After losing their first seven games of the season the Utica Comets (AHL) finally got their first victory of the season Saturday evening against the Atlantic Division’s top team. After being shutout on Friday Utica responded in a big way on Saturday against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The Comets did make an addition last week as they signed veteran forward Kyle Criscuolo on Monday. The 33-year-old is a veteran of 16 NHL games and 502 AHL games (284 points). He spent last season with Charlotte (AHL) posting 35 points in 70 games. Criscuolo actually played for the Comets in 2023-24 posting 42 points (career high) in 63 games.
For last week’s review click here.
Weekly Results
Crunch 4, Comets 0; Oct. 31
Despite outshooting Syracuse the Comets were shutout in their opening game of the week resulting in a 4-0 loss in Syracuse. The Crunch scored one in the first then three more in the second period. The third period was scoreless for both teams.
As mentioned, Utica outshot the Crunch 33-31. Nico Daws struggled in net posting a 0.871 save percentage (27-for-31). Criscuolo made his season debut in the game and led the team with five shots.
Comets 3, Penguins 1; Nov. 1
After losing seven straight to begin the season Utica finally go their first win of the season on Saturday. Funny enough, the victory came against a previously 8-1-0-0 Penguins team. Daws rebounded in a big way leading Utica to victory.
Angus Crookshank, who leads the Comets in goal scoring, tallied the game’s first goal in the first period. Austin Strand and the captain, Ryan Schmelzer, picked up their first assists of the season. In the second frame the teams traded goals. Mike Hardman scored off a beautiful pass from rookie Matyas Melovsky on the power play. Criscuolo picked up his first point since rejoining the Comets Monday on the Hadman tally as well. The Penguins responded late breaking Daws’ bid for a shutout making it a 2-1 game.
Utica was able to hold on as Jonathan Gruden got the insurance goal via an empty net against his former team. The Penguins took a very late penalty, and with the goalie pulled trying to even things out, Gruden cashed in on what was documented as a power play goal. Calen Addison and Ethan Edwards each picked up their third assists on the goal.
In the 3-1 victory Utica was outshot 26-20. Daws stopped 25-of-26 in the victory. Special teams led the Comets to victory as they went a perfect 2-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. It was a strong first win of the season against one of the best teams in the league.
Statistic Update
Matyas Melovksy got his fourth point of the season on Saturday. These four points in eight games rank second on the team. From the eye test he looks comfortably the team’s most dynamic offensive forward. Melovksy, who burst onto the scene last year, looks like a legit prospect and nice late-round find from the scouting prospect.
Ethan Edwards has been playing big minutes for the Comet early on and has looked comfortable. He only has three points in eight games (all assists) but faring quite well with his tougher minutes. Plus-minus is not a great statistic, but his even rating is the second-best on the team among player who have played more than three games this season.
Standings Update
With the victory the Comets now sit at 1-6-1-0. Like last season they will have to dig out of another early season hole to make any type of noise. They already find themselves six points back of the Belleville Senators and Cleveland Monsters for the final playoff spot in the North Division. Utica is tied for the second-worst record in the league.
Upcoming Schedule
Utica will once again have two more games this upcoming week. They will face off against the Belleville Senators for the first time this season on Friday in Utica at 7:00 pm ET. Then, on Saturday, a rematch with the Penguins in Wilkes-Barre at 6:05 pm ET on Saturday. Belleville is 4-4-1-0 while the league-best Penguins are 8-2-0-0.
ECHL Update
The New Jersey Devils’ ECHL affiliate, the Adirondack Thunder, have started out well with a 3-1-0-1 record. Undrafted free agent Dylan Wendt leads the team with seven points in five games. Cam Squires, a fourth-round pick in 2023, has two points across five games in his first full professional season. The goaltending has been terrific for the Thunder as Tyler Brennan has a 0.910 save percentage across four games. Brennan, a fourth-round pick in 2022, has struggled in his professional career up till this season.