The Utica Comets (AHL) continued their regular season slate after the holiday by taking on two teams right at the North Division playoff cut-off. After taking a point from the Toronto Marlies on Saturday, the Comets suffered one of their worst losses of the season in a major 7-0 defeat to Belleville.
For last week’s review, please click here.
Weekly Results
Marlies 4, Comets 3 (SO); Dec. 27
Utica had to play behind for a majority of Saturday’s game against the Marlies. Toronto held leads of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-1 before the Comets stormed back late to force overtime.
Cam Squires, who has been playing extremely strong hockey, scored on the power play in the second period to momentarily tie the game at one. Toronto answered back just a minute later as they regained a one-goal lead at 2-1 entering the second intermission.
Toronto scored once again to open period three making it appear as if the Comets were headed to defeat. However, with two goals in the final five minutes of the game, Utica tied the game and forced overtime. Shane Lachance got only his second goal of the season at the 14:59 mark, then, on the power play he struck again with just three seconds left in regulation to bring the score to 3-3.
The shootout went nine rounds as the Comets only got a score from their first shooter, Lenni Hämeenaho, and as a result dropped the extra point. Speaking of Hämeenaho, he stayed red hot by assisting on each Utica goal in regulation. Lachance (two goals) and Kyle Criscuolo (two assists) also had multiple points in the contest. Nico Daws stopped 18-of-21 in the losing effort. The Utica power play got six chances, but only scored twice.
Senators 7, Comets 0; Dec. 28
After stringing together a sensational run of play, goaltender Jakub Málek struggled mightily on Saturday, allowing five goals and was ultimately pulled after two periods. Belleville added two more against Nico Daws as they defeat the Comets by a staggering score of 7-0.
The Senators struck for two goals in the first, three goals in the second, and two more tallies in the third. Four of the goals were even strength, two were on the power play, and one was shorthanded. Coincidently enough, Utica actually outshot the Senators 31-23, but were shutout by Mads Søgaard. The Comets went 0-for-5 on their power play and let Belleville score two power play goals on four chances of their own.
Statistics Update
Not much is going right for the Utica Comets this season, but, after a slow start, Lenni Hämeenaho continues to produce. Hämeenaho’s three points on Saturday brought him to a stretch of 14 points across 16 games. According to AHL Tracker’s game score per game metric, Hämeenaho’s 0.46 ranks 28th among 149 rookies to play at least 10 AHL games this season.
As far as the team overall goes, Utica’s season has been an enigma. If you look at shot differential, the Comets ranks 11th. They are only allowing 26.61 shots per game which is the ninth-fewest in the league. However, their save percentage ranks 30th in the league and their shooting percentage ranks 31st. Their PDO of 95.41 is dead last.
For context, PDO is an advanced stat that measures “puck luck” by adding a team’s on-ice shooting percentage and save percentage. The average mark is 100.0. Anything above 100 indicates that team may be due for some regression and are benefits of “good luck.” On the flip side, as the Comets are, those teams are expected to get some better results and are experiencing some “bad luck.”
Standings Update
With Utica only picking up one point last week, their 19 points is tied again for the worst in the league with the Iowa Wild. At 7-16-3-2 they trail the Senators by 12 points for the final playoff spot in the North Division.
Upcoming Schedule
The Comets will have two more games this upcoming week. Each will be in Laval in a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday against the Rocket. Laval is currently the best team in the North Division and ranks fourth overall in the AHL with a 19-10-0-1 record.