Like the New Jersey Devils, their minor league affiliate, the Utica Comets (AHL) kicked off their season this past week. Utica dropped their first two games of the season, one of which was in overtime. For a full Comet preview, click here.
There was some additional action this week in terms of personnel for the Comets. Forward Angus Crookshank did not play in the second game of the season after skating in the first due to injury, per the Comets’ broadcast on Saturday. Also, forward Brian Halonen was recalled by New Jersey due to the placement of Evgenii Dadonov on injured reserve.
Weekly Results
Cleveland 1, Utica 0; Oct. 10
It was an extremely quiet first game of the season for the Comets on Friday. The game’s lone goal came in the second period as James Malatesta beat goaltender Nico Daws. Outside of that, there was no action on the scoreboard.
Utica went 0-for-3 on the power play and was outshot in the game 27 to 21. Daws was strong in net, stopping 26-of-27 in the loss. Top Devils prospect Shane Lachance was strong, as he led the Comets in shots with four.
Cleveland 3, Utica 2 (OT); Oct. 11
Saturday’s game features a lot more action. The second leg of a back-to-back, also in Utica, saw the Comets fall in overtime, 3-2. Utica had to fit back twice in the game, but a penalty at the end of regulation, which carried into overtime, was too much to overcome.
Cleveland scored the lone goal in the opening frame, as veteran Brendan Gaunce scored a shorthanded tally late in the frame. Also in the period forward Nathan Légaré, who had a career-high 102 penalty minutes last season, posted his first fighting major of the season in response to a hit on Mike Hardman. There were 26 penalty minutes between the two teams in the opening frame.
The teams traded goals in the second period. Xavier Parent sniped one home off a splendid pass from rookie Matyas Melovsky. Melovsky sent the puck between his own legs to Parent who beat the Cleveland netminder. That goal only came 37 seconds into the period. Cleveland responded about eight minutes later, which regained the Monsters a 2-1 lead by the end of the period.
In the final frame, Utica tied it up late. Ethan Edwards sent a point shot off a pass from Parent toward the net. Halonen, who was causing havoc in front of the crease got a piece of the puck and it found the net. Unfortunately, Halonen was hit with a slashing penalty as regulation time expired. In the overtime period, Cleveland sniped one past Málek just 23 seconds into the extra period resulting in the 3-2 loss.
Both Utica and Cleveland had 23 shots on goal. Jakub Málek, who made his first career AHL start, stopped 20-of-23 in the loss, however, had a few massive saves to keep the Comets in it. Utica went 0-for-4 on the power play, but had a 6-for-7 success rate on the kill. Parent was the lone Comet to have multiple points as he scored the game’s first goal and assisted on the tying tally. He also had a team-high four shots.
Statistic Update
Special teams was certainly the difference for the Comets in their first weekend of action. They combined to go 0-for-7 with the man advantage in dropping each of their games by one goal. Last season, the Utica power play ranked 23rd in the league.
Forward Xavier Parent led the way for Utica. He was held off the scoresheet in the first game of the season, but factored in on both goals in Utica’s second game. The 24-year-old took a slight step back in his second full season with Utica last year, however, the offensive ability has been on display dating back to his 106-point season in 2021-22 in his final QMJHL season.
It is an important season for 24-year-old Nico Daws. Daws was strong in his first game of the season, stopping 26-of-27. If injury were to strike either Jacob Markström or Jake Allen at the NHL level, Daws would be the first in line to get the call. Him, along with Málek, should make up a very formidable duo for the Comets this season.
Standings Update
After the first weekend of AHL action, the Comets sit at 0-1-1-0. The only other team in the North Division to drop their first two games of the season was Belleville as they dropped each in regulation. Thus, the Comets sit in sixth place in the North. The top five teams in the division makes the playoffs.
Upcoming Schedule
The Comets once again play two games this upcoming weekend. They start with another home game against the Rochester Americans on Friday at 7:00 pm ET. They get a day off Saturday before ending the weekend Sunday in Toronto against the Marlies at 4:00 pm ET. This is Utica’s first away game of the season. Both the Americans and Marlies split their games the first weekend of the season and are 1-1-0-0.