The Utica Comets were extremely busy this past week, as the team had a game three-straight days beginning Friday. Each of these contests went to overtime, two of which went to a shootout — including a nine-rounder, but when it was all said and done, the New Jersey Devils’ AHL affiliate came away with an all-important six points. Just like that, Utica is right back into the thick of the North Division playoff race.
For last week’s review, click here.
Weekly Results
Comets 3, Americans 2 (SO); Feb. 28
Utica’s week began with their toughest test against not only the North Division’s top team, but the league as a whole. The game wasn’t without drama, as it took nine rounds of a shootout to decide it.
It was an unlikely character who got the scoring started for the Comets. Defenseman Dmitry Osipov scored his first goal of the season, and in his Utica career. Osipov, 28 years old, was acquired in exchange for forward Jace Isley in an AHL deal back in November. Playing his junior hockey in the WHL, Osipov went undrafted before playing mostly in the ECHL, before coming a full-time AHLer in 2021-22. He then won a Calder Cup championship with Hershey last season.
After Osipov’s second period goal, Utica struck again, to make it 2-0, early in period three on the power play. Nolan Foote got his 17th of the season, while Adam Beckman picked up his second assist of the game and 20th of the season. Rochester, AHL’s top team, did not go quietly, as they scored two straight to end the game, sending it to overtime tied at two.
After a scoreless overtime, the teams went to a shootout. It took nine rounds, but Utica finally notched the extra point. In the shootout, Chase Stillman, Topias Vilen, and Beckman scored. Beckman’s was the decider.
Isaac Poulter got the win as he was fantastic. He stopped 31-of-33. The Comets were thoroughly outshot by Rochester, 33-18, but ended up on the right side of things, where it matters the most; the scoreboard.
Comets 3, Wolf Pack 2 (SO); Mar. 1
The trend of shootout games continued as just one day after they went to nine rounds, the Comets only needed the typical three to get the extra point against Hartford. The New York Rangers’ AHL affiliated also played in a shootout the night before, getting the victory as well. They were not so lucky on Saturday.
Utica got off to a terrific start, outshooting the Wolf Pack early in period one. However, Hartford answered back, pressing, and it resulted in a goal late in the opening period. It was not until the game’s second frame where Utica struck, and not in a typical manner.
Hartford goaltender Dylan Garand had an answer to everything the Comets threw at him. That was until an empty net on a delayed Utica penalty helped them breakthrough. With the extra-attacker, Hartford threw a pass to an empty point, however, no one was there and the puck had just enough juice to cross the crease previously occupied by Garand. Utica killed off the ensuing power play and the game was tied at one after two periods.
The teams traded goals in the third period. The Utica goal tied the game back up 12:07 into the frame. Nathan Légáre made a terrific move to slice past the defender and put a shot on Garand. Despite being a shot the Hartford goalie would likely want to have back, Légáre tied the game, sending it to overtime for the second-straight day.
The overtime period was once again scoreless, granted, it did take a marvelous save by Jeremy Brodeur, which was a trend in the game. In the shootout, Max Willman and Vilen scored, as Broduer only allowed one of three Hartford skaters to score. Giving Utica the extra point for the second-straight day.
As mentioned, the Utica net minder was terrific. Broduer stopped 34-of-36 making several high-danger saves along the way. Santeri Hatakka was credited with the Utica goal during the delayed penalty.
Comets 5, Syracuse 4; Mar. 2
Unlike the first two games, Utica’s third and final of the three games in three days did not need a shootout, but it did go to overtime. Against the team now directly ahead of them in the standings, the Comets, aided by a late goal with the net empty, clinched their sixth point in three days.
Despite the nine-goal total, the scoring didn’t get started till the second period. After former Devil defenseman Steven Santini opened the scoring, Utica responded back with three straight. Ryan Schmelzer (15), Nolan Foote (18), and Adam Beckman (11) all scored. Foote factored into two of the three. Syracuse responded back with one more before the period ended, a power-play tally, pushing the score to 3-2 Utica after two.
In the third, the Crunch scored two straight in quick succession (22 seconds a part) to go up 4-3. However, Utica answered back, very late with the goalie pulled, as Brian Halonen extended his team lead in goals to 20. The Comets then ended the game in the extra frame just about two minutes in when Beckman got his second of the game.
Poulter got his second start of the week, as he stopped 19-of-23 in victory. Utica outshot the Crunch 30 to 23. Both power plays excelled, as Utica went 2-for-4 with the man advantage while Syracuse went 2-for-5. Foote led Comets skaters with three points and Beckman was the other Comet with multi-points (two goals).
Statistic Update
In the offseason, the Devils acquired Adam Beckman in exchange for Graeme Clarke. The 2019 third-round pick was once thought about as a very highly-regarded prospect within the Wild system. The development was not quite there, thus Minnesota sent him to New Jersey for Clarke, who scored well, but was unable to break it into the NHL.
Thus far this season, after his four-point showing across three games, Beckman sits at 32 points in 42 games. He is on pace for 48 points, which would set an AHL career-high. He has shown some encouraging signs with the Comets thus far. For those curious, Clarke has 27 points in 46 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL).
The 28-year-old son of Devils’ legend Martin Brodeur had a terrific season with the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL in 2023-24 (0.918 regular season save percentage; 0.917 playoff save percentage). Despite playing the majority of this season in the ECHL again, when he has gotten his shot in the AHL, he was performed extremely well with a 0.922 save percentage across four games. With Nico Daws set to return to Utica (AHL), it appears Brodeur will have to wait to see more AHL action, but he has been quite good when given the opportunity.
Defenseman Topias Vilen posted three points in three games this past week. The 21-year-old, 2021 fifth-round pick has 19 points in 38 games. His 0.36 game score per game, according to AHL Tracker, is tops on the team among defensemen with Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey both at the NHL level. With over 125 games at the Liiga level, the top professional league in the Finland, the seasoned defenseman has shown some strong signs thus far in his AHL career.
Standings Update
With the six points in three games, the Comets now sit eight points back of the Crunch for the final playoff spot in the North Division. The Belleville Senators own 56 points and are the only team in between the 22-24-4-2 Comets and Syracuse. Utica has played one less game than Syracuse, but one more than Belleville. For a team that lost their first 13 games, the fact they are within realistic striking distance of a playoff spot is astounding.
Upcoming Schedule
The Comets follow their three games in three days with just two this week. On Wednesday, Utica travels to Laval to take on the second-place, in the North Division, Rockets. Utica ends the week at home against the aforementioned Crunch on Friday.