The Utica Comets (AHL) had another great week as they won all three games they played. In doing so, forward Max Willman took home AHL player of the week honors. The Comets win streak now stands at five games with six games left to play in the regular season.
For last week’s review, click here.
Weekly Results
Comets 2, Marlies 1 (OT); Apr. 2
The Comets’ first game on Wednesday was much lower scoring than their following two. In a 10:45 am ET start, Utica emerged victorious in overtime in Toronto against the Marlies.
The AHL’s player of the week got the scoring going early in period one via a shorthanded tally. Just 2:42 into the game, Willman scored on the breakaway while Toronto was on an extremely early power play. The Comets led 1-0 until the game’s second period when Toronto tied it up about halfway through the frame.
The score remained 1-1 until overtime where Mike Hardman wasted no time and scored his 18th of the season a shade over a minute into the extra frame. Nico Daws, who earned the game’s first star honors, stopped 27-of-28 in victory. Utica and Toronto combined to go 0-for-9 on the power play; Utica was 0-for-5.
Comets 5, Thunderbirds 2; Apr. 4
The Comets’ second game of the week was much more exciting, as the teams combined for seven goals. The clubs exchanged first period goals with about five minutes left in the opening frame. After Springfield got the scoring going, Ryan Schmelzer struck back just over a minute later. On the goal, rookie defenseman Ethan Edwards picked up his second career professional assist.
Utica got the game’s second goal of the game just 54 seconds into period two. Defenseman Austin Strand scored via assists from Marc McLaughlin (14) and Willman (17); his second of the game. The remainder of the second period was scoreless before things escalated in the final frame.
The teams combined for four goals in the third period. Springfield tied it up at two early into the period, but Utica answered back with three straight goals to end the game; the final two of which were empty netters. Nathan Légaré continued his rapid scoring pace, potting his 16th of the season; the game-winning goal. Xavier Parent followed that up was an unassisted tally (14) to ice the game with the net empty. Willman added one more empty net goal for good measure; his third point of the game.
When the final horn sounded, Utica led 5-2. Willman was the only Comet to have multiple points (three), as nine other Comets tallied at least a point. Isaac Poulter got the start in net, and stopped 19-of-21 in victory. The Utica power play was once again scoreless, going 0-for-2.
Comets 6, Bruins 4; Apr. 5
As was the case in Friday’s game, the Comets final game of the week on Saturday was also very high scoring. Providence and Utica combined for 10 goals, as the Comets finished off the week with a third win, extending their win streak to five games.
The Utica power play finally broke an extremely long drought, as Colton White‘s third of the season 14:56 into the first period tied the game up after Providence scored the game’s first goal. Period two was relatively quiet, outside a Willman goal. Then, for a second game in a row, the third period saw a plethora of action.
In a seven goal third period, Utica got the first three of the frame. At even strength, Légaré (17), Brian Halonen (24), and Ryan Schmelzer (20) all scored. Providence answered back with two straight goals to get the deficit to 5-3, but Willman iced the game with another empty net goal. The Bruins did get one late, making the final score 6-4.
Daws, who picked up his first assist of the season on the Willman empty net goal, saved 20-of-24 in victory. Willman followed his three point game up from the night before with a four point game. Other Comets who tallied multiple points were the captain, Schmelzer, and defenseman Topias Vilen.
Statistic Update
Willman had a massive week, and was a main driver in Utica extending their win streak to five games. As a result of an eight point week, in only three games, Willman was named the AHL’s player of the week on Monday. The 30-year-old veteran has points in four straight games (four goals, five assists) and now sits with 29 in 64 games.
The captain, Schmelzer, also had a very nice week. Across the three games, he had three points, and now has eight points (five goals, three assists) over his last seven games. On the season, he now has 20 goals; the first time he has broken through the 20 goal plateau in his AHL career.
One of the more underrated players for the Comets this year has been 22-year-old Topias Vilen. Vilen has a two assist game on Sunday, and has three points over his last three games. His 22 points is tops among Utica defensemen on the team who have played at least 35 games. Among 148 AHL defenseman aged 25 or younger and who have played more than 15 games, Vilen’s game score per game, according to AHL Tracker, ranks 44th (70th percentile).
Standings Update
The Comets still sit in last place in the North Division. They trail the fourth and fifth placed Cleveland Monsters and Toronto Marlies each by 12 points. The Monsters have the same amount of games played as Utica (66), while Toronto has one more (67). When both Toronto and Cleveland earn at least one more point, the Comets will officially be eliminated from playoff contention, as Utica’s maximum point total sits at 77; the amount both Toronto and Cleveland currently have.
Upcoming Schedule
In the second-to-last week of the season, the Comets have three more games. They start Wednesday at home against the Syracuse Crunch, who sit third in the North Division. Utica finishes the week up with two back-to-back games against the Checkers in Charlotte Saturday and Sunday afternoon. The Checkers sit second in the Atlantic Division, already having clinched a playoff berth.