The Utica Comets (AHL) had an extremely busy week as they played four games. In four low-scoring affairs, the Comets picked up points in three, winning two. In doing so, captain Ryan Schmelzer set the organization’s all-time point record with an assist on Sunday.

Utica now sits in 29th in points percentage after going 2-1-0-1 this past week.

For last week’s review, click here.

Weekly Results

Bridgeport 2, Utica 1; Feb. 17

The Comets got their week started with a rare Tuesday game. Utica was outplayed in the contest, getting outshot 28-22, specifically 17-7 in a scoreless first period.

Bridgeport got the scoring open in the second period and Utica was able to respond early in period three via a Marc McLaughlin tally. However, Matthew Highmore won the game for the Islanders with just about eight minutes left in the contest.

Jakub Málek got the start for Utica, playing well by stopping 26-of-28. The Comets went 0-for-2 on the power play.

Utica 2, Hartford 1; Feb. 20

The Comets responded to their Tuesday loss with a 2-1 victory over Hartford on Friday. The Comets did not breakthrough until the third period despite outshooting the Wolfpack 16-9 through the game’s first two periods.

Ethan Edwards got his ninth of the season then Marc McLaughlin scored again just a couple minutes later to extend the lead to 2-0. Topias Vilén (10), Cam Squires (7), Brian Halonen (7), and Calen Addison (14) picked up the assists on the goals. Hartford did add a goal late, but that was all, as Utica held on for the 2-1 win. Nico Daws played well, stopping 16-of-17 in the win.

Laval 2, Utica 1 (SO); Feb. 21

Utica’s third game of the week came against the North Division’s best team. They took the Laval Rocket to a shootout, but ultimately fell short, 2-1.

Each of regulation’s two goals came in the first period. Laval scored just 1:32 into the game, then Calen Addison tied the game for Utica 12:12 into the opening frame. It was scoreless after that, including the overtime period. In the shootout, Sammy Blais scored for Laval while none of Utica’s three shooters were able to cash in.

Laval outshot the Comets 21-17. Jakub Málek played very well once again, stopping 20 of those 21 Laval shots. The Utica power play went a measly 0-for-4.

Utica 3, Laval 1; Feb. 22

The Comets ended the week on a positive note, stealing a 3-1 victory from Laval despite being heavily outplayed. The Rocket outshot Utica 30-14 in the game as Nico Daws had one his best games of the season.

All three of the Utica goals came on the power play. Angus Crookshank got his 14th in the second period, then Kyle Criscuolo and Mike Hardman added tallies in the third period. Laval got one back late, but Utica held on for the 3-1 victory.

The Comets had a staggering eight power play chances in the game. They were able to cash in three times. Crookshank and Criscuolo were the only Comets to have multiple points. As mentioned, Daws was lights out, stopping 29-of-30 in the win.

The captain, Ryan Schmelzer, has an assist in the game and officially became the Utica Comets’ all-time points leader surpassing former Devils draft pick Reid Boucher. Schmelzer has 176 points in 325 career games with the organization.

Statistics Update

Goaltending was the name of the game this past week for the Comets. Each of the Comets’ goalies performed admirably in the 2-1-0-1 week.

• Nico Daws: 45-of-47; 0.957 save percentage
• Jakub Málek: 46-of-49; 0.938 save percentage

On the season, Málek owns a 0.896 save percentage across 19 games. Since his recall from the ECHL back in December, Málek owns a 0.911 save percentage in 14 games. Meanwhile, Daws has a 0.886 save percentage across 31 games.

Marc McLaughlin has returned to the lineup in a big way. After a three-point debut game on February 15, he followed that up with goals against Bridgeport and Hartford this past week. He now has five points (three goals) in his first five games since making his season debut. McLaughlin was injured in a preseason game and is now finally fully healthy. He was acquired in the Cody Glass trade on March 7, 2025.

Veteran Kyle Criscuolo is quietly having himself a superb season. Criscuolo had three points this past week raising his season total to 23 in 39 games. The 33-year-old is tied for the team-lead in points with Brian Halonen. Funny enough, Criscuolo was a late-add to the roster as he did not play his first game until October 31.

Lastly, shoutout once again to team captain Ryan Schmelzer. As mentioned, he broke the Utica organizational point record with No. 176 on Sunday. Schmelzer, 32, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Devils’ organization out of Canisius College in 2017-18. Since then, he has skated in 458 AHL games (325 with Utica) compiling 90 goals, 141 assists, and 231 points (176 with Utica). Schmelzer is 43 games away from breaking Carter Banks’ game played organizational record as well.

Standings Update

After a five-point week the Comets sit at 41 points on the season with a 16-24-5-4 record. Utica has seemingly been mired in 31st place in the league for weeks now. Based off points percentage the Comets moved into 29th this past week.

They are still 15 points back of the fifth-place Toronto Marlies who occupy the final playoff spot in the North Division. Utica’s 49 games played are tied for the fewest in the North Division. There are 23 games to go.

Upcoming Schedule

It is another big week for the Comets. They have three more games with the first coming in Hershey against the Bears (fourth in the Atlantic Division) on Wednesday night. They then end the week with a huge back-to-back set against the Belleville Senators. Belleville have 50 points to the Comets’ 41, but have played five games fewer than Utica. A sweep of the Senators can technically bump the Comets into sixth in the North Division.