division, own a 30-31-6-2 record this season. If they are able to get back to at lest hockey .500 before the season ends, that will be a massive accomplishment given the 13 straight losses to begin the year.
Upcoming Schedule
The Comets end their season with three final games this week. The first two, on Wednesday and Friday, are both home in Utica. They’ll first face-off against the Toronto Marlies then the Syracuse Crunch. Utica ends their season with a back-to-back in Syracuse in Saturday. The Crunch, who sit third in the North Division, can clinch with at least one point in any of their three games and the Marlies have a magic number of three.