The Utica Comets (AHL) had one of their more successful weeks of the season as they took three of a possible four points from the Laval Rocket. The Rocket currently sit atop of the North Division and are fifth in the league as a whole. So, all things considered, it was a very strong showing for the AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils this past week.
For last week’s review, please click here.
Weekly Results
Rocket 5, Comets 4 (OT); Jan. 2
Each of Utica’s two games of the week were high scoring affairs. Unfortunately, in the first one, they were on the wrong side of a 5-4 overtime decision.
In the game’s first period, Utica fell behind just five minutes into the game before scoring two power play goals to end the first frame. Angus Crookshank and Lenni Hämeenaho scored the goals while Seamus Casey and Kyle Criscuolo assisted on both of them. Each of the game’s three first period goals came on the power play.
Utica extended their lead to 3-1 as Brian Halonen, playing in his first game back since December 5, struck only 42 seconds into the second frame. Criscuolo, who has been red hot, picked up his third assist of the contest. Laval responded in a big way to end the second period, as their two goals made it a 3-3 game after two.
Halonen, who returned with a big week, scored his second of the game 6:29 into the third period. Laval answered again to force overtime with another power play goal, tying things up at four with just about five minutes to go in regulation. Laval would then notch the extra point with a third power play goal late in the overtime period.
Several Comets had multiple points in the contest: Criscuolo (three assists), Casey (two assists), Angus Crookshank (one goal, one assist), and Halonen (two goals). Nico Daws was under constant pressure, as he faced 40 shots, stropping 35 of them. Utica did have 31 shots of their own.
Special teams was a huge theme in the game as the Comets’ power play went 2-for-6 while Laval’s went 3-for-6. Only four of the game’s nine goals were scored at even strength.
Comets 4, Rocket 3; Jan. 3
The Comets got their revenge the next day as they were on the favorable side of a seven-goal game. It was Ethan Edwards who stole the show with two late goals on Saturday.
The Comets and Rocket exchanged goals in the first and second periods. Topias Vilén scored Utica’s first goal of the game and Shane Lachance briefly made it 2-1 Utica in the second period. Laval responded shorthanded late in frame to tie things up at two apiece to end the period.
In the third, after getting down 3-2 early, Ethan Edwards scored two straight goals in just under a minute. Utica’s big guns assisted on the tallies, as Hämeenaho, Casey, and Halonen were the assisters. Utica was able to hold on and notch their second and third points of the week.
Laval narrowly outshot Utica 23-22 in the contest. Jakub Málek did just enough in net to tally the victory, stopping 20-of-23. Each team’s power play went scoreless, a big change from the previous night. Edwards was the lone Comet with multiple points while eight other Utica skaters had a point.
Statistics Update
Veteran Kyle Criscuolo was signed after the season began and did not make his season debut until October 31. He is up to 13 points in 21 games and specifically has eight over his last six contests. The 33-year-old is closing in on 300 career AHL points.
Brian Halonen is a huge boost to the Comets’ offensively. He is now up to nine points and six goals in 13 games on the season. As mentioned, he returned from close to a month-long absence on Saturday and promptly scored two goals while adding an assist on Sunday. The now 26-year-old undrafted free agent is vital to Utica’s offensive attack.
Lastly, Seamus Casey is quietly having another really nice offensive season. His 0.5 game score per game, according to AHL Tracker, leads Comets defensemen and ranks sixth among 58 AHL defenders aged 22 or younger to play at least six games this season. His three-point showing this past week has him at 15 across 23 games thus far. His defensive game still does need work, but the offensive talent is undeniable.
Standings Update
With the three-point showing, the Comets improved to 8-16-4-2 on the season. Their 22 points trails the fifth-place Cleveland Monsters by 13 points for the final playoff spot in the North Division. Utica still finds themselves tied for dead-last in the league with the Iowa Wild. Luckily, the Comets still have the fewest games played in the league (30).
Upcoming Schedule
It is back to a three-game schedule for the Comets this upcoming week. Utica welcomes in the Springfield Thunderbirds on Wednesday. They then end their week with a back-to-back at home against the Syracuse Crunch then in Bridgeport against the Islanders on Saturday. Springfield and Bridgeport are at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, sitting in sixth and eighth, respectively. The always-strong Crunch are second in the North.