It was another troublesome week for the Utica Comets (AHL). The New Jersey Devils’ AHL affiliate dropped two games to the North Division’s top team, the Syracuse Crunch, this past week. With the losses, their losing streak has reached eight games and they are now 13 points off the playoff trail.
In a notable move, Jakub Málek has bounced back and forth between the AHL and ECHL levels in the last week. He was first sent down on November 24, but was recently returned to the team on November 30. Málek played in two games in the ECHL, and played great, stopping 53-of-57. He struggled mightily during his first AHL action earlier this season, as he owns a 0.861 save percentage across five games.
For last week’s review, click here.
Weekly Results
Crunch 5, Comets 3; Nov. 26
In Utica’s first 5-3 loss to the Crunch of the week, the Comets actually started out well, scoring the game’s first goal and matching the Crunch in an exciting four-goal opening frame. Jonathan Gruden scored to open the game and Mike Hardman tied it at two at the end of the period.
After that first-period flurry, it was all Syracuse the rest of the way. The Crunch scored three-straight goals (two in the second period and one in the third), before the Comets answered back with a shorthanded goal to make it 5-3 late. Brain Halonen scored his third of the season.
Nico Daws continued his extended run in between the pipes, stopping 19-of-24. No Comet posted a multiple-point game.
Crunch 5, Comets 3; Nov. 29
It was another exciting first period between the Comets and Crunch on Saturday. The teams combined for three goals in the opening frame, with a Calen Addison tally sandwiching the two Crunch goals.
Utica then struck on the power play in the second period, courtesy of Mike Hardman and Addison’s second point. However, after Hardman made it a 2-2 game, the Crunch struck for two goals to extend their lead to two. Xavier Parent then scored with under a minute left in the second frame, his fifth of the year, to close the deficit to one after two periods.
Utica had a chance to tie it in the third, but once again, the only goal scored in the period was courtesy of a Crunch player. This spelled the end to another 5-3 defeat. Addison was the lone Comet with multiple points in the game and Daws only stopped 16-of-21 in net.
Statistic Update
Calen Addison is having a nice season offensively thus far from the blue line. The former second-round pick has eight points in 17 games this season. He has four points in his last three games and six in his last 10. The defensive game has left a lot to be desired, but the offensive punch he has provided has been superb. Addison, who split time between Henderson and Springfield in the AHL last year, has 152 NHL games under his belt.
It has been a disappointing season for a lot of the Comets, but Shane Lachance may headline that list. The former Boston University Terrier recorded his second assist of the season on Wednesday. His two points in 13 games is not appealing on paper. The eye test is certainly more favorable, but still, not ideal for an individual who entered the season as a top-10 prospect in the Devils’ system.
Standings Update
With the Comets’ losing streak reaching eight games, their record sits at a league-worst 2-12-2-1. Utica’s seven points are four off the league’s 31st-ranked team. It is also now 13 off the final playoff spot in the North Division (Toronto Marlies with 20 points). The only thing the Comets have going for them is their 17 games played is the second-fewest in the league.
Upcoming Schedule
The Devils have a busy week upcoming as they have three games. It gets started on Wednesday in Rochester against the Americans. The Comets then finish the week off with games Friday and Saturday. Friday they are home against the Bridgeport Islanders and on Saturday a trip to Lehigh Valley against the Phantoms. Rochester owns the third-most points in the North Division. Meanwhile, the Phantoms rank third in the Atlantic Division with the Islanders trailing them in seventh.